From around 1380 to 1450 it was part of the town's defenses, forming the western limit of the medieval city of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam continued to grow, and in 1425 a broad new canal was dug further east of the town, where the Geldersekade and Kloveniersburgwal are today.

Twenty-five years later the Singel was completed round the west side of the city from the IJ to the Amstel.

The brewery "De Hooiberg" was established on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal in 1592 on the site now occupied by the Hotel Die Port van Cleve.

[4] In May 1621 the printer and newspaper publisher Broer Jansz (1579–1652) settled on the Nieuwezijds Achterburgwal in a house named the "Silvere Can".

With the third expansion, the grachtengordel (canal belt) had cross-canals at regular intervals, solving the problem.

Since land was in short supply, in the 1661 the City horse stables were built over the Donkere Sluis.

The name was changed to Spuistraat in November 1867 and a double row of chestnut trees was planted along it.

[10] Among the many alleys and streets connecting the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and Achterburgwal was the Stilsteeg; it and Korte Gasthuismolensteed were widened in 1875 to create the Paleisstraat.