Amsterdam is also known as the Venice of the North for the many canals, bridges and islands it has. The three main canals in the city are Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Prinsengracht. They were created in the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. The canals form concentric semicircular belts that surround Amsterdam. The belts are also known as grachtengordel. More than 1,500 monumental buildings are found along the main canals. The 19th century canals are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
History of the canals of Amsterdam:
Amsterdam’s canals form a system that has allowed the city to trade and defend itself quite successfully in the past. This is the result of careful planning of the city in the 17th century. During that time, immigration was at its peak and a comprehensive plan was necessary for the development of the canal. The Grachtengordel canals were created to facilitate the effective development of the city, especially in residential areas. Then an outer canal called Singelgracht was built for water management and defense purposes. If you take a boat tour of Amsterdam, you can see for yourself.
In the plan, provisions were made to include channels that would connect the main ones along the radios. It also consisted of several parallel canals, a canal along the inner perimeter, and more than 100 bridges. Work on them began in the west and continued east. The construction of the northwest structure began in 1613 and lasted until 1625. The southern sector of the canals did not begin until 1664 and work on it was slow due to the economic depression.
Some of the widely recognized channels on the belt:
Keizergracht: The canal is also known as the Emperor’s Canal. It is the widest of the Grachtengordel canals and the second of them. The canal is named after the Holy Roman Emperor Maxmilian I.
Singel: Amsterdam (during medieval times), was surrounded by Singel. Between 1480 and 1585 it functioned as a moat. After 1585, Amsterdam grew beyond Singel’s borders. The canal begins at IJ Bay and runs to Muntplein. Singel touches the Amstel river at this point. The canal is currently the innermost of the semi-circular belt of canals in Amsterdam. It is different from the Singelgracht canal that formed the outer boundary of the city in the 17th century.
Prinsengracht – Also known as the Prince’s Canal, Prinsengracht is the longest canal in the city. It is also the outermost (fourth) channel in the system. The channel derives its name from the Prince of Orange. Most of the houses along the canal were developed in the Dutch Golden Age. Several bridges span the canals; however, they do not connect to the streets of the Jordaan. Some of the interesting places to see along the canal are the Anne Frank House, Noordermarkt and Westerkerk. You can board a canal cruise ship to see these sights up close.
Other awesome canals in Amsterdam:
Zwanenburgwal: Located in the center of Amsterdam, Zwanenburgwal is both a street and a canal. Two notable personalities lived in this area: Spinzoa, the philosopher, and Rembrandt, the painter. The street was voted one of the most beautiful in Amsterdam, in 2006, by the locals. Zwanenburgwal connects the Sint Antoiniessluis gate and the Amstel river. It was originally called the Verversgracht, after the textile companies that had been established along the canal.
Brouwersgracht: The canal, located in the city center, is part of the canal system connecting Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Singel and Prinsengracht. The canal forms the northern boundary of the belt. Brouwersgracht also forms a street recognized as one of the most attractive in the city.
Kloveniersburgwal: Along the southern end of the canal belt is the Kloveniersburgwal, which connects the Nieuwmarkt and the Amstel river. It surrounds the edge of medieval Amsterdam. In the 17th century, the eastern side of the canal became quite densely populated. It now houses some of the grandest mansions in the city. One of the most beautiful is Trippenhuis, which currently contains the KNAW. The administrators of the Dutch East India Company were looking for Kloveniersburgwal. This is because it is located near the Oude Hoogstraat, the nerve center of the company.
Seranggracht, Lamonggracht, Brantasgracht and Majanggracht – These are the most recent canals to be built in Amsterdam. They were created in 1995 along the island of Java, which is man-made. Modern canal houses with traditional interpretations line these canals. The houses were designed by 19 Dutch architects. Nine ornately designed metal bridges have been developed over the canals to help cyclists and pedestrians cross them with ease.