Canal Bus
Unesco
The ring of canals was built in the 17th century in Amsterdam. In the Golden Age, Amsterdam was a prosperous city and a global centre. Therefore, the city invested in the construction of the canal belt in both housing and respect. The construction of the canal belt was made as an architectural work of art.
Brief Description
The historic urban ensemble of the canal district of Amsterdam was a project for a new ‘port city’ built at the end of the 16th and beginning of the 17th centuries. It comprises a network of canals to the west and south of the historic old town and the medieval port that encircled the old town and was accompanied by the repositioning inland of the city’s fortified boundaries, the Singelgracht. This was a long-term programme that involved extending the city by draining the swampland, using a system of canals in concentric arcs and filling in the intermediate spaces. These spaces allowed the development of a homogeneous urban ensemble including gabled houses and numerous monuments. This urban extension was the largest and most homogeneous of its time. It was a model of large-scale town planning, and served as a reference throughout the world until the 19th century.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site will take in the area around Amsterdam’s three main canals: the Herengracht or Patricians’ Canal, the Keizersgracht or Emperor’s Canal, and the Prinsengracht or Prince’s Canal. The three waterways run parallel to each other in a crescent shape, giving the city centre its characteristic semi-circular shape when viewed from the air. Many of the canal houses were built in the Golden Age, a period of great progress and prosperity in 17th-century Amsterdam.
Canal Company is your partner in canal cruises and sightseeing tours in Amsterdam. We are very proud to take you along a canal cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage canal district.