Amstel

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This article is about the river in the Netherlands. Amstel is also a beer brand produced by Heineken.

Amstel River
Origin	Aarkanaal
Mouth	Amsterdam
Basin countries	Noord-Holland
Length	12 km (7 mi)
Source elevation
Avg. discharge
Basin area

The Amstel is a river in the Netherlands which runs through the city of Amsterdam.

The Amstel's name is derived from Aeme stelle, old Dutch for "area abounding with water". The river originally began where two smaller rivers, the Drecht and Kromme Mijdrecht, joined together, a little south of Uithoorn. After the construction of a canal, the Amstel-Drecht Kanaal, the river (including the canal) now begins where the Drecht and another canal, the Aarkanaal, meet one another, near the town of Nieuwveen. Tributary rivers are the Kromme Mijdrecht, Bullewijk and Waver.

The river's mouth is in Amsterdam, where it meets the IJ bay. However, in 1936 the last part of the river (called Rokin) was filled in, so the river now ends at Spui square, although it remains connected to the IJ through subterraneous pipes.

Amsterdam took its name from the river. The city developed out of a small fishing village called "Amstelredam", built in the 13th century alongside a dam at the mouth of the river. The town was granted city rights around 1300. The hamlet developed into the small town "Amsteldam", which later became "Amsterdam".

The famous Magere Brug bridge in Amsterdam crosses the river, as do the Blauwbrug, Hoge Sluis and Berlagebrug bridges. The Stopera city hall and opera house and Carré theatre are both located on the banks of the river.

A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year on Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day). The rowing 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.

The area through which the river passes is known as the Amstelland. The city and municipality of Amstelveen, the municipality of Ouder-Amstel, the towns of Ouderkerk aan de Amstel and Nes aan de Amstel are all named after the river as well. Amsterdam has a street called Amstel (along the river), a square called Amstelveld and a train station called Amsterdam Amstel.

Amstel beer is also named after the river. The Amstel brewery was situated close to the Amstel river, and the river water was used to cool the beer.

In the former Dutch colonies in North America, a town was captured from the Swedes in 1655 and renamed Nieuw-Amstel. It is now known as New Castle, Delaware.

[edit] The Amstel in art

Many artists that have painted or drawn the Amstel river, including:

• Aert van der Neer (1603-1677)
• Rembrandt (1609-1669)
• Willem Witsen (1860-1923)
• George Hendrik Breitner - (1857-1923)
• Piet Mondrian (1872-1944)
• Hendrik Jan Wolter (1873-1952)
• Frans Koppelaar (1943- )

[edit] Photo gallery

The Amstel river in Amsterdam, panoramic view showing the Stopera and Blauwbrug (left) and Amstelhof (right), which houses the Hermitage Amsterdam museum
The Amstel river in Amsterdam, view of the Magere Brug bridge from the Blauwbrug bridge	The Amstel river in Amsterdam, view from the Hoge Sluis bridge	The Amstel Hotel on the banks of the river Amstel in Amsterdam
The Amstel with a view of the Rembrandttoren, the tallest building in Amsterdam	The rich of Amsterdam built lavish houses on the riverside, such as this house, called Oostermeer	Amstel by Night oil on canvas Frans Koppelaar