Rokin
The Rokin is a canal and major street in the centre of Amsterdam. The street runs from Muntplein square to Dam square. The Rokin canal used to run from Muntplein square to Dam Square, but in 1936, the part between Spui square and Dam Square was filled in. Canal boats are now moored on the remaining part of the water, from the Amstel to Grimburgwal. History. Originally the Rokin was a section of the river Amstel, and was known then as "Ruck-in" (from 'inrukken', which means 'to withdraw', as some of the houses on the Amstel had to  be shortened to construct the quays there in the 16th century). Amsterdam's first commodities exchange was built in 1608-1609 at the corner of the Rokin and Dam Square. The commodities exchange, designed by Hendrick de Keyser, played a key part in the economic success of the city during the Dutch Golden Age. The building was demolished in 1835. During the ongoing construction of the North-South line, a new metro line, archeologists dug down to a depth of approximately 20 meters on the Rokin. The archeological finds in what used to be the Amstel river are expected to  shed new light on the history of Amsterdam and on the landscape and environment of the area in the millennia that preceded the founding of the city. The Mirakelkolom, which normally stands on the Rokin, was temporarily removed during the construction of the metro line. The Mirakelkolom is a stone column made up of remnants of the Heilige Stede (Nieuwezijds Kapel), a chapel built to commemorate the 1345 "Mirakel van Amsterdam" (Miracle of the Host). The chapel was demolished in 1908. A fire in the Rokin on May 9, 1977, claimed 33 deaths. Transport. Rokin metro station on Route 52  of the Amsterdam Metro opened in July 2018. The Rokin is also served by tramway lines 4, 14 and 24.