Leprozengracht

The Sint Anthoniusgasthuis, or Sint Nicolaasgasthuis, a leper house, was established on the land between Sint Anthoniesdijk and Amstel in the 14th century.[1] In the late 16th century it was decided to expand the old city of Amsterdam by creating a new island in this area. The new island was called Vlooyenburg, a reference to the regular flooding of the area from the Amstel, and was surrounded by the Amstel, Leprozengracht, Houtgracht and Verwerfsgracht (Zwanenburgwal).[2] With the expansion, the leper house came to be within the city, and gave its name to the canal.[1] The canal was also known as the Leprozen Graft, Leprozenburgwal and Turfgracht.[3] It was crossed by the Muiderbrug along the Amstel bank.[4]

Vlooienburg was raised up during the second expansion of Amsterdam between 1592 and 1596 as a place to store wood, and blocks of houses were soon added. From the start, three Portuguese Jewish congregations built their synagogues on the island. The congregations united in 1639.[5] In the 1870s the houses along the canal were occupied by, among others, a furniture maker, teacher of religion, insurance broker, kosher cafe-restaurant, corn cutter and tailor.[6] Between 1837 and 1841 a church was built opposite the end of the canal dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, designed by Tilman-François Suys. The church became known as the Mozes en Aäron-kerk.[7]

The city council decided to fill in the Leprozengracht and Houtgracht on 28 January 1874. Both canals were filled in 1882.[8] The park that replaced the canals was officially named Waterlooplein in December 1883. It was made into a Jewish market.[2] The street traders from around Jodenbreestraat had to move to the new square. They were opposed to the move, thinking the square was too windy and no customers would come.[6] The former island is now the home of the Amsterdam "Stopera" building complex.[5]

• 
  The Naarderveer on the Amstel on the corner with the Leprozengracht. On the right a small part of the Blauwbrug. c. 1659
• 
  The Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis on the Leprozengracht with the Arsenaal on the right. Seen along the Houtgracht to the Leprozengracht, with the Portuguese-Israelite Synagogue in the distance. c. 1710
• 
  Leprozengracht looking southwest towards Zwanenburgerstraat Gerrit Lamberts 1830
• 
  Houtgracht looking southeast to Mozes en Aäronkerk and Leprozengracht