The street crosses the Amstel and forms an almost 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long connection between the southern part of the Grachtengordel and the Oostelijke Eilanden.

The Sarphatistraat was named in 1870 after the physician Samuel Sarphati (1813–66), who had a major influence on the expansion and beautification of Amsterdam.

He contributed to the creation of the Paleis voor Volksvlijt on Frederiksplein and the Amstel Hotel on Professor Tulpplein.

On 14 August 1942, at the insistence of the German occupiers, a number of Amsterdam street names were changed by Mayor Edward Voûte.

Shortly before Nescio wrote this, writer Frederik van Eeden had expressed his opinion about unwelcome adjustments to the Sarphatistraat, while he thought it was the most beautiful street in Amsterdam.