It all began in 1875 with the first horse-drawn tram from Leidseplein to Plantage Kerklaan. The owner was the Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij. In 1900, the municipality took over the company. Now the GVB transports 800,000 passengers daily. Trams have been running through the city for a century and a half. Together, they now travel 12 million kilometers per year.
In 1975, the 100-year anniversary of trams in Amsterdam was celebrated, among other things, with the Stippentram. The Stippentram was painted by artist Marthe Röling and was also nicknamed 'Keetje Stippel', after Keetje Tippel. Keetje Tippel was a film by Paul Verhoeven about the youth of writer Neel Doff, who was forced into prostitution by her mother.
Amsterdam was small for a long time
From the founding of Amsterdam in 1250 until roughly 1850, the city was easily walkable. For example, the distance from Central Station to the Rijksmuseum is 2.5 kilometers and that route was for centuries the entire city from north to south. From the Haarlemmerpoort to the Schreierstoren is 1.8 kilometers and that was the city from west to east. The novel character Kees de Jongen from 1923 still easily crossed the city on foot.
Omnibus
In 1872 the first omnibuses drove through the city. An omnibus is not a tram because it does not run on rails. It is a passenger carriage that is pulled by horses. In 1872 there were 2 omnibuses, 2 coachmen and 2 inspectors. Soon after, rails were laid and the first horse-drawn trams ran through Amsterdam.
Gemeentetram Amsterdam
The private tram company grew significantly until the municipality took it over on January 1, 1900. From that date, the company was led by the Gemeentetram Amsterdam, since 1943 the GVB. Through the takeover, the Gemeentetram received 62.5 kilometers of tram track, 15 tram lines, 15 depot buildings, 242 horse-drawn tram carriages and 758 horses.
Horse tram disappeared
The first electric tram was already running in 1900 and in 1916 the entire tram network was electric. The horse tram disappeared. In 1921, Amsterdam annexed large surrounding areas. The city became 2 times as big. More trams were quickly needed.
Most important mode of transport
Amsterdam became a modern industrial city with a bustling business and shopping center. The car was still on the rise. For decades, the tram was the most important mode of transport for long distances.
A rolling living room
In photos from the period of 1920 to 1960, trams strongly defined the streetscape. The electric tram was not only striking and cozy, but also the symbol of the modern big city. It was beautiful, well-maintained, and safe with the conductor walking through the tram. A tram was a kind of rolling living room.
Mailbox
Oddly enough, there was a mailbox on the back of the tram. A letter thrown in it would reach the postal distribution center at Central Station the fastest. The mailbox on the back of the tram was therefore very convenient.
By tram to the beach
It was special that you could go to Zandvoort by tram from Spui. An electric tram had been running from Haarlem to Zandvoort since 1899. And since 1904 there was a tram from Amsterdam to Haarlem. This tram ran over the Wiegbrug through the Admiraal de Ruijterweg, which was built along this tram track from 1908. For Zandvoort you had to change in Haarlem.
For 33 years, from 1924 to 1957, a direct tram ran from Amsterdam to Zandvoort. You could go for a day at the beach from Spui and get off near the sea. That must have been wonderful and easy.
Amsterdam Jews and the tram
During the Second World War, the municipal tram played a questionable role. The sign in the photo below hung in tram 8. It was popularly called the Jodentram, because the tram ran through all the neighborhoods where Jews lived. In 1942 the line was closed. This was due to a staff shortage and the prohibition for Amsterdam Jews to use public transport.
Transport to the concentration camps
Later, the tram tracks were used to transport the Jews to the train and concentration camps. Tram number 8 never returned, just like most of the Jews. The tram company cooperated too hard in transporting Jews to the train stations. In 2024, the GVB offered an apology for this. Memorials have also been placed. Guus Luijters and Willy Lindwer made a documentary about the tram's role in transporting the Jews.
Blue tram
Older Amsterdammers still remember the beautiful blue trams with shiny lacquered wooden benches. Sometimes 2 wagons were coupled together. That blue tram was succeeded by the so-called articulated tram, which consists of several parts. Here at Surinameplein, those 2 types of trams stand behind each other.
Distances became greater
The city gained extensive suburbs. As a result, the distances became increasingly longer. Nieuw-West was created in the 1950s and received multiple tram connections. The Bijlmer, built in the 1970s, received a metro line after fierce protests. The North/South line was opened in 2018. As a result, there was finally a lightning-fast connection between North and South. The new metro was a revolution in Amsterdam public transport. Underground you whiz to your destination lightning fast.
Tram travel is an adventure
Traveling by tram has been an adventure for 150 years. You use it to get to your destination, but you can also see the city well
