Houthaven

The Houthaven was dug out in 1876, together with the North Sea Canal. It was the first port in Amsterdam to be dug out (the earlier ones using existing waters). Its purpose was to tranship and store lumber. As lumber was increasingly transported by road, parts of the port were filled up with sand to be used for other purposes in 1945. The Minervahaven remained in use for lumber transhipment and wood processing industry was located there but port-related activities decreased strongly over time. The area is currently being redeveloped. == Canals ==

Eight new canals were dug in the new residential area since 2018. The names are largely based on places along the Baltic Sea that used to have much maritime trade with Amsterdam. In 2021, they were given the following names: • Gevlewater • Lübeckgracht • Stralsundgracht • Koningsbergengracht • Kolberggracht • Pernaugracht • Wismargracht • Houthavengracht ==Public transport==

The Houthaven can be reached from the city centre via bus line 48, which has its terminus in the district at the Koivistokade. On the edge of the district, bus line 22 has a stop at the Spaarndammerstraat. ==Gallery==

File:NIMH - 2011 - 0032 - Aerial photograph of Amsterdam, The Netherlands - 1920 - 1940.jpg|Aerial view of the Spaarndammerbuurt, Zeeheldenbuurt and the Oude Houthaven in the background (around 1930) File:Pontsteiger Tasmanstraat in aanbouw, Bestanddeelnr 907-5431.jpg|The Pontsteiger under construction, in the background the Houthaven with floating beams (16 January 1956) File:Pontsteigergebouw; juli 2018.jpg|The Pontsteiger Building, shortly after completion in July 2018. File:Pontsteigergebouw,_Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(08).jpg|The Pontsteiger building, seen from the northwest (July 24, 2020) File:Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(02).jpg|Reval Island and Narva Island (July 24, 2020) File:Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(03).jpg|Narva Island and Memel Island (July 24, 2020) File:Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(05).jpg|Stettin Island (24 July 2020) File:REM-eiland,_Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(07).jpg|REM Island (July 24, 2020) File:Oude houthaven 1.jpg|Sailing ships in the Old Houthaven (June 14, 2008) File:Pont_13,_Houthavens_(Amsterdam);_2020-07-24_(06).jpg|Restaurant Pont 13, the former GVB ferry 13 File:Gevlebrug;_2020-07-24_(01).jpg|The Gevlebrug (bridge 2430), near the Pontsteigergebouw (July 24, 2020) File:Gevlebrug;_2020-07-24_(05).jpg|The Gevlebrug (bridge 2430) is a bascule bridge designed by Piet Kramer in 1930 (July 24, 2020) == References ==