The Magere Brug’s pale timber and repeated arches make a graceful crossing over the Amstel. Its name means “Skinny Bridge,” a practical nickname for an unusually narrow predecessor; the familiar sisters’ legend is a later story, not documented history.
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Pale wooden arches repeat across the span above the river. The Magere Brug connects the banks of the Amstel near Kerkstraat, but the bridge’s familiar name came from a much narrower predecessor. In 1691, the wooden Kerkstraatbrug was so slim that pedestrians could barely pass one another; “Skinny Bridge” was a practical nickname.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- The bridge’s earlier name was Kerkstraatbrug.
- The current bridge form dates to 1934 and was designed by Piet Kramer.
- The story that two sisters built it is not historically supported.
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