Stairway

The Trappenbrug is a monumental bridge over the Turfmarkt in the city of Gouda, in the Dutch province of South Holland. The Staircase Bridge is the only one of its kind in Gouda. As early as 1507 there was a stone bridge on this site. This bridge was also called the Vuilsteegbrug, because it was located opposite the Vuilsteeg; this was an alley that led to the rubbish dump on the city vest, nowadays the Regentesseplantsoen. In the 19th century, the name Vuilsteeg was changed to the current name Lange Dwarsstraat. On the other side of the Trappenbrug is the Geertje de Bultsteeg, an alley that forms the connection between the Turfmarkt and the Groenendaal with the Arie Kerssensteegje and the Looierspoort. In 1574 the existing bridge was replaced by a newly built stair bridge. The height of the bridge was necessary so that the peat ships could pass this bridge unhindered. The name Turfmarkt is a reminder of the time when peat from the surrounding peat bogs was traded here. Peat ships sailed via the Turfsingel and the Gouwe to the Turfmarkt.

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