This massive Amsterdam tourist attraction is gone for good

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - July 13, 2012: Large I amsterdam sculpture in front of de Waag. July 13, 2012 in Amsterdam. The sculpture is part of the marketing campaign to promote tourism in in the city.
By laurencroft


If you’re planning on getting a pic in front of the “I amsterdam” sign any time soon, don’t hold your breath.

Well, not for the letters outside the Rijksmuseum, anyway. Because they’re gone!

No, we aren’t kidding. Last week, the letters were removed for good, at the request of the City of Amsterdam.

Why? Because, according to the I amsterdam website, the infamous letters “were removed at the request of the City of Amsterdam because they were drawing too big of a crowd to an already limited space,” Lonely Planet reported.

Each year, thousands of tourists snap photos with the letters, which have been there for 14 years.

The decision to remove the sign was decided by Amsterdam’s green party, GroenLinks, who said the sign represents mass tourism and opposes Amsterdam’s community spirit, Lonely Planet reported.

From now on, travellers who arrive at Rijksmuseum to take photos will be directed to other sets of the letters located around the city.

The city has a few sets of the letters – one at Schiphol airport, one at Sloterplas lake in the west of the city, one in the south-east and one set that will travel around the city, popping up for events and other attractions.

In other words, you’ll still be able to get that snap you’ve been dreaming of – it just won’t be in front of Rijksmuseum.

Find out where the letters are heading next here. 

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

    Latest comments

    1. …. yes letters of city name draw tourism crowd and thanks to social media… the same idea i was telling sydney to do… sydney letters like the imposing hollywood letters…

amsterdam I amsterdam Rijksmuseum tourist attraction

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