Artists Arno Coenen, Iris Roskam and Hans van Bentem turned Damrak’s Beurspassage into a work of art called ‘Amsterdam Oersoep’. Symbolic elements of this watery city are featured on a mosaic design that covers the barrel vaulted ceiling, including bicycles and aquatic creatures.

Over a million glass mosaic tiles were used, predominantly shades of green, but with rainbow colours woven in. The ceiling is lit up by a row of gilded metal chandeliers that have a traditional feel, but are made from recycled bicycle parts in celebration of the way many of the city’s inhabitants (and visitors) move around.

Beautifully crafted emerald green stained glass lamps line the walls. Hindsight is a great thing: I wish I’d taken a better picture of one of those.

I’ve been prompted to share these ceiling lights, lamps and the reflected light they shed as part of Becky’s JanuarySquares. Could I get away with bicycle lights too, do you think, or is that a step too far?

Find out more about Amsterdam Oersoep on Atlas Obscura, a handy way for travellers to make sure they don’t miss out on the weird and wonderful on their journeys.