Java Island
Year of construction: 1995

View the very newest canals of Amsterdam on Java Island. Since 1995 four narrow canals crisscross this island.

Below the quays
The island's four brand-new canals, Brantasgracht, Lamonggracht, Majanggracht and Seranggracht, are situated 1.5 meters below the quays. Just as intriguing and interesting are the nine bridges across the canals for cyclists and pedestrians. Artists couple Guy Rombouts and Monika Droste designed them. They have created veritable works of art.

Canal Houses
The houses along these canals are not exactly run-of-the-mill. Some seem to be built higgledy-piggledy. Nineteen young and promising architects, including René van Zuuk and Bjarne Mastenbroek, designed them. They were commissioned to create a unique concept for contemporary Amsterdam canal houses. The only thing their designs have in common is that each building is 4.5 meters wide and four to five stories high. Because of the different designs, each street has an ambiance all of its own.

Architectural Gem
Java Island is an architectural gem, right in the middle of the IJ harbor. The island is connected to the mainland with a bridge only. On narrow Java Island many houses have been built in the past few years, designed by architect Sjoerd Soeters. A road for local traffic is situated on the northern side of the island. The southern side boasts a shopping promenade with expensive owner-occupied houses. A cycle path with gardens on both sides dissects the island. Every inch of the island is being used and the housing density is high.