The Amsterdam Bridge, a steel cable footbridge on Toronto's waterfront that has been closed since 2021, will officially reopen on Sunday morning after a rehabilitation project costing over one million dollars.
Grand Reopening Ceremony
The City of Toronto announced on Friday afternoon that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon to mark the reopening of the Amsterdam Bridge. The bridge, which dates back to 1974, was deemed unsafe for crossing in 2021 after being damaged by extremely high winds during a storm, according to a city statement to the Toronto Sun.
Rehabilitation Costs and Timeline
In November 2025, City Council approved a $640,000 rehabilitation for the bridge, with just over half of that amount coming from Section 37 benefits. However, during the city's budget process in February, the project's budget was increased to $1.09 million, with an additional $450,000 from Section 37 funds. The Harbourfront Centre contributed $150,000 to the project, as per municipal documents.
Location and Significance
The Amsterdam Bridge is located just west of the Harbourfront Centre, steps from Queens Quay near Lower Simcoe Street. On the other side of the bridge are businesses, including the Amsterdam Brewhouse, and a building used by the Toronto Police Service for marine operations. The bridge was a gift to Toronto from the mayor of Amsterdam in 1974.
The closure of the bridge for several years had frustrated members of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association, who described the landmark as a "blight" on the waterfront in a letter to City Council last year.
Funding and World Cup Connection
City documents cite the FIFA World Cup, which opens in Toronto on June 12, as justification for the spending to reopen the bridge. Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, the councillor for the ward that includes the bridge, brought forward the motion for rehabilitation in November 2025. She called the bridge "a landmark on our waterfront" but noted it had been damaged by several incidents since the pandemic.
Malik is scheduled to speak at the ceremony, along with Marjan Schippers, the Dutch consul general in Toronto.
