Amsterdam secures funding for IJ River bicycle bridge between Oost and Noord

The Amsterdam Transport Region has reserved 150 million euros for the construction of the Oostbrug, a bicycle bridge over the IJ. Along with the 120 million euros already reserved by the municipality of Amsterdam, funding is secured for the bicycle and pedestrian bridge connecting the Noord and Oost districts.

The bridge between Azartplein and Johan van Hasseltweg will be ready for use in 2034 at the earliest and will cost around 300 million euros. With the bridge, cyclists from Waterland, Purmerend, Landsmeer, Oostzaan, and Zaanstad will be able to reach the east side of Amsterdam about 10 to 12 minutes faster. They’ll also no longer have to use the ferry. According to the municipality, the Oostbrug is indispensable for making the Amsterdam region more accessible.

“With the arrival of electric bicycles, cyclists can now cover longer distances more easily. In the coming years, we will, therefore, be building kilometers of wide and comfortable cycle paths, which together form a network between cities, villages, and the surrounding landscapes,” said Marja Ruigrok of the Amsterdam Transport Region. “The Oostburg is an indispensable link in this network.”

Amsterdam alderman Melanie van der Horst (traffic and transport) is happy the Transport Region decided to work with the municipality on this bridge. “After the first idea for a bridge over the IJ emerged almost 200 years ago, we are now finally creating a permanent connection between Noord and the rest of the city. This is of great importance for the residents of Amsterdam and the municipalities north of the cities,” she said.

“A lot of homes and workplaces are being built throughout the region, so the number of people who want to cross the IJ is only increasing. The ferries cannot handle that,” Van der Horst added. “We expect between 20,000 and 25,000 people to use the bridge every day.”