Geldersekade

The Geldersekade is a historic canal street in the eastern part of De Wallen, Amsterdam's well-known red-light district, and borders directly on Chinatown. It connects the Nieuwmarkt with the Prins Hendrikkade and was originally part of the city's fortifications. At the end of the 15th century, the moat was dug to form the Stedegracht together with other canals. A city wall was built along the west side, while the eastern bank lay outside the city and served as a landing place for ships from Gelderland, Cologne, and England, which gave the street its name.

Today the street is known above all for its architectural landmarks. The listed building Het Tabaksvat at No. 8 originally dates from the 17th century, though its facade is dated to the last quarter of the 18th century. The interior once served as a warehouse for a ship chandlery. Over time, the canal lost its function as a defensive moat when new city walls were built and the old wall was torn down to make room for housing.

An important part of the street's history was the fish market, which was set up on the water of the Geldersekade after 1840 to replace the market on Dam Square. The original wooden structures were replaced in 1862 by a stone market hall, which was demolished in 1938. Since 1912, the entire stretch of the waterfront has been called the Geldersekade. In terms of traffic, the area has changed dramatically: once an important thoroughfare for streetcars and buses, it was redesigned after the subway was built in the 1980s and today serves mainly as a major cycling route.