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.
Susan Rushton 
That this is called a passage seems counterintuitive; it seems to me the purpose of this place is to lie on the floor and stare up for at least an hour. It is wonderful! I think you got a great shot of the emerald torch on the wall in that top photo. And in the third one I love the way the reflected lights seem to bubble up out of those brilliant lamps! Bicycle lights? Go for it! Thanks for this!
Thank you! If you were to linger and immerse yourself it would feel like floating in an underwater tunnel with fish, air bubbles and even a water rat.
That’s fabulous particularly as it includes bicycles
I love the chandeliers having tiled ceiling roses like bicycle cogs. It’s a great blend of traditional and modern elements.
Absolutely!
This is absolutely gorgeous!
I’m glad you liked it, Jackie.
What a very beautiful place, Susan. I never did get to Amsterdam. Very definitely my loss 😦 😦
Perhaps one day! It’s a visual treat. We were only there briefly – just long enough to make good use of a day’s travel card.
Wow. That’s really beautiful. Amazing work with all those glass tiles.
Imagine the craftsmanship to get it looking like that – not just designing and making, but fixing them up in an arch.
Wow! That’s pretty amazing!
I can imagine a few collisions in that passageway, with everyone looking upwards instead of where they’re going.
Well that’s interesting
The green light lured us in from the main street.
Absolutely stunning. I could look up at that decoration for hours I think.
It would be a wrench to leave it, were there not so much more to see.
What a place! And I agree. Atlas Obscura is a wonderful resource for the curious traveller. As are certain members of our blogging community …
Including your good self!
What a wonderful place Susan 🙂 From what has been used so far this month I think bicycle lights would be fine 🙂
Bicycle lights are more than fine I think!!
Too late to get fussy now Becky even if you did write the rules 😀 😀
Hee hee but I really do like it!
So of the ones that have been on peoples posts have been inventive that’s for sure 🙂