Kurversbrug

Kurversbrug is a typographic revival of one of Amsterdam’s most iconic visual features: the iron bridge nameplates that grace the city’s waterways. Designed by Ramiro Espinoza in 2001, this typeface is based on the distinctive lettering style likely created by Anton Kurvers (1889–1940), an artist associated with the Amsterdam School. With its heavy, low-contrast strokes and idiosyncratic forms, the original lettering reflects the expressive spirit of early 20th-century Dutch design.
Omnipresent across the Dutch capital, these nameplates form a unique and cohesive part of Amsterdam’s urban identity. Kurversbrug captures their character with precision and respect, translating physical iron letters into a digital typeface that maintains the charm, rhythm, and slightly irregular geometry of the originals.
More than just a revival, Kurversbrug is a tribute to a vernacular style that has endured for nearly a century. Ideal for signage, editorial use, and branding, it brings a piece of Amsterdam’s soul into the world of contemporary design.