Originally the Groenburgwal was called “Verwersgraft” but its current name is used as early as 1625 on maps. The explanation that the name would have originated from the presence of dyers was taken from a 1913 street name book and has since been cited. Amsterdam was known for its blue and black-dyed woollen cloths. Perhaps Groen (translate green) in Groenburgwal stemmed from the indigo dye process that colors green before the cloth can oxidise into blue.
