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Dam Square
Posted: 2005-11-12, 2:08 pm

gezellig
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Hi

Was just wondering why the English 'square' is used and not plein like Leidseplein et al? I assume I'm right that plein is Dutch for square by the way!

Cheers
G~
Re: Dam Square
Posted: 2005-11-12, 2:37 pm

axxxtw Founder
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In Dutch it's "De Dam". Nothing else.

In the mists of time, it began as one of those things that hold back water---a dam. The geographic place where the city on the Amstel first congealed. The Dam. De Dam. The name, in Dutch, references this. Amsterdam comes from Amstel-dam. Why Amstel became Amster is subject to, er, fogginess (it is likely a colloquial affair). But Amstel remains the name of the river.

Adding "Square" is an English language thing. The "pleins" which describe the many squares that arose around town later, are a different matter.

Incidentally, just to mix it up a little further, when the Dutch themselves write or speak in English they'll very, very often call it Dam Square.

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Last edited by axxxtw on 2005-11-14, 10:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Dam Square
Posted: 2005-11-13, 12:12 am

420 Power Kat
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When your riding the trams all they say is " De Dam" ,,,no square mentioned !

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