During the 1930s, Amsterdam went through rapid development, and the population also increased by 17% from the 1920s. Most of the city’s expansion occurred in Frederik Hendrikbuurt and other neighbourhoods to the west of the Jordaan district. Significant developments with new districts followed in the west, south, and east. Berlage’s Plan Zuid is still very popular today. New quarters were also built north of the River IJ. Several new suburbs were built following the Amsterdam school of architecture; their asymmetrical, imaginative motifs broke up the monotony of suburban public housing.
Afsluitdijk, a dike separating the Zuider Zee from the North Sea, was completed in 1932. Zuider Zee was no longer. After the dike was completed, a new lake was formed behind it called IJsselmeer. Amsterdam had no open communication with the sea for the first time in its history.
A spectacular event known as the Jordaanoproer took place in 1934. Reductions in government unemployment support sparked protests and riots in several Dutch cities, most notably in Amsterdam’s Jordaan area. Six people were killed, and hundreds were injured during riots between 4 July and 9 July. This revolt was called the Jordaan riots, and all the streets in the region were paved in response, so stones could no longer be pulled and used as weapons.
Below are some stunning historical photos that show what Amsterdam looked like in the 1930s.
