Kalverstraat

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Kalverstraat

North entrance of the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam

The Kalverstraat is the busiest shopping street of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. It is named after the kalvermarkt (calves market) that took place until the 17th century.

The street begins at Dam Square and ends roughly 750 meters down at the Munttoren. Before Munttoren it was called Regulierspoort, which goes back 1393, which was the southern part of the surroung wall. The part between the Spui and Munttoren carried the name, lying 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 the most expensive street in the Dutch version of Monopoly.

In 1345 a eucharistic miracle took place in a home between the Kalverstraat in the Rokin, of which the Stille Omgang still reminds. The Heiligeweg connects the Kalverstraat with this pilgrim chapel, and with Leidsestraat.