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The ring of canals is a system of streets, quays, bridges and houses on fairly identical plots of equal length and width with closed inner gardens. Many canal houses are testimony to the prosperity of the Golden Age, but in most cases of the 18th century.
Keizersgracht - one of the main canals in the Canal Belt of Amsterdam
Amsterdam grew rapidly in the 17th century. The city quickly became prosperous and the number of residents increased. Canals were dug for the affluent elite, and many 'city palaces' were erected for rich merchants, bankers and city officials.
The Herengracht and Keizersgracht were the most attractive areas to live: close to the centre and with large plots of land.
The crescent-shaped rings of manmade waterways, called the Grachtengordel in Dutch, were built around the old heart of town at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th century.
Its vista of elegant, gabled mansions fronting long, tree-lined canals forms the image most often associated with Amsterdam. This zone includes the 16th-century Singel canal, hotels of all sizes, restaurants, antiques shops, and attractions like the canal museums and Anne Frank House.
the first of the 3 major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam. The most fashionable part is called the Golden Bend, with many double wide mansions, inner gardens and coach houses on Keizersgracht.
the 2nd and widest of the 3 major canals, between Herengracht and Prinsengracht, named after Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
the 4th and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam, named after the Prince of Orange who was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs and ancestor of the monarchy of the Netherlands.
the oldest and inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals that served as a moat around the medieval city from 1480 until 1585. It runs from the IJ to Muntplein, where it meets the Amstel river.
For the Netherlands, and Amsterdam in particular, the 17th century was a flourishing age better known as the Golden Age. Trade in spices with the Far East, now Indonesia, brought wealth to the city.
On Herengracht and Keizersgracht huge houses were erected. Many of these houses on the canals were richly decorated and beautifully laid out.
One of the most charming places to stay for tourists and to really experience Amsterdam is at a canalside hotel, usually established in 300-year-old buildings!
In 2010, Amsterdam's 17th century canal ring area inside the Singelgracht - the 3 main canals including Singel and Jordaan - became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Amsterdam canal district comprises a network of canals to the west and south of the historic old town and the medieval port that encircles the old town.
Alongside the 3 main canals (Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht) are 1550 monumental buildings.
Large canal house with beautiful facade with the heads of 6 Gods: Apollo, Ceres, Mercury, Minerva, Bacchus and Diana.
17th century canal house built in a curve for the rich Amsterdammer Willem van den Heuvel who adopted an Italian name.
Built by Golden Age architect Adriaan Dortsman in neo-classical style with a chacteristic copper dome
17th-century Protestant church in which Rembrandt was burried
17th-century Protestant church built by Hendrick de Keyser and his son Pieter
hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary during World War II
Sold in 2020 for €14,000,000
Canal, canals & canals
Amsterdam's charming canals
in pictures (10)
