The Overtoom

The Overtoom is a street in the district Oud West, situated between the Stadhouderskade and the Amstelveenseweg.

The actual Overtoom, which was situated at this place since the 14th century, operated as a disjunction of the Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland and the Amstelland and was replaced by a schutsluis (lift-lock) in 1808.

Herewith a direct connection between the Schinkel, situated at the Kostverlorenvaart and the Overtoomse Vaart (Overtoomse Canal) was locked up. At the beginning of the 20th century this lock had become an obstacle in the shipping route. In 1940 the Overtoomse lock was replaced by the Schinkel Watergate near the Nieuwe Meer, whereupon water could be broadened.

The name of Amsterdam’s street has been derived from the Overtoomse Vaart, which is also called Heiligewegse Vaart. This canal had been diked in 1904, located parallel to the Jacob van Lennepkanaal, and running from the Leidsepoort (Leidse gateway) to the Overtoom by the Schinkel.

The Overtoomse buurt mainly disappeared for the construction of the Surinam Square in the years twenty. The North side of the Overtoom is also called Overtoom, whereas the South side has been called Vondelkade since 1875.

In 1877 the first horse tram line along the Overtoomse Vaart was put into use, running along the Leidseplein, Vondelkade and Overtoom. In 1904, this tramline was electrified and became tram 1, which underwent many extensions over the last 100 years.