Amsterdam’s Rokin Transformation: 1934 Canal Filling in Color

This captivating colorized footage unveils the transformation of Amsterdam’s Rokin thoroughfare before, during, and shortly after the canal between Spui and Dam was filled in between 1933 and 1936—nearly 90 years ago—capturing a pivotal moment in the city’s urban history. The film reveals the canal’s serene beauty before its demise, the first phase of filling in 1934, and the aftermath, driven by the municipal council’s controversial decision to create parking spaces—a purpose clearly visible as cars line the new roadway. A particularly fascinating scene shows an older man operating a small "vulture ferry" (advertising Turmac cigarettes) crossing via a steel cable, a rare glimpse of a forgotten transit method with little online trace. Reflecting on Rokin’s modern challenges—like subsidence during the North-South metro line construction and ongoing debates to restore the canal—this restored archive grips history buffs, urban planners, and Amsterdam lovers, offering a vivid, poignant glimpse of a canal’s loss frozen in time.