Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: 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

The spire, called Westertoren, of the Westerkerk (Western Church) on the bank of the Prinsengracht is the highest church tower in Amsterdam with its 85 meters. The church, designed by the famous Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser, was built between 1620 and 1631 in the Dutch Renaissance style. Older churches in Amsterdam were originally built by Roman Catholics and were converted to Protestantism during the Reformation in 1578. The Westerkerk was one of the first purposely built Protestant churches. Today the Westerkerk is the largest church in the Netherlands that was built for Protestants. Rembrandt van Rijn is buried in the Westerkerk, as are several other famous Dutch artists. Anne Frank was soothed by the chimes of the church’s clock tower while in hiding and mentioned it several times in her famous diary. Former Queen Beatrix was also married there back in 1966.