Nederland - Amsterdam, Grachtengordel

Amsterdam has more than one hundred kilometers of canals, about 90 islands and 1500 bridges. The ‘Grachtengordel’ (Canal Ring Area) does exist of the Singel - in the Middle Ages a moat around the oldest parts of the city - and the main canals Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht. These three canals - dug in the 17th century during the so called Dutch Golden Age - form a concentric belt around the city.

The area around the city's main canals is an international icon of urban planning and architecture, which is still intact after four centuries. The area is known for its small bridges going over the canals and 17th-century canal homes. UNESCO added the Canal Ring Area in August 2011 to the World Heritage List.

Pictures:
main photo: façades of canal houses along de Prinsengracht, nearby Brouwersgracht
note 1: Herengracht
note 2: Prinsengracht
note 3: Keizersgracht

For more information: www.canalsamsterdam.com