The Damrak, Amsterdam

Since 1889 Amsterdam’s Centraal Station has blocked the link between the Damrak (a straight stretch of the Amstel River) and the IJ (the city’s former bay). Once an open body of water, the Damrak was turned into an inner harbour. Here Breitner depicted the houses on the Warmoesstraat and the Oudekerk tower. He used a photograph, which included the Koopmansbeurs (Commodity Exchange) – then under construction. In his painting, this building was completely omitted.