Cyclists squeeze past barriers on narrowed Kabouterbrug

Cyclists on the Kabouterbrug are facing severe rush-hour congestion after the bridge was narrowed to accommodate emergency service vehicles. The route connects the Sloterkade to the Amstelveenseweg and will retain the barrier setup until 1 May 2027.

The temporary traffic diversion stems from ongoing renovation work on the adjacent Overtoomsesluis bridge, which is closed to cars and trams for seven months. City officials chose the bicycle bridge for emergency responders because it offers the shortest route, where every second counts.

Emergency vehicles on bicycle route

While some nearby residents suggested routing emergency services over the Zeilbrug, municipal officials explained that the Zeilbrug is already serving as the detour for all other motorised traffic. Heavy congestion there would risk delaying emergency responses.

The narrowed space has created regular bottlenecks, particularly on the bridge incline. Barbara Verhallen from the municipality noted that cargo bikes and fatbikes often struggle on the slope or brake suddenly, forcing riders behind them on standard bicycles to come to an abrupt halt.

History of the crossing

The bridge has operated strictly as a cycling link for forty years, handling around 20,000 riders on sunny days. Local resident Erik Slingerland, who named the structure last year as part of Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary celebrations, described watching motor vehicles cross it as unprecedented.

The crossing takes its name from the Kabouter movement, a counterculture protest group and political party active in Amsterdam between 1969 and 1974. The group originally campaigned in the 1960s to establish the bridge specifically for bicycle traffic.

Source: AT5