Mystery: there is a hatch in the Dam and no one notices
Have you ever noticed the hatch in the Dam? Then you have an eye for detail. The hatch is almost the same color as the rest of the square, so it’s barely noticeable. Why is this door here, in the busiest place in Amsterdam? And where does it lead?! We went to investigate.
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Our imaginations run wild when we think about this hatch. Could it be a secret passage to the Damspaleis? An escape route for Willem, Max and the kids? A hidden prison for enemies of the state? Or does the sewer of the royal family simply run under this? Whatever it is, we want to know.
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On to the municipality
We called the municipality of Amsterdam. Also the alleged causes: “is there one shutter in the Dam?” oh dear. Have we caught the government on a state secret? Our entire editorial team will soon disappear under that hatch.
But the municipality was not afraid to help us. We were sent from one counter to another. Even Frank Driessen and his colleagues from the City Archives could not find anything about it.
And then
the municipality used to be just as curious as we are, we want to receive a message three weeks later we want a message from Eva Plijter of the Centrum district. The original origins of the hatch have not been able to resolve. I did, however, check with our ‘Christmas tree man’ Hans van Zurk and he indicates that the hatch has been in place since he worked for the municipality, so for 34 years. The function of the hatch is to be able to place the Christmas tree in it!”
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ah! That answer is less sensational than we hoped. Under the hatch is a deep tube hidden in which the large Christmas tree trunk is hoisted every year just before Christmas. Then it stands firm and safe!
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Is that all?
According to the municipality, the hatch in the Dam has no other function, and we believe that. But the origin of the hatch is also unknown to them. Was this hatch especially made in Dam Square to be able to put up a Christmas tree once a year?
Mystery half solved. Do you know more about the origin of this hatch in Dam Square? We are very curious. Send us an email to: [email protected]†