阿姆布鲁大桥，阿姆斯特丹，荷兰 Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands (© Alexander Spatari/Getty Images)

一次挥动桥臂，连接两岸 Bridging the gap, one arm at a time

阿姆布鲁赫桥，阿姆斯特丹，荷兰

在阿姆斯特丹，有些桥梁只是用来跨越运河，而阿姆布鲁赫桥（Armbrug）则多了一份趣味——当人们经过时，它仿佛在向行人挥手致意。这座桥横跨在旧侧沃堡运河之上。它的名字意为“手臂桥”，但实际上并不是指桥的形状，而是源自附近的一条小巷——Oudezijds Armsteeg（旧侧臂巷）。虽然名字与“手臂”有关，但更像是一种有趣的联想，让人不禁想象它正向经过的骑行者和行人友好地打招呼。

这座历史悠久的桥梁由混凝土建成，是一座固定式桥梁，不会像阿姆斯特丹的许多运河桥那样开启或升起，而是静静地连接运河两岸，让当地居民和游客安全通行。不过，它真正的魅力在于周围的景致：运河两岸排列着典雅的历史建筑，远处还能看到St. Nicholas Church的身影，而附近的Kolksluis船闸也为景色增添了独特的运河风情，使这里成为摄影爱好者喜爱的取景地点。

过去，艺术家们常常在这座桥上写生、作画，用运河景色吸引来自荷兰各地的游客。直到今天，这里依然是人们拍照留影和悠闲散步的热门地点。朴实、坚固而又风景优美，阿姆布鲁赫桥（Armbrug）证明了一点：有些桥梁的意义不仅在于连接两岸，更在于让人们与这座城市的历史与精神产生联系。

Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Some bridges in Amsterdam just get you across a canal. The Armbrug does more—it seems to wave hello as you pass. Nestled over the Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal, its name, meaning 'arm bridge,' refers to the nearby Oudezijds Armsteeg (Old Side Arm Alley), not a literal limb, but it's easy to imagine it greeting cyclists and pedestrians along the way.

Built of concrete, this historic fixed bridge doesn't swing or lift—it simply carries locals and visitors safely across the water. Yet its charm lies in the view: historic buildings lining the canal, glimpses of St. Nicholas Church, and the Kolksluis lock make it a photographer's delight.

Artists once sketched and painted the view from the bridge to lure visitors from Dutch provinces, and today it remains a favorite spot for pictures and casual strolls. Simple, sturdy, and scenic, the Armbrug proves that sometimes, the best bridges don't just connect places—they connect people with the city's history and spirit.

斯皮格尔运河上的灯光装饰, 阿姆斯特丹, 荷兰 Light decorations on Spiegelgracht canal, Amsterdam, Netherlands (© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Images)

静谧水波，闪耀灯影 Still waters, bright lights

阿姆斯特丹的斯皮格尔运河，荷兰

你有没有想过，运河如何影响城市的演变？几千年来，人们修筑运河，用于运输、控水和连接各地。从古代美索不达米亚和埃及，到中世纪的欧洲，运河让威尼斯、布鲁日等城市成为繁荣的贸易枢纽。到了17世纪，荷兰更进一步，规划出影响城市格局的水道，阿姆斯特丹便是其中的典范。

阿姆斯特丹被誉为"北方威尼斯"，城市纵横交错的运河全长约60英里，构成了被联合国教科文组织列入世界遗产的运河区。大多数运河两侧都有道路，如今这些水道成为旅游和休闲的胜地。市中心的斯皮格尔运河，是今日画面中的主角，以艺术画廊、古董店和静谧的水面闻名，“镜子运河”之名正源于此。夜色中，桥梁与树木披上节日的光辉，灯影在水面上闪烁。圣诞临近，这些运河仿佛一条条闪亮的历史长链，见证着过去的光芒仍在当下熠熠生辉。

Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands

Have you ever wondered how canals changed the way cities developed? For thousands of years, people have built canals to transport goods, control water flow, and connect places. From ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to medieval Europe, they transformed cities like Venice and Bruges into trade hubs. The Netherlands took this even further—by the 17th century, they were designing waterways that shaped cities such as Amsterdam.

It's no wonder Amsterdam is nicknamed the 'Venice of the North.' The city's 60-mile-long network of canals forms part of the UNESCO-listed Canal District. Mostly flanked by roads on both sides, these routes are now used for tourism and recreation. In the center of the city is the Spiegelgracht canal seen in today's image. It is famous for its art galleries, antique shops, and serene reflections that inspired its name, 'Mirror Canal.' As night falls, bridges and trees glow with festive lights, their reflections shimmering across the calm water. With Christmas just around the corner, these canals resemble glowing strings of history—proof that the past still shines bright in the present.

旧西街区，阿姆斯特丹 ，荷兰 Oud-West neighborhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands (© George Pachantouris/Getty Images)

旧西街区的故事 Oud-West side story

旧西街区，阿姆斯特丹 ，荷兰

欢迎来到阿姆斯特丹！荷兰首都阿姆斯特丹以其历史悠久的运河、多姿多彩的建筑和悠闲自在的氛围吸引着来自世界各地的游客。这座城市的历史可以追溯到12世纪，当时它还是阿姆斯特尔河畔的一个渔村。如今，阿姆斯特丹拥有梵高博物馆、EYE电影博物馆和国家海事博物馆等机构，让人们可以深入了解阿姆斯特丹的历史和艺术遗产。阿姆斯特丹的同心圆型运河区建于17世纪，已被联合国教科文组织列为世界遗产。此外，这座城市还拥有众多的餐馆、古董店和露天市场，图片上展示的旧西街区就是其中之一。准备好骑自行车吧，因为阿姆斯特丹的自行车文化无处不在。阿姆斯特丹拥有约320英里长的自行车道，是世界上最适合骑自行车的城市之一。

Oud-West, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Welcome to Amsterdam! The capital of the Netherlands charms visitors with its historic canals, versatile architecture, and laid-back vibe. The city's history can be traced back to the 12th century when it was a fishing village on the banks of the Amstel River. Institutions like the Van Gogh Museum, the Eye Film Museum, and the National Maritime Museum offer insights into its history and arts legacy. Amsterdam's canal ring area, built at the turn of the 17th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also home to its fair share of restaurants, vintage shops, and outdoor markets in neighborhoods like Oud-West, pictured in today's image. Get ready to pedal because Amsterdam's cycling culture is ubiquitous. With approximately 320 miles of bike lanes, it's one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.

荷兰阿姆斯特丹附近赞瑟斯汉斯村里古老的风车 Historic windmills of Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, Netherlands (© Matt Cooper/Gallery Stock)

Bringing together history and technology

On the second Saturday in May, the Dutch celebrate an iconic national structure—the windmill—like these historic ones at Zaanse Schans. With hundreds of windmills across the country, many sites use the day to demonstrate how windmills work and host art exhibits. But the concept of using wind power isn’t just a historical anecdote—this renewable energy is experiencing a boom, and by 2050 is predicted to provide one-third of the world's electricity.