<strong>North-South Line: </strong>The construction of Amsterdam's underground North-South metro line was a tricky business as it burrowed beneath the foundations of old buildings and the city's waterways.
North-South Line: The construction of Amsterdam's underground North-South metro line was a tricky business as it burrowed beneath the foundations of old buildings and the city's waterways.
LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP via Getty Images
<strong>Deep in the past:</strong> Archaeologists worked in pressurized concrete chambers known as caissons to sift through soft dirt for hidden artifacts.
Deep in the past: Archaeologists worked in pressurized concrete chambers known as caissons to sift through soft dirt for hidden artifacts.
Monuments and Archaeology/City of Amsterdam
<strong>Years and years: </strong>The archaeologists unearthed around 700,000 artifacts ranging from mollusc shells thought to be 115,000 years old, right through to vintage cell phones.
Years and years: The archaeologists unearthed around 700,000 artifacts ranging from mollusc shells thought to be 115,000 years old, right through to vintage cell phones.
Monuments and Archaeology/City of Amsterdam
<strong>Big project, big headaches: </strong>Difficulties involved in the North-South line's construction mean it took 15 years to build and cost way over its expected budget.
Big project, big headaches: Difficulties involved in the North-South line's construction mean it took 15 years to build and cost way over its expected budget.
Monuments and Archaeology/City of Amsterdam
<strong>Extraordinary excavations: </strong>"The sheer mass of material we unearthed during the construction of the North-South line was extraordinary," says Peter Kranendonk, one of two senior archaeologists leading the excavations during the metro project.
Extraordinary excavations: "The sheer mass of material we unearthed during the construction of the North-South line was extraordinary," says Peter Kranendonk, one of two senior archaeologists leading the excavations during the metro project.
MARCEL ANTONISSE/AFP via Getty Images
<strong>Late service: </strong>The North-South line was inaugurated in July 2018, nearly seven years behind schedule. The route is six miles long -- of which 4.5 miles are underground.
Late service: The North-South line was inaugurated in July 2018, nearly seven years behind schedule. The route is six miles long -- of which 4.5 miles are underground.
ROBIN VAN LONKHUIJSEN/AFP via Getty Images
<strong>Station museum:</strong> Rokin station, in the center of the North-South line, now doubles as a museum, displaying 10,000 artifacts dug up during the construction.
Station museum: Rokin station, in the center of the North-South line, now doubles as a museum, displaying 10,000 artifacts dug up during the construction.
Monuments and Archaeology/City of Amsterdam
<strong>Heart of Amsterdam:</strong> Rokin lies right in the center of Amsterdam's concentric network of canals.
Heart of Amsterdam: Rokin lies right in the center of Amsterdam's concentric network of canals.
JASPER JUINEN/AFP via Getty Images