Description of the attraction
Amsterdam Central Railway Station is the most important transport hub not only for the capital, but for the whole kingdom. More than 250,000 passengers, not counting transit passengers, are served here every day.
Three lines of the Amsterdam metro start from the Central Station; the Central Station itself was opened in 1980. Many bus and tram routes are also suitable here.
The station building was built in 1881-1889 according to the project and under the direction of the famous architect Peter Kuypers. He is also the author of the building of the State Museum, which is very similar in appearance to the Central Station. The two towers on the sides of the central part of the building are a bit like a gate in a fortress wall, thus the architect wanted to emphasize that the railway station is the main gate through which you get to Amsterdam. There is a clock on the right tower, and a device on the left shows the direction of the wind.
The construction of such a large building practically on the shore required significant soil strengthening. Three artificial islands were erected under the station building, and the building was erected on 8687 wooden piles.
The public of the city reacted very ambiguously to the construction of the new station. The fact is that the building closes the harbor from the city, turning the seaport into a land city. The decision to build was taken by the city council under pressure from the Ministry of Transport with a minimum majority of votes.
