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Onbekendegracht

Onbekendegracht with the rear of Theater Carré
Location of the canal (dark blue)
Location	Amsterdam
Postal code	1018
Coordinates	52°21′45″N 4°54′17″E / 52.362505°N 4.904795°E / 52.362505; 4.904795
North end	Nieuwe Prinsengracht
To	Nieuwe Achtergracht

The Onbekendegracht (Unknown Canal) is a short canal in Amsterdam, in the eastern part of the Grachtengordel (canal belt).

Location

The Onbekendegracht, which connects the Nieuwe Prinsengracht and the Nieuwe Achtergracht, is located directly behind the Royal Theater Carré in the Weesperbuurt. The cast iron bridge no. 252, built in 1899, connects Nieuwe Achtergracht with the Onbekendegracht. This pedestrian bridge is one of the 72 municipal monuments in the form of a bridge. The buildings at Onbekendegracht 1–5, built in 1906 and designed by AJ Tymensen, became a monument in 2006. Also bridge no. 253 is over the Onbekendegracht.

Name

The Onbekendegracht originally gave the Voormalige Stadstimmertuin street access to the Amstel. In a notarial deed drawn up in 1800 the canal was called "the Onbekende or Amstelgragtje". The name Korte Amstelgrachtje was also in vogue. The name means 'unknown canal'. In 1948, residents of the Onbekendegracht asked the municipality of Amsterdam to change the name of the canal because they found it too confusing. However, the request was not granted.

Mill

The impressionist Claude Monet painted a canvas in 1871 entitled "Le Moulin de l'Onbekende Gracht, Amsterdam" on which the "Rooseboom" mill is depicted. This 17th-century mill stood between the Amstel and the Onbekendegracht. In the course of time the mill was also called "Binnen Tuchthuismolen", "Het Land van Beloften" or "de Eendracht". In Monet's time, woods such as Paubrasilia were ground by the mill for the production of dyes. The mill was demolished in 1876 to make room for construction of the Carré theater.

Monet's painting can be seen in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

• Claude Monet - Le Moulin de l'Onbekende Gracht, Amsterdam, 1871
• Circus Carré at the start of construction, seen from the Onbekendegracht. c.1887
• Stratenmakerswerf (now Lepelstraat) Jacob Olie 1891

See also

• Canals of Amsterdam

Notes

1. Bert Bolle, De Amsterdamse Drosten, hoofdstuk 3, "Wandeling langs een Tijdlijn - Weg uit de Armoede"
2. "Typisch Amsterdams - Straatnamen", Amsterdam.nl
3. Verdwenen Molens in Nederland molendatabase.org

Sources

v t e Canals of Amsterdam
Excludes former canals that have since been filled in
Amstel sections	Damrak (partly filled up) Rokin (partly filled up) Amstel
Inner City	Oudezijds Kolk Oudezijds Voorburgwal Oudezijds Achterburgwal Grimburgwal Geldersekade Kloveniersburgwal Singel
Lastage	Kromme Waal Rechtboomssloot Kromboomssloot Groenburgwal Zwanenburgwal Raamgracht Oudeschans Snoekjesgracht Waalseilandsgracht Rapenburgwal Uilenburgergracht Houtkopersburgwal
Grachtengordel	Herengracht Keizersgracht Prinsengracht Lijnbaansgracht Singelgracht Brouwersgracht Blauwburgwal Leliegracht Leidsegracht Spiegelgracht Reguliersgracht Achtergracht
Jordaan	Brouwersgracht Egelantiersgracht Bloemgracht Lauriergracht Looiersgracht Passeerdersgracht
Plantage	Nieuwe Herengracht Nieuwe Keizersgracht Nieuwe Prinsengracht Nieuwe Achtergracht Onbekendegracht Plantage Muidergracht Schippersgracht Entrepotdok Entrepotdoksluis
Westelijke Eilanden	Eilandsgracht Bickersgracht Prinseneilandsgracht Realengracht Smallepadsgracht Zoutkeetsgracht
Oostelijke Eilanden	Oosterdok Dijksgracht Nieuwe Vaart Kattenburgervaart Wittenburgervaart Oostenburgervaart

• Canals in Amsterdam