Amsterdam’s Canal District celebrated its 400th birthday in 2013 making it a very special year for The Netherland’s capital. It’s a city of history, architecture, art and, of course, an infamous edgy side but what I enjoyed most were the Amsterdam canals; pretty leaf-lined waterways, criss-crossed with curvy little bridges, edged with cobblestone streets and leaning gabled houses.
A Brief History of Amsterdam’s Canals
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
First some history. Dug in the 17th century, the Dutch ‘Golden Age’ the canal district is a half-cobweb of over 100 kilometres of intersecting waterways, interspersed by upwards of 90 islands and linked by around 1280 bridges. I had no idea there were so many canals – more in fact than Venice!
The central ring or Grachtengordel (Canal Belt) is a concentric belt around the old city centre made up of three rings of canals lined with gabled merchants’ houses and warehouses. Over time hundreds of narrow streets and smaller canals have fanned out from the centre following the course of old paths and drainage ditches.
Jordaan and The Nine Streets
I got a really good feel for the quieter side of the city wandering the tree-lined canals on the Singel and around the picturesque Jordaan and the Nine Streets areas. If there hadn’t been so much to see in the city I’d have been more than happy spending all my time browsing the chic little boutique shops or lingering in the late-afternoon sun with a beer just watching Amsterdam life drift by.
De Prins Cafe on Prinsengracht Canal
Our favourite breakfast stop De Prins Cafe on Prinsengracht Canal (Princes Canal). The scrambled egg with cheese and ham and a coffee really set us up for a day of sightseeing and it was only a short walk from our hotel.
Amsterdam’s Canal Boats
The canals are not just the pretty face of the city; they’re also a great way to get around. A canal-bus travels three different routes every half hour throughout the city dropping off tourists at 14 major attractions and allowing locals an easy way to get to and from work – I’d guess one of the prettiest commutes in the world.
Barges, rowing boats, canal taxis and sight-seeing boats glide through the canals throughout the day and evening. We took an open-topped canal cruise from near to The Central Station to get a relaxing, orientation from a slightly different perspective. It was idyllic to just sit back in the sun and let the city’s gabled apartments slip by as our ‘captain’ pointed out interesting buildings and landmarks. As it was a smaller vessel seating around 18 we were free to ask questions – so we did; lots of them!
Amsterdam’s Houseboats
Amsterdam’s canals are home to some 2500 houseboats. They range from brightly painted boats, barges laden with planters full of colourful flowers to modern minimalist looking boats. You can stay in a houseboat rental and there is even one housing a cat sanctuary – home to 100 displaced moggies!
Keeping Amsterdam’s Canals Clean
It’s important to keep the canal water clean and three times a week 14 of the 16 locks around the city are closed and clean water is pumped in from Lake Ijsselmeer. This creates a current which forces the dirty water out of the locks on the other side of the city. Today, the water in the canals is cleaner than it has ever been but although the houseboats were connected to the sewer system in 2005 swimming isn’t recommended.
It’s said that on average 100 people and 35 cars fall in every year although the low barriers along some of the canal edges are supposed to ensure that parked cars stay where they should. There’s a crack squad of four divers on call day and night to deal with vehicles taking a swim.
How many bikes in Amsterdam?
Bicycles are not averse to ending up in the drink either and hundreds of these are fished out of Amsterdam’s canals by dredgers each year. There are nearly as many bikes as people in the city and they have right of way over pedestrians – they don’t take kindly to distracted tourists and I did well to avoid a squishing. Around 300 bikes change hands every day.
The Seven Bridges
Reguliersgracht canal showcases one of the best views on Amsterdam’s canals – a line-up of seven arched, brick bridges. Not sure I captured them all in this shot…
View of The Seven Bridges, Amsterdam
So there you have a few of the reasons why I loved the canals of Amsterdam (professional tourist me!) and a few quirky facts too. Check out my other Amsterdam posts Slightly Squiffy in Amsterdam, What to see for Free in Amsterdam and Sex, Drugs and Pedalos.
Picnic on the Canal
The canals are great for photography too, because as you rightly point out they offer a blend of heritage, scenes from daily life and historic architecture.
The canals are very photogenic – would have liked to get some hot at night as well but maybe next time.
A beautiful and informative post that stirred fond memories Suzanne. Amsterdam was our first European destination way back when traveling abroad was just a dream! We never thought we would ever step foot outside our country again!! Not surprising that we fell in love with everything about it 🙂
I can’t believe that it’s taken me so long to reach Amsterdam when it’s so near. I loved it too and shall defintely return. How far and wide your travels have taken you since your Amsterdam trip! 🙂
It is such a shame that so many other cities have covered over their canals like Bologna and Lille. Great post and lovely pictures.
Thank you – maybe we’ll uncover some more of Bologna’s canals. Looking forward to hearing about Lille…
Suzanne, This is a wonderful post! We used to live in Amsterdam, and although we learned a lot about the canals you’ve blown my mind with so much new information. Thanks for filling in the gaps … and for a beautiful post about one of my favorite cities. All the best, Terri
My pleasure Terri and thank you for dropping by 🙂
It is so picturesque and the history of the canals is really interesting. Great post!
Thanks Meg 🙂
Lovely images. There’s something intensely romantic about house boats and although i am not sure I would want to live on one I do so love the bright blue one …
The blue one really stood out – in fact I think it’s a holiday let so if you ever wanted to indulge your romatic side for a day or two…
Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities … just love everything about it – still I have been rubbed twice on my hotel room staying at the same hotel, couple of years in between. Park Hotel and they did nothing to help me what so ever, but I still love the city – pity that hotel rooms are so terrible expensive, will rent a apartment next time.
The canals is what make the city so special – reading this great post .. I want to go back tomorrow allready. *smile
Surprised that the city is only 400 years old .. when my little town in 600.
Great photos, all of them
Hi Viveka, thanks for dropping by 🙂 I loved the city and would also go back tomorrow!
I think it’s just the main canal ring that’s 400 years old.
Lovely photos, you had some great weather. I really fancy staying on a houseboat next time I go to Amsterdam. I haven’t had the best luck with the city (first time it poured, second time I had terrible laryngitis and) so might be third time lucky!
I hope your next visit is better than the first two! I shall definitely return as there was so much we didn’t see and do.
My boyfriend has to go out there every year for a few days for work so I might tag along next time.
Oh I think you should – be rude not to…!
A brilliant post for a fantastic city! Last time I was there I explored the canals via a pedal boat : )
Thank you! I’d have loved to have done that – just ran out of time as there was so much to see and do 🙂
Bliss to me is a houseboat, Suze! I’m half wondering about Amsterdam for my sixty something birthday in November. I had been thinking sunny, (always! 🙂 ) but I could be tempted.
I would go back tomorrow Jo, so much more to see – and to go in Winter would be good to get around the museums. It was such gorgeous weather when we were there it would have been a crime to stay indoors. Richard has good tips on how to get there from your neck of the woods.
🙂
I never get bored of the Amsterdam canals – I’ve been 4 times and always go on a cruise. Next time I’ll think about chartering my own little boat!
We just came across a boat leaving as we got there and hopped on. 18 euros for two hours. Lovely in the sun.
Want to go back to Amsterdam – just not enough time there… Have you thought about a pedalo – that sounds like fun 🙂
A very informative post. Thank you.
My pleasure 🙂