Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Centraal is defined by its long, ornate red-brick facade, punctuated by towering spires and two grand clock-like turrets. Opened in eighteen eighty-nine, this massive building was designed by Pierre Cuypers, the same architect who created the Rijksmuseum. When it was first constructed, the station was a subject of local controversy, as its placement on three artificial islands in the IJ river effectively cut the city off from its historic waterfront.