News of: Sunday, November 22 2015,
A 110 meter long bicycle tunnel has been opened under the Amsterdam Central Station. The tunnel is for pedestrians and cyclists only; mopeds are not allowed in the tunnel.
The tunnel connects the ferries to Amsterdam North, and the taxis stand in a straight line with the centre of Amsterdam, and the south side of the train station.
It means cyclists do not have to cycle around the train station any more to go from the ferry to Amsterdam centre, or vice versa.
The tunnel was opened yesterday (Saturday November 21). It is expected to become one of the most busy bicycle paths in Amsterdam.
One of the walls is decorated with a mural in Delft Blue style, made out of 77,000 tiles, made by the earthenware factory Tichelaar in Makkum, in the province of Friesland. The mural shows a sea view with a number of old ships. Part of the mural is an adaptation of a painting of a 17th century war ship, by Cornelis Bouwmeester.
The ship is really from Rotterdam, but has been decorated by the artist (Irma Boon) with the three Andreas crosses, Amsterdam's coat of arms.
The work of art is crated by artist Irma Boom. The painting of the ship is owned by the Rijksmuseum, but it is in storage, so it can not be seen by the public. Irma Boom also created the Rijksmuseum house style. All tiles of the mural are hand-painted.
The tunnel has been officially named 'Cuyperspassage', after Pierre Cuypers the architect of the Central Station.
Entrance bicycle tunnel Amsterdam Central Station
Bicycle tunnel Amsterdam Central: warship after Cornelis Bouwmeester painting
Bicycle tunnel Amsterdam Central Station; Andreas crosses in war ship
Bicycle tunnel Central Station mural
Light at the end of the bicycle tunnel (Amsterdam Central Station)