Original streets

The street was named in 1879 after Prince Henry of the Netherlands (who died in that year), replacing a patchwork of existing street names, from west to east: Haringpakkerij, Tesselse Kade, Oude Teertuinen, Kamperhoofd and Buitenkant.

The westernmost section, between Haarlemmersluis (at the northern end of the Singel canal) and Martelaarsgracht, was originally known as Haringpakkerij because the area was used for the local herring industry. A defensive tower known as the Haringpakkerstoren stood here until it was demolished in the 19th century. East of the Haringpakkerij, the street was originally known as Tesselse Kade or Texelse Kade ("Texel Quay"). This narrow quay replaced an area that was used as timber yards (houttuinen) until the 17th century. After the artificial islands for Amsterdam Central Station were constructed in 1872–1879, the Tesselse Kade was broadened and renamed Prins Hendrikkade. A small park known as Prins Hendrikplantsoen was constructed on the now wide street, and a bust of Prince Henry was placed in the park (the bust was moved to the eastern part of Prins Hendrikkade in 1979). The terrain sloped down gently from the Prins Hendrikkade to a quay along the waterside. This quay was replaced in the 1960s with docks for canal tour boats operated by the company of J.H. Bergmann.^[2]

At the intersection with the Damrak, where the Amstel river flows into the IJ bay, the Prins Hendrikkade runs across the river's mouth on the Nieuwe Brug ("new bridge"). The first bridge here was constructed in the late 13th or early 14th century. In 1560 the Paalhuis was built adjacent to the bridge to collect customs duties on shipping. This Renaissance building was demolished in the middle of the 17th century.

East of the Damrak, the street was originally known as Teertuinen ("tar yards") because the area was used to store tar. The storage of this highly flammable substance presented a serious fire hazard, so in 1664 the storage of tar was moved to newly constructed artificial islands known as the Westelijke Eilanden. Subsequently, the street continued to be known as the Oude Teertuinen ("former tar yards"). The section at the northern end of Oudezijds Kolk canal was known as Kamperhoofd. A large cannon was placed on the city walls at Kamperhoofd, which formed the northernmost point of the Medieval city.^[3]

The easternmost part of the street was originally known as Buitenkant ("outside"), a name reflected in the street name Binnenkant ("inside") which still exists opposite this section of the street.

21st-century modernisation

In 2018, the part of the street directly in front of Amsterdam Central Station, between Martelaarsgracht and Damrak, was made car-free in an effort to reduce east–west car traffic through the city centre and simplify the often chaotic traffic situation in front of the station. East–west traffic is since led along the northern side of the station.^[4]

The city government has announced plans to modernise the eastern part of Prins Hendrikkade in order to make the area safer for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The project is expected to start in 2023.^[5]