The OZ Voorburgwal was originally a creek that was later dug into a canal around the eastern part of the city, the old side.

Before 1385 the Amstel divided the city of Amsterdam into two almost equal parts, the old side with the Old Church and the new side with the New Church.

To protect the city, a moat was dug on each side with a burgwal behind it, an earthen wall, with a wooden palisade for protection.

When new ramparts were constructed behind these ramparts around 1385, on both the old and new sides the existing rampart became the Voorburgwal and the new rampart became the Achterburgwal.

That is how Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and Nieuwezijds Achterburgwal (now Spuistraat) were created.

In the 17th and 18th centuries the canal was usually called the Fluwelenburgwal.

When the buildings on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal were built in the Golden Age, canal gardens were laid out behind the mansions.

Almost all of them have since disappeared.

The Bierkaai (beer quay) was the quay on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, near the Oude Kerk, where barrels of beer arrived and porters loaded and unloaded the heavy barrels.

The residents of this part of Amsterdam were known as invincible fighters.

The proverbial "fight against the beer quay" is derived from this: dedication to a hopeless cause.
The OZ Voorburgwal was originally a creek that was later dug into a canal around the eastern part of the city, the old side. 
Before 1385 the Amstel divided the city of Amsterdam into two almost equal parts, the old side with the Old Church and the new side with the New Church. 
To protect the city, a moat was dug on each side with a burgwal behind it, an earthen wall, with a wooden palisade for protection. 
When new ramparts were constructed behind these ramparts around 1385, on both the old and new sides the existing rampart became the Voorburgwal and the new rampart became the Achterburgwal. 
That is how Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Oudezijds Achterburgwal, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and Nieuwezijds Achterburgwal (now Spuistraat) were created.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the canal was usually called the Fluwelenburgwal. 
When the buildings on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal were built in the Golden Age, canal gardens were laid out behind the mansions. 
Almost all of them have since disappeared.
The Bierkaai (beer quay) was the quay on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, near the Oude Kerk, where barrels of beer arrived and porters loaded and unloaded the heavy barrels. 
The residents of this part of Amsterdam were known as invincible fighters. 
The proverbial "fight against the beer quay" is derived from this: dedication to a hopeless cause.
Oudezijds Voorburgwal