You may not think about it that way, because we mainly associate mussels with the Zeeland waters, but more than a million mussels live in the Amsterdam canals. “They contribute to the water quality in the city. The Great Swan Moss in particular can purify up to 50 liters of water a day. You could see them as part of the city’s civil service, which contribute to the well -being of the residents. We therefore baptized them in the museum to Superheld,” says Martijn Bosch.
Family exhibition in Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam
And that the canal water is actually fairly clean proves another underwater resident: the Riverdierpad, explains exhibition maker Marije Cornelissen. “This animal, which is actually not a path but a fish, and especially water piss beds, water fleas and small fish, is a natural indicator of water quality.” There are not many yet, at most a hundred and you will find them especially in the Weespertrekvaart, the cheerful family exhibition teaches us.
‘Vishotel’ also appears on the call-floor of the seventeenth-century canal house. “Amsterdam has had a hotel stop for some time, but that does not apply to fish hotels,” Martijn Bosch jokes. These concrete hiding places for fish come from the 3D printer and are placed in the new quay walls.
Director Martijn Bosch of the Grachtenmuseum: “The Great Swan Moss can purify up to 50 liters of water a day.” © Barbara Kieboom
“Of course, Amsterdam was struggling with many old quay walls that were sagging and that are being renewed. But of course there were holes and cracks in the old quay walls in which fish could hide and nest. The brand new specimens are slippery. To give the fish a safe place, these unique fishing hotels are conceived. Normally you can never see them. “The spiny bass in particular makes eager use of it.”
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The brown rat, the seagull, common swift and collar parakeet have also conquered a temporary place in the museum. Just like the elegant Knobbelzwaan and De Meerkoet. “The latter animal is an aggressive type, but sustainable,” Bosch points out.
“They are the garbage collar of the city. After all, they build their nests of waste and have a preference for plastic. They also take nests generation to generation. City ecologist Auke-Florian Hiemstra has disproved and discovered such a meadow nest, next to empty bottles, straws, even kisses from the Covid and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouth shells and mouths and mouths and mouths and mouth shells and mouthsteads and mouthsteads and mouthsteps and mouthsteps and mouthsteads and mouthsteps and mouthsteads and mouthsteps and mouthsteps and mouth shells and mouthsteps and mouth shells and mouth shells and mouth shells and mouth shells and mouth shells and mouth shells and mouthsteps period Stored. “
Funny facts and matching art
The exhibition tells fun facts and funny facts about every animal. Marije Cornelissen figured out matching artworks that stand between the stuffed animals. For example, there are ceramic images of fantasy animals by artist Hanneke Giezen, the visitor is introduced to the Meerkoet fascination of Tobias Asser and he can laugh at the pictures of Isabella Rozendaal, who portrayed Amsterdam pets in a special way. As
Babur, an Afghan greyhound that sails through the canals on a boat.
Babur, the Afghan greyhound that sails over the Amsterdam canals. © Isabella Rozendaal
“We hope that after seeing this small exhibition the people look outside with different eyes at the beautiful canals,” say Cornelissen and Bosch. “There is so much to discover. All those critters with whom we share our living environment, which you do not always know. Like these two ‘expats’: the American crayfish and Chinese wool crab. Those who just live on the bottom of the canals, while in China it applies as a delicacy. This crab is on the menu at various Chinese restaurants in Amsterdam.”
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The exhibition Animals on the canals can be seen until November 23.