"Giselberto de Amestelle" (Gijsbrechtof Amstel) on a document from 1189
The nameAmstel and the older formAemstel are derived fromAmestelle, which is a compound of the wordsaam orame meaning water andstelle meaning solid, high, and dry ground.[2][3][4] In the 12th century,Amestelle was used for the area orgouw that was closed in by the rivers Amstel andBullewijk and the bayIJ.[3] Between the 12th and 14th centuries, the area was developed and ruled by theVan Amstel family.[5][6] The river Amstel was named after this land area.[3][4]
Between 1525 and 1990, thewater board orhoogheemraadschap of the area through which the river flows wasAmstelland (Amstel Land),[7] a name still in use for the region. The names of the settlementsAmstelhoek (Amstel Bend),[8]Amsterdam (Amstel Dam),[3]Nes aan de Amstel (Headland upon Amstel),[9] andOuderkerk aan de Amstel (Old Church upon Amstel)[10] on the banks of the Amstel were derived from the river's name.
The Amstel begins where the canalAarkanaal and the riverDrecht meet, just north of the villageNieuwveen in the province ofSouth Holland. Here the river forms the border between the provinces of South Holland andNorth Holland and flows in northeastern direction.
The Amstel passes the hamletVrouwenakker and is then joined by the tributary riverKromme Mijdrecht. On the northern bank is the townUithoorn and on the southern bank is the villageAmstelhoek. Here the river forms the border between the provinces ofUtrecht and North Holland.
Further on, the river is joined by the tributary riverOude Waver. From here onwards, the river flows northward through the province of North Holland. The Amstel passes the villageNes aan de Amstel.
On the western bank is the townAmstelveen, where there is a small island in the river named Amsteleiland, and on the eastern bank the town ofOuderkerk aan de Amstel, where the river is joined by the tributary riverBullewijk. After this the Amstel flows into the city ofAmsterdam.
The river continues via theRokin to the Langebrugsteeg before being routed underground through pipes, passing under the filled in part of the Rokin andDam Square before remerging into theDamrak at the Oudebrugsteeg. The river then passes beneath thePrins Hendrikkade before empyting into theOpen Havenfront [nl].
The original course continues with Damrak, after which it passes Stationseiland, an artificial island withAmsterdam Centraal station, and flows into the former bayIJ.
A nationally televised concert is held on the river every year onLiberation Day. Therowing racesHead of the River Amstel and Heineken Roeivierkamp are held on the river annually. The river also forms part of the route of theCanal Parade, Amsterdam's annual floating gaypride parade.
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