Is Magere Brug worth it?
Worth it if…Underrated · +27White wooden drawbridge over the Amstel, lit by 1,200 bulbs at night; free, open 24/7
Worth it, with conditions. Google 4.5 with warm reviews, but it's a pretty bridge rather than a must-see; the night lighting is what makes it.
Hype34How famous and hyped it is
Reality61Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in
4.5 ★ Google · 7,065 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first
Been to Magere Brug? Was it worth it?
One tap. No account. Your vote moves the Reality score.Is it worth it for you?
Worth itEditorial verdict until 5 couples vote
Billed as Amsterdam's most romantic bridge; the evening lights and kissing legend make it a classic proposal spot.
Why Reality is 61
Lives up to its fame3/5Google 4.5 with warm reviews, but it's a pretty bridge rather than a must-see; the night lighting is what makes it.
Value for money4/5Free and lovely at night, though there's only about 10 minutes of looking.
Can’t get it elsewhere3/5Amsterdam's most famous drawbridge, but the city has hundreds of photogenic canal bridges for free.
Easy to do4/5Open 24/7 with no tickets; about 20–25 minutes' walk from Dam/Centraal, and you share it with cyclists.
What people loved
Free, open around the clock and especially pretty when its 1,200 bulbs light up after darkClassic Amstel views and a romantic legend; a popular proposal spotEasy to combine with a walk between Rembrandtplein, the canal ring and the AmstelPop-culture cameo in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever (1971)What wore them down
It's a bridge: a 10-minute photo stop, not a destination in itselfBusy with cyclists; standing in the middle for photos gets you rung atA bit off the main Dam–Centraal tourist axis (about 20–25 minutes' walk)The 'two sisters' origin story is a tourist tale, per city-archive researchKnow before you go
See something out of date? Fix it right here.Booking: No tickets; free public bridge.
EntryFree; public bridge open 24 hoursSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
HistoryFirst bridge 1691; current white wooden bascule bridge from 1934 (Piet Kramer); last major renovation 1969Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Night lightingDecorated with 1,200 light bulbs, switched on in the eveningSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026
TrafficPedestrians and cyclists only since 2003; still opens many times daily for river traffic (automated since 1994)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Time needed10–15 minutes; combine with an Amstel/canal-ring walkSource: Google reviews · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Getting thereOn the Amstel at Kerkstraat, between Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht; about a 25 min walk from Centraal Station, ~20 min walk from Dam Square; Metro Weesperplein is the nearest stop (~5–10 min walk)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026
Opening hours (Google)
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
In their words
“…you can hear bicycles bells ringing, it is magical! But then you understand they are telling you to get out of the way.”
“This is a very beautiful bridge. At night, in the rain, in the morning and during the day.”
“Came here to see the pride canal parade. You have to be early but totally worth it.”
Tips from people who went
No tips yet. Be the first to share one.
0/400 · no links · posts right away
Questions people ask
Why is it called the Skinny Bridge?
The original 1691 bridge was so narrow that locals called it 'magere brug' (skinny bridge). The present wider bridge dates from 1934.
When is the Magere Brug lit up?
Its 1,200 light bulbs are switched on in the evening, which is the best time to visit.
Can you walk across the Magere Brug?
Yes. Since 2003 it has been open only to pedestrians and cyclists, and it still opens for boats several times a day.
Is the Skinny Bridge in a James Bond film?
Yes, it appears in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).
Is it free to visit the Magere Brug?
Yes, it's a public bridge open 24 hours.
