Kalverstraat

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North entrance of the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam

South entrance of the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam

Kalverstraat is the busiest shopping street of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

It's named after the kalvermarkt (calves market) that took place over there until the 17th century. The street begins at Dam Square and ends at Munttoren. Before Munttoren it was called Regulierspoort, that goes back to date 1393. The part between the Spui and Munttoren carried the name, laying behind the citywalls, Byndewyck. This part of the neighborhood, from 1486 till 1629, did have a veemarkt (cattle market). The so called Ossenmarkt (ox market). Later on it got the name Kalverstraat. The Kalverstraat is about 750 meters long with on both sides all kinds of stores, mostly with clothes. The Kalverstraat is the most expensive street in the Dutch version of Monopoly.