Our Planet’s Landmarks Series #14

Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands

Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands is about Grachtengordel, the Canal District of the Netherlands.

Map of Grachtengordel - the Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
Map of Grachtengordel – the Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is regarded as the Venice of the North. It is hardly surprising as the city has 165 canals. With a combined length of more than 100 km. Plus 90 islands. And, 1280 bridges! That is three times more bridges than Venice!

And we may call it a man-made Venice.

On one of the bridges of the Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
On one of the bridges of the canals of Amsterdam

It all started in early seventeenth century. With immigration on the rise, the city planners decided to create four canals. As concentric half-circles. These were conceived to accommodate ever-increasing population.

The work started in 1613 CE. The canals were dug from West to East. The project got its final touches almost 50 years later.

View from one of the bridges of the Canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
View from one of the bridges of the canals of Amsterdam

By then, the population in the city had grown from a modest 50,000 to 200,000. That made Amsterdam the third biggest in the world after London and Paris. Not population alone, but the city grew four-fold in area too. Over 1550 gabled residential buildings came up on the banks of these canals. Today, this canal network also accommodates 2500 houseboats.

Hard Rock Cafe on the banks of a Canal of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
Hard Rock Cafe on the bank of a canal of Amsterdam

More about the canals

Grachtengordel (English: Canal District) is the area around the concentric half-circles of canals. The four canals of Grachtengordel are:

• Prinsengracht
• Keizersgracht
• Herengracht, and
• Singel

Prinsengracht is the outermost, and Singel is the innermost.

A scenic Canal of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
A scenic canal of Amsterdam

Even today, a canal-side address in Amsterdam is prestigious. City’s glitterati share it with city’s premier institutions, theatres, churches, and more.

Singel, the innermost canal, encircles the medieval city. It runs from the Central Station to Muntplein Square. Here, it meets Amstel River.

Prinsengracht - one of the canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
Prinsengracht – one of the canals of Amsterdam

Herengracht (Patrician’s Canal or Lords’ Canal) gets its name from the Heren Regents. They governed the city during 16th and 17th centuries. The most fashionable part of the city – the Golden Bend – is located here.

Keizergracht (Emperor’s Canal) is named after Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor. It is the widest of the three major canals of Amsterdam.

Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht - one of the canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
Anne Frank House on Prinsengracht (one of the canals of Amsterdam)

Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal) is the longest of the four canals as it is the outermost. It was in the 17th century when most houses along this canal came about. Along the banks of this canal, you’d also find Anne Frank House. It gets its name from Prince of Orange (William the Silent). He was the ancestor of present-day Dutch monarchy.

Cruising around on Prinsengracht - one of the canals of Amsterdam Netherlands - Travelure ©
Cruising around on Prinsengracht – one of the canals of Amsterdam

More Nuggets

Amsterdam is the only city in the world with a medieval centre (along Singel Canal) that is a red light district. These canals and residences were a sterling example of a large-scale town planning activity of its times. UNESCO acknowledged it by inscribing the Canal District as a World Heritage Site in 2010.

More Amsterdam Canals? Click HERE

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