Amsterdam Amstelsluizien (#0033)

Sluices, dating from 1674 (I'm sure remodeled/refined), that allow the canals to be flushed with fresh water from the river, thus making the area more inhabitable. These are the same locks seen in the first picture (#0028) from the hotel. On top of the center pier are light tubes that are part of the winter light show (see adjacent picture). The green structure in the distance appears to be scaffolding around the tower of Zuiderkerk, a church built in the early 1600's and now used as a conference center.