AMSTERDAM CENTRAL STATION

Intl crossroads a palace of the mind

Photos by Yomiuri Shimbun Photographer Norikazu Tateishi

By Ryoji Kanno

Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Everyone was walking fast past the front of Amsterdam Central Station. Since trains directly connect to such cities as Berlin, Paris and Basel, Switzerland, passengers of many nationalities and races pass through its platforms and halls.

But most seemed uninterested in the graceful station building standing high above their heads. Their minds were probably filled with thoughts about their jobs or families as they hastily disappeared into the station one after another.

As I stood in front of the station building, my ears caught the atmospheric sound of an accordion. A small man was playing an old red-colored accordion. Dressed in a black shirt, his clothes looked too light for the chilliness of late autumn. In a small wooden box on the ground in front of him, there were only five coins.

"I came from northern Bulgaria a month ago. The piece of music I just played originated in my country," the 33-year-old man said. "I've been traveling back and forth between my hometown and foreign cities. I've left my wife and child at home." His eyes began to glisten with tears. I felt like the man was eagerly trying to find something — a small but cherished dream.

Amsterdam Central Station was completed in 1889, and became a symbol of the country's desire to rejuvenate its stumbling economy.

The station has two towers. On the left tower is a weather vane symbolizing the maritime trade. On the right tower is a clock that symbolizes railways. Between the two towers are reliefs reflecting the nation's hopes for prosperous agriculture, trade and industry.

It is said that when architect Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers designed the station building, he had the image of a mirage appearing at a port in mind.

"The central station is a monument built for the restoration of the Netherlands, and it's also like a palace for tourists. The architect's aim has been achieved and we can be proud of the station's beauty in front of the rest of the world," said Aart Oxenaar, director at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture.