Damrak, Amsterdam

The Damrak is a partly filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, between Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Dam Square, running north-south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam. Also it is one of the two GVB tram routes from the station into the centre, with lines 4, 9, 16, 24, and 25 running down it.
It is also on the route of the North/South Line (Amsterdam metro line) being constructed between the existing metro station at Centraal Station and the new Rokin station.
Because of the former stock exchange building, the monumental Beurs van Berlage (now used for other purposes), and several other buildings related to financial activities erected there in the early 20th century, the term "Damrak" has come to be a synonym for the Amsterdam Stock Exchange in the same way "Wall Street" is synonymous with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
The street was located on a rak (reach), a straight part of the Amstel river near a dam; hence the name.