Amsterdam Centraal Railway Station
The present central station replaced Amsterdam Willemspoort Station, which had closed in 1878, as well as the temporary Westerdok Station used from 1878 to 1889.
The principal architect of Amsterdam Centraal was Pierre Cuypers, but it is believed that he focused mostly on the decoration of the station building and left the structural design to railway engineers. The main contractor was Philipp Holzmann.
Construction started in 1882. The station is built on three interconnected artificial islands, created with sand taken from dunes near Velsen, and is supported by 8,687 piles. The station building was completed in 1884, but the commission to Cuypers did not include the roofwork of the platforms. The distinctive roof, consisting of 50 curved trusses and a span of almost 45 metres (147 ft 8 in), was designed by L.J. Eijmer. The roof was manufactured by Andrew Handyside and Co of Derby. The station was officially opened on 15 October 1889. The opening of the central station marked the city's transition from a waterfront city to an inland city.
In 1920, the East Wing of the station (the lower end of the building) was demolished and replaced by "The East", a postal service building designed by Cuypers' son Joseph. A second, narrower and longer but similar roof on the north side of the station was completed in 1922.
The above information is condensed from the Wikipedia entry.