The Amstel () is a river in the province of
North Holland
North Holland (, ) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands in the northwestern part of the country. It is located on the North Sea, north of South Holland and Utrecht (province), Utrecht, and west of Friesland and Flevola ...
in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. It flows from the Aarkanaal and Drecht in
Nieuwveen northwards, passing
Uithoorn
Uithoorn () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.
Population centres
The municipality of Uithoorn includes the town of Uithoorn and the village of De Kwakel.
''Map of the municipality of Uithoorn, Ju ...
,
Amstelveen
Amstelveen () is a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland, Netherlands, with a population of 95,996 as of 202 ...
, and
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, to the
IJ in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
, to which the river gives its name. Annually, the river is the location of the
Liberation Day
Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day, but differing from it because it does not involve the original creation of statehood. It commemorates the end of an occupation ...
concert,
Head of the River Amstel rowing match, and the
Amsterdam Gay Pride boat parade.
Etymology
The name ''
Amstel'' and the older form ''Aemstel'' are derived from ''Amestelle'', which is a compound of the words ''
aam'' or ''ame'' meaning water and ''
stelle'' meaning solid, high, and dry ground.
[G. van Berkel & K. Samplonius,]
Amsterdam (Amsterdam, NH)
(in Dutch), ''Nederlandse plaatsnamen verklaard'', 2018. Retrieved on 10 October 2020.[Nederlandsche plaatsnamen]
(in Dutch), '' Onze Taal'', 1942. Retrieved on 29 October 2020. In the 12th century, ''Amestelle'' was used for the area or ''
gouw'' that was closed in by the rivers Amstel and
Bullewijk and the bay
IJ.
Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the area was developed and ruled by the
Van Amstel family. The river Amstel was named after this land area.
Between 1525 and 1990, the
water board
A water board is a regional or national organisation that has very different functions from one country to another. The functions range from flood control and water resources management at the regional or local level (the Netherlands, Germany), ...
or ''hoogheemraadschap'' of the area through which the river flows was
Amstelland (Amstel Land), a name still in use for the region. The names of the settlements
Amstelhoek
Amstelhoek is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, about northwest of Mijdrecht. Amstelhoek lies on the river Amstel, directly across from Uithoorn.
It was first mentioned in 1936 as Amstel ...
(Amstel Bend),
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
(Amstel Dam),
Nes aan de Amstel (Headland upon Amstel), and
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (Old Church upon Amstel) on the banks of the Amstel were derived from the river's name.
History

The Amstel was formed around 1050 BC when a freshwater river cut into a tidal channel of the IJ which are now
Damrak and
Rokin.
[Jerzy Gawronski & Peter Kranendonk,]
The River Amstel
, ''Municipality of Amsterdam
A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate.
The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
''. Retrieved on 1 November 2020.
Course
Sources
The Amstel begins where the canal
Aarkanaal and the river
Drecht meet, just north of the village
Nieuwveen in the province of
South Holland
South Holland ( ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.8 million as of January 2023 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely populated areas. ...
. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of South Holland and
North Holland
North Holland (, ) is a Provinces of the Netherlands, province of the Netherlands in the northwestern part of the country. It is located on the North Sea, north of South Holland and Utrecht (province), Utrecht, and west of Friesland and Flevola ...
and flows in northeastern direction.
Amstelland

The Amstel passes the hamlet
Vrouwenakker and is then joined by the tributary river
Kromme Mijdrecht. On the northern bank is the town
Uithoorn
Uithoorn () is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.
Population centres
The municipality of Uithoorn includes the town of Uithoorn and the village of De Kwakel.
''Map of the municipality of Uithoorn, Ju ...
and on the southern bank is the village
Amstelhoek
Amstelhoek is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, about northwest of Mijdrecht. Amstelhoek lies on the river Amstel, directly across from Uithoorn.
It was first mentioned in 1936 as Amstel ...
. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of
Utrecht
Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...
and North Holland.
Further on, the river is joined by the tributary river
Oude Waver. From here onwards, the river flows northward through the province of North Holland. The Amstel passes the village
Nes aan de Amstel.
On the western bank is the town
Amstelveen
Amstelveen () is a List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of North Holland, Netherlands, with a population of 95,996 as of 202 ...
, where there is a small island in the river named Amsteleiland, and on the eastern bank the town of
Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, where the river is joined by the tributary river
Bullewijk. After this the Amstel flows into the city of
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...
.
Amsterdam
In Amsterdam, the canals
Duivendrechtsevaart and
Weespertrekvaart are tributaries to the Amstel. There are several historical bridges crossing the river, among which are the
Berlagebrug,
Magere Brug, and
Blauwbrug.
In the city center, the river is connected to several
city canals, which are a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an treaty, international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural ...
. The
Amstel Hotel,
Royal Theater Carré,
H'ART Museum, city hall in the
Stopera
The Stopera is a building complex in Amsterdam, Netherlands, housing both the city hall of Amsterdam and the Dutch National Opera and Ballet (formerly Het Muziektheater), the principal opera house in Amsterdam that is home of Dutch National Ope ...
, and
Allard Pierson Museum are located on the eastern bank of the river.
The river continues via the
Rokin to the Langebrugsteeg before being routed underground through pipes, passing under the filled in part of the Rokin and
Dam Square
Dam Square or the Dam () is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital and most populated city of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the best-known and most important locations in the city and the country.
...
before remerging into the
Damrak at the Oudebrugsteeg. The river then passes beneath the
Prins Hendrikkade before empyting into the .
Mouth
The original course continues with Damrak, after which it passes Stationseiland, an artificial island with
Amsterdam Centraal station
Amsterdam Centraal station ( ; Railway stations in the Netherlands, abbreviation: Asd) is the largest railway station in Amsterdam, North Holland, the Netherlands. A major international Rail transport, railway hub, it is used by 192,000 passeng ...
, and flows into the former bay
IJ.
Cultural events
A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year on
Liberation Day
Liberation Day is a day, often a public holiday, that marks the liberation of a place, similar to an independence day, but differing from it because it does not involve the original creation of statehood. It commemorates the end of an occupation ...
. The
rowing
Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically a ...
races
Head of the River Amstel and Heineken Roeivierkamp are held on the river annually. The river also forms part of the route of the
Canal Parade, Amsterdam's annual floating gay
pride parade
A pride parade (also known as pride event, pride festival, pride march, or pride protest) is an event celebrating lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, LGBT rights by country o ...
.
Artist impressions
The river has been depicted by many artists, including:
*
Aert van der Neer (1603–1677)
*
Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...
(1609–1669)
*
Willem Witsen (1860–1923)
*
George Hendrik Breitner
George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer. An important figure in Amsterdam Impressionism, he is noted especially for his paintings of street scenes and harbours in a realistic style. He p ...
(1857–1923)
*
Piet Mondrian
Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan (; 7 March 1872 – 1 February 1944), known after 1911 as Piet Mondrian (, , ), was a Dutch Painting, painter and Theory of art, art theoretician who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He w ...
(1872–1944)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Geography of Amsterdam
Rivers of North Holland
Rivers of South Holland
Rivers of Utrecht (province)
Rivers of the Netherlands