Amsterdam traffic 1900-1930 (video)

Cycling videographer Mark Wagenbuur has released another doozy. His video shows traffic in early 20th century Amsterdam, with — you guessed it — a focus on bicycles.

I can’t help but notice that after a century:

• People still cycle on the Leidsestraat, although it’s forbidden.
• The corner of Spui and Singel is still riddled with lousy infrastructure.
• A ferry still carries thousands of pedestrians and cyclists towards Orangemaster’s old neighbourhood, although these days buses take the tunnel.
• Pets still run across the Vijzelstraat, but these days cars go much faster, and the cat I saw cross a year ago was lucky to come out of that clash alive.

What’s changed: there are no more horse, dog, or man-drawn carts for transport. Compare it to this vid which starts at the exact same spot on the Leidsestraat.

(Video: YouTube / Mark Wagenbuur)

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 29th, 2011 at 4:24 pm and is filed under Automobiles, Bicycles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Tags: Amsterdam, dogs, ferries, infrastructure, Mark Wagenbuur, roads