Magere Brug, Amsterdam

Magere Brug carries Kerkstraat across the Amstel as a wooden drawbridge, linking the riverbanks between Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. Its liftable section is painted white, and the bridge is reserved for people walking and cycling. Watch the opening section: it rises several times each day for passing vessels, while sightseeing boats can slip beneath it without the bridge opening.

The bridge you see dates from 1934, when architect Piet Kramer created a slightly enlarged replacement that preserved the appearance of its predecessor. Its story reaches back to 1691, when a bridge called Kerkstraatbrug stood here with 13 arches. That structure became too narrow for practical use, giving rise to the nickname Magere Brug, or “Skinny Bridge.”

The bridge now carries 1,200 light bulbs, which come alive in the evening and trace its shape across the water. The romantic reputation is part of its identity: locals regard it as Amsterdam’s most romantic bridge, and it is a familiar setting for proposals and lovers’ walks. As local legend has it, a kiss here—or beneath the bridge from a boat—keeps lovers together forever. The bridge also appears in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, where a boat guide tells visitors the tale of its supposed origin.