What is "damrak"

The Damrak is an avenue and partially filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam. Also it is one of the two GVB tram routes from the station into the centre, with lines 4, 9, 16, 24, and 25 running down it. It is also on the route of the North/South Line ( Amsterdam metro line) being constructed between the existing metro station at Centraal Station and the new Rokin station.

The street was located on a rak ( reach), a straight part of the Amstel river near a dam; hence the name. In the 19th century, a section of it was filled in. Because of the former stock exchange building, the monumental Beurs van Berlage, and several other buildings related to financial activities erected there in the early 20th century, the term "Damrak" has come to be a synonym for the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in the same way "Wall Street" is synonymous with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. The Beurs van Berlage now serves as a concert and exhibition hall. Today, the area is known for its restaurants, bars, and currency exchanges. Its canals serve as a busy area for canal boats, as well.