Rare Historical Photos of the Tram Accidents in Amsterdam from the 20th Century

In Amsterdam, the city’s tram network is one of the most popular transportation options. Amsterdam Central Station is the endpoint of many tram lines in the city. Blue and white are distinguished by a famous bell that rings out to attract pedestrians and cyclists in their vicinity. Trams offer one of the quickest ways to get around the city center and across Central Station.

History of Trams in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a long history of Trams dating back to 1875 when the first horse-drawn tramway was opened. It connected Plantage and the Leidseplein, and was operated by AOM (Amsterdamsche Omnibus Maatschappij), founded in 1872 by Karel Herman Schadd, among others. Horse trams were once standard in Amsterdam, running through the busy streets, linking all the neighborhoods on the Singel with Dam Square and through newly built neighborhoods.

The city of Amsterdam took over AOM on 1 January 1900. The company is now known as Gemeentetram Amsterdam (GTA). In addition to the company, 242 tram cars, 758 horses, and 15 buildings were acquired. Only one tram line was electrified between 1900 and 1906. In addition, the AOM’s unusual track gauge of 1,422 mm was converted to a 1,435 mm standard gauge in 1916. The last remaining Amsterdam horse tramway was electrified in 1916. A former horse tramway in Sloten was taken over by the GTA five years after Amsterdam annexed the municipality of Sloten. By 1922, this tram-hauling bus line, which connected Overtoom with Sloten, was converted into a conventional bus network.

The tramway network reached its greatest extent in 1931, with 25 tram lines. These trams made it possible to reach all districts of the city. The fleet grew to 445 motorized trams and approximately 350 trailers between 1900 and 1930. All of these vehicles had twin axles and wooden bodies. Tram service was reduced during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Between 1940 and 1945, trams carried large crowds and faced a crisis. A coal shortage caused several lines to be suspended before the full service ceased in October 1944. A large number of trams were shipped east. After World War II, tram service was resumed in June 1945, initially with limited service.

Below are some rare historical photos of Tram accidents in Amsterdam from the 20th Century.

#1 Tram 9 derailed near the Physiological Laboratory in Rapenburgerstraat 136, Amsterdam, February 7, 1951.

Under the tip of the derailed trailer, on the edge of the sidewalk, the spot where the postman ended up

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#2 Haarlem tram, the narrow gauge line from the Amsterdam Spui to Haarlem, collided with a truck with a trailer derailed on the Admiraal de Ruyterweg, February 15, 1950

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#3 Haarlem tram, derailed, Spuistraat corner Paleisstraat, 25 February 1952.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#4 Collision between tram 1 and a British-made truck (Fordson), Overtoom corner Nassaukade, Amsterdam, April 1946.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#5 Tram 3 involved in a collision at the Frederik Hendrikplantsoen, Amsterdam, April 6, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#6 Truck of the Dutch Railways hit a tram, half on its side, April 14, 1947.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#7 Tram 9 is placed on the rails with united force after a collision with a municipal garbage truck on the Plantage Middenlaan, June 25, 1948.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#8 Tram 4 enters the Amstel, Amsterdam, September 6, 1950.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#9 Tram 4 misses the bend at the Bakkersstraat enters the Amstel, September 5, 1950

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#10 Traffic accident, pile-up of cars and trams on the Rozengracht, Amsterdam, September 14, 1951.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#11 Chain collision of trams on Damrak, overview from the Beurs van Berlage, , September 18, 1951.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#12 Haarlem tram has been hit in the side by a truck, Admiraal de Ruyterweg corner Jan van Galenstraat, Amsterdam, October 7, 1946

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#13 The Haarlem tram off the rails, the press on the spot, Raadhuisstraat corner Spuistraat, Amsterdam, November 1, 1949

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#14 Traffic accident with tram 1 on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal near the Nieuwe Kerk, 13 December 1951

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#15 Car collision with tram 7 in the Witte de Withstraat, Amsterdam, December 18, 1955.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#16 Collision in Van der Hoopstraat, 27 March, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#17 Collision in Van der Hoopstraat, 27 March, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#18 Collision between a passenger car and tram line 10 in the van Limburg Stirumstraat corner of Hogendorpstraat, Amsterdam. 5 February 1959

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#19 Car under a tram of line 16. Weteringplantsoen in Amsterdam, November 22, 1947

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#20 Auto onder tram van lijn 16. Weteringplantsoen, Amsterdam, 22 november 1947.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#21 Car accident Surinameplein at Haarlemmermeerstraat, line 17 in collision with passenger car, 1 death. January 8, 1964

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#22 Car accident Surinameplein at Haarlemmermeerstraat, line 17 in collision with passenger car, January 8, 1964

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#23 Tram car collision with Frederiksplein delivery van, February 12, 1957.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#24 Damaged tram of the Amsterdam-Haarlem-Zandvoort line during the First World War, 1918.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#25 Tree fell on tram at Amsterdam Central Station due to heavy storm. November 13, 1972

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#26 Tree fell on tram at Amsterdam Central Station due to heavy storm.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#27 Collision at the corner of Wibautstraat-Ruysstraat between line 3 and bus NZH. The tram that the bus collided with, November 19, 1963.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#28 Collision line 7 with truck Plantage Kerklaan. December 11, 1956

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#29 Collision tram and trailer. Bos en Lommerplein. June 23, 1961

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#30 Tram collision in Amsterdam, Admiraal de Ruyterweg at the intersection with Jan van Galenstraat.October 7, 1946

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#31 Tram collision in Amsterdam, Admiraal de Ruyterweg at the intersection with Jan van Galenstraat.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#32 Clash of tram with bus, corner Elandsgracht-Nassaukade. August 4, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#33 Collision of tram with truck. Koeneman & Sons Sappermeer in Amsterdam. August 3, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#34 Collision of tram Nassaukade corner Kinkerstraat with ESA bus. Overview with ambulance. August 4, 1970

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#35 Collision between line 3 and line 3 on the Insulindeweg the trams collided, October 9, 1960

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#36 Collision between tram and beer car in Amsterdam. Plantation Muidergracht corner Roeterstraat with line 7. September 17, 1959

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#37 Collision between trams on the Middenweg, railcar of line 9 in the rear balcony of the instruction car, July 11, 1960.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#38 Collision of line 3 with truck, March 1, 1958.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#39 Collision truck and Line 13 in the Jan Evertsenstraat, March 13, 1961

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#40 Bus against tram at the corner of Stadionweg-Amstelveenseweg, October 29, 1962

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#41 Tram collision, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#42 The tram of line 24 has run off the rails in a traffic accident on the Stadionweg. November 30, 1966

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#43 Tram collision on the Weteringschans, May 6, 1972.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#44 Italian truck rams into tram line 3 in Amsterdam, January 21, 1960.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#45 Line 13 off the rails at Slotermeerlaan in Amsterdam, November 4, 1968.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#46 Line 4 in the Amstel, September 6, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#47 Line 4 in the Amstel, Amsterdam. September 6, 1950.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#48 Collision of tram with lorry of Koeneman & Zonen Sappermeer. August 3, 1956 .

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#49 Tragic tram collision in Amsterdam, 1950s.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#50 Around half past four on the Amsterdam Weteringcirc tram line 16 derailed in the direction of Stadionplein, December 30, 1980

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#51 NZH tram derailment after collision with truck. Meeuwenlaan near the old Droogdokmij. September 26, 1946

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#52 Tram derailment on Damrak Amsterdam, October 24, 1956.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#53 Derailment of line 7 in the Jan Evertsenstraat, September 5, 1960

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#54 Police van collides with tram on Martelaarsgracht in Amsterdam, August 18, 1978.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#55 Tram 16 derailed on the Amsterdam Weteringcirc in the direction of Stadionplein, December 30, 1980.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#56 Singelgracht at Nassauplein Motor car 9 of tram line 18 derailed by a lump of snow and hit the water. January 2, 1924

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#57 Tanker against tram line 10 in Amsterdam, February 8, 1967.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#58 Tram car collision Nieuwezijdsvoorburgwal, May 3, 1951.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#59 Tram is derailed in a curve due to bolt in the rails. Roeterstraat corner Sarphatistraat, August 23, 1961.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#60 Tram line 1 collides head on with car on Amstelveenseweg, 1 dead. The totally destroyed, August 27, 1964.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#61 Tram line 24 collides with fire truck in Ferdinand Bolstraat corner 1e Jan Steenstraat, 11 september 1953.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#62 Tram with four cars in collision Amsteldijk, October 25, 1950.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#63 Tram derailed on Dam Square, Amsterdam. September 5, 1972

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#64 Tram derailed at Leidse Plein. October 11, 1953

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#65 Tram against trees in Sarphatistraat. August 23, 1961

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#66 Tram flew around the bend and collided with the house, July 23, 1986

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#67 Tram out of the bend on the corner of Weesperzijde and Ruyschstraat in Amsterdam, October 22, 1970.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#68 Tram of line 1 in full speed against a car on the Amstelveenseweg corner Zocherstraat, April 28, 1964

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#69 Tram off rails at Weteringscircuit, January 17, 1966

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#70 Line 7 gone off the rails at Frederiksplein, August 8, 1968

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#71 Tram collision Ceintuurbaan in Amsterdam, November 6, 1951

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#72 Tram collision in Sarphatistraat destroyed railcar of line 7, September 18, 1959

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#73 Tram collision line 3 in Wijttenbachstraat, derailed railcar, October 18, 1960.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#74 Tram collision with lorries on the Nassaukade, August 11, 1959.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#75 Tram collision at intersection Nassaukade Kinkerstraat, November 22, 1955.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#76 Tram 27 runs in shop corner Kinkerstraat Nassaukade, December 15, 1964

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#77 Tram accident Jonas Daniel Meijerplein. Traffic cop (standing there with traffic sign), February 7, 1951.

0 Points

Upvote Downvote

#78 Tram collision on the Weteringschans, Front of one of the destroyed trams. May 6, 1972

0 Points

Upvote Downvote