Amsterdam Central Station is the main railway station of Amsterdam and one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. It was built between 1881 and 1889 by architect P.J.H. Cuypers and engineer/architect A.L. van Gendt. Every day Amsterdam Centraal has about 250,000 boarders and alighters, making it one of the busiest stations in the Netherlands. Passengers can use buses, streetcars, trains, ferries and subways.

Wooden piles

Central Station is built on three islands in the IJ. Sand from the dunes near Velsen, which became available when the North Sea Canal was dug, was used for this. Like many other buildings in Amsterdam, it was built on wooden piles (8687 pieces). On October 15, 1889, the station was opened to enormous public interest.

Reconstruction

Since 1997 the major renovation of Amsterdam Central has been underway. The front of the station is being thoroughly renovated, a new bus station has been built and underground work is being done on the North-South Line.