The smell of Amsterdam? Most people will think of the smell of weed, but a different smell wafts through the streets of Amsterdam. We go back four centuries, when most of Amsterdam's canals were constructed. Those canals were dug to serve the growing port. Waterways were the most efficient way to move all goods, but the large sailing ships could not get to the city this way. A network of smaller canals was built, where small boats pulled by horses transported the goods. Another reason for the canals was the flooding. Canals could protect the city against the water that tried to find a way out from a regularly flooded Amstel. And not unimportant: canals functioned as open sewers. The Zuiderzee at the time caused ebb and flow, which meant that all the dirt was regularly removed from the city. Unfortunately, that did not always work well and a large part of the dirt remained behind, making the canals smell enormously. Imagine a hot summer day with the sun heating up all the dirt, feces, rotten vegetables and so on... The stench was unbearable. The municipality of Amsterdam came up with a solution. The elm. Hundreds of elm trees were planted to remove the stench from the air and spread a fresh scent. Simple, but (fairly) effective. The trees have never been removed and remain a recognizable part of the city's decor to this day.
Amsterdam currently has 77,000 elm trees. There is even an elm walking route with the tallest elm, the street with the most different types of elms and much more. You are now standing in front of the oldest elm in Amsterdam, from 1891. Every year the trees create a unique phenomenon. In the spring the elms drop their white blossoms, the 'spring snow'. The scent of the blossom is typical and very recognizable to many. The artist duo Tijdmakers were inspired by the spring snow and decided to capture the scent of elm in a perfume, Eau d'Amsterdam. Is this the real smell of Amsterdam?