herengracht photos on Flickr | Flickr After my first few weeks in the Netherlands, I finally managed to get to Amsterdam and thought I would post one of the shots from there! Amsterdam is every bit as beautiful as it is historic. It has a very rich architectural history with some of the buildings dating back to the 12th century. Amsterdam is the financial and the business capital of The Netherlands. Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 4.63 million international visitors annually, this is excluding the 16 million day trippers visiting the city every year. Some of the most beautiful canal systems are located within the city which has more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel.

Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. This is the view of the Reguliersgracht on the corner with the Keizersgracht at dusk. There were so many boats that were going past these canals that left behind a few light streaks. The view of the canals lit up at twilight is a beautiful sight to behold! EXIF - 467 secs f/10 ISO 100 20mm 99+ The Amsterdam canal system is the result of conscious city planning. In the early 17th century, when immigration was at a peak, a comprehensive plan was developed that was based on four concentric half-circles of canals with their ends emerging at the IJ bay.

Known as the Grachtengordel, three of the canals were mostly for residential development: the Herengracht (Gentlemen's or more accurately Patricians' Canal), Keizersgracht (Emperor's Canal), and Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal). The fourth and outermost canal is the Singelgracht, which is often not mentioned on maps, because it is an collective name for all canals in the outer ring. The Singelgracht should not be confused with the oldest and most inner canal Singel. The canals served the purposes of defense and water management. The defenses took the form of a moat and earthen dikes, with gates at transit points, but otherwise no masonry superstructures. The original plans have been lost, so some historians need to speculate on the original intentions: it is thought that the considerations of the layout were purely practical and defensive rather than ornamental. The eastern part of the concentric canal plan, covering the area between the Amstel river and the IJ bay, has never been implemented. In the following centuries, the land was used for parks, senior citizens' homes, theaters, other public facilities, and waterways without much planning.

Over the years, several canals have been filled in, becoming streets or squares... Actually the territory of canals divided by swans and ducks, sometimes they have a wars... Here is the winner observing his posessions. 86 sitting with a lovely cappuccino in the early summersun at the lock of Muiden. Just started the first part of a part from the hike that is called Floris V pad (path) that leads from Amsterdam to Bergen op Zoom and hits all the historical interesting places where once Floris V lived, worked, made laws, had wars etc. Floris V reigned as Count of Holland and Zeeland from 1256 until 1296. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, modernizing administration, policies beneficial to trade, generally acting in the interests of his peasants at the expense of nobility, and reclaiming land from the sea. King Edward I of England and Guy, Count of Flanders, engineerded his murder. Floris ordered for building the castle you can see In the far back of the image "Muiderslot", the place where he mostly lived and from where he was murdered. Taken from bridge - Blauwbrug.

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges! The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, contributing to Amsterdam's fame as the "Venice of the North". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canals_of_Amsterdam :copyright: All rights reserved. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, or edited without my written explicit permission. 99+ Het schip 'De Drie Gezusters' in de vaart met aan weerszijden de Herengracht te Drimmelen.

Het voormalige dorp Drimmelen werd tijdens de Sint-Elisabethsvloed van 1421 van de kaart geveegd. Veel verder landinwaarts ontstond toen Oud-Drimmelen. Toen in 1645 de Emiliapolder ten noorden van Oud-Drimmelen tot stand kwam ontstond Nieuw-Drimmelen aan een spuisluis bij de Amer. Oud- en Nieuw-Drimmelen hoorden bij elkaar. De (hervormde) kerk en de begraafplaats bleven lang in Oud-Drimmelen gevestigd. In 1730 werd een groot deel van Oud-Drimmelen door brand verwoest. Het zwaartepunt van de bewoning verplaatste zich naar Nieuw-Drimmelen, wat geleidelijk aan Drimmelen ging heten.

Tot 1792 werd de kerk van Oud-Drimmelen nog gebruikt, maar in hetzelfde jaar kwam in Nieuw-Drimmelen een kerk gereed, waarop de kerk van Oud-Drimmelen in 1793 voor sloop werd verkocht. De begraafplaats is daar echter nog aanwezig, evenals de fundamenten van het kerkje. Naast Hervormden ontstonden er ook Gereformeerden. Dezen hielden van 1898 tot 1909 hun godsdienstoefeningen in een woning aan de Dorpsstraat, vervolgens in een kleine ruimte achter een woning aan de Weitjes, om in 1935 een kerkje te betrekken aan Batterijstraat 16. Dit kerkje werd in 1996 verlaten en is nu een woonhuis. Bestuurlijk behoorde Drimmelen tot 1795 bij het Baljuwschap Zuid-Holland. Het was een ambachtsheerlijkheid.

De Fransen voegden Drimmelen met Made samen tot de gemeente Made en Drimmelen. Deze werd in 1997 samengevoegd met enkele andere gemeenten en ging Made heten om later de naam Drimmelen aan te nemen. The ship "The Three Sisters" in the waterway lined with the Herengracht in Drimmelen. The former village of Drimmelen was swept during the St. Elizabeth flood of 1421 of the card. Much further inland arose when Oud-Drimmelen. When in 1645 the Emilia Polder came about north of Old New Drimmelen Drimmelen came to a sluice at the Amer. Old and New Drimmelen belonged together. The (reformed) church and the cemetery were long established in Oud-Drimmelen. In 1730 a large part of Oud-Drimmelen was destroyed by fire. The focus of the settlement moved to New Drimmelen Drimmelen which gradually became known.

Until 1792 the church of Oud-Drimmelen was still used, but in the same year, in New Drimmelen a church ready, which the church of Oud-Drimmelen was sold in 1793 for demolition. The cemetery is however still present, as well as the foundations of the church. Amsterdam, Netherlands - Canal Cruise HD (2013) - YouTube Amsterdam, Netherlands - Canal Cruise HD (2013) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Feb 16, 2013 Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges.

The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. Category Canals of Amsterdam Canals of Amsterdam Category: Amsterdam Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. History Much of the Amsterdam canal system is the successful outcome of city planning. In the early part of the 17th century, with immigration at a height, a comprehensive plan was put together, calling for four main, concentric half-circles of canals with their ends resting on the IJ bay. Known as the "grachtengordel",three of the canals are mostly for residential development (Herengracht or ‘’Patricians' Canal’’; Keizersgracht or ‘’Emperor's Canal’’; and Prinsengracht or ‘’Prince's Canal’’), and a fourth, outer canal, Singelgracht, for purposes of defense and water management.

The plan also envisaged interconnecting canals along radii; a set of parallel canals in the Jordaan quarter (primarily for the transportation of goods, for example, beer); the conversion of an existing, inner perimeter canal (Singel) from a defensive purpose to residential and commercial development; and more than one hundred bridges. The defensive purpose of the Nassau/Stadhouderskade was served by moat and earthen dikes, with gates at transit points but otherwise no masonry superstructures. Construction proceeded from west to east, across the breadth of the layout, like a gigantic windshield wiper as the historian Geert Mak calls it – not from the center outwards as a popular myth has it. Construction of the north-western sector was started in 1613 and was finished around 1625. After 1664, building in the southern sector was started, although slowly because of an economic depression. The eastern part of the concentric canal plan, covering the area between the Amstel river and the IJ bay, was not implemented for a long time.

In the following centuries, the land went mostly for park, the Botanical garden, old age homes, theaters and other public facilities – and for waterways without much plan.[9] Several parts of the city and of the urban area are polders, recognisable by their postfix -meer meaning 'lake', such as Aalsmeer, Bijlmermeer, Haarlemmermeer, and Watergraafsmeer. Famus canals in Amsterdam Singel Singel encircled the medieval city of Amsterdam. It served as a moat around the city from 1480 until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals. The canal should not be confused with Singelgracht canal, which became the outer limit of the city during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century. Herengracht Herengracht (Patricians' Canal or Lord's Canal) is the first of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam.

The canal is named after the heren regeerders who governed the city in the 16th and 17th century. The most fashionable part is called the Golden Bend, with many double wide mansions, inner gardens and coach houses on Keizersgracht.[10] Keizersgracht Keizersgracht (literal English translation: Emperor's Canal) is the second and widest of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, in between Herengracht and Prinsengracht. It is named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.[citation needed] Prinsengracht Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal) is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam. It is named after the Prince of Orange. Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces. The bridges over the Prinsengracht canal don't connect with the streets in the Jordaan.

Notable buildings along Prinsengracht include the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market), Anne Frank House, the Westerkerk (Western Church, Amsterdam's tallest church) with the Homomonument (Gay Monument), which actually faces Keizersgracht. Other notable canals Zwanenburgwal Zwanenburgwal is a canal and street in the center of Amsterdam. The painter Rembrandt and philosopher Spinoza lived here. In 2006 it was voted one of the most beautiful streets in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool, a local daily newspaper. Zwanenburgwal flows from Sint Antoniessluis sluice gate (between the streets Sint Antoniesbreestraat and Jodenbreestraat) to the Amstel river. The canal was originally named Verversgracht ("dyers' canal"), after the textile industry that once dominated this part of town. Dyed textiles were hung to dry along the canal.

Brouwersgracht Brouwersgracht is a canal in the city centre of Amsterdam and is part of the canal belt connecting the Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht and marks the northern border of the canal belt. The canal served as a site for ships returning from Asia with spices and silks, therefore Brouwersgracht had many warehouses and storage depots for the ships inventories. Breweries were also prevalent in the area due to the access to fresh water shipments. Today the warehouses are now apartments, some of the most expensive in Amsterdam. Houseboats also are seen in the canal.[12] In 2007, Brouwersgracht was voted the most beautiful street in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool, a local daily newspaper. Kloveniersburgwal Kloveniersburgwal is a canal running south from Nieuwmarkt to the Amstel River on the edge of the medieval city. The east side became populated in the 17th century and has a few grand mansions, like the Trippenhuis, now housing the KNAW.

Kloveniersburgwal was popular with administrators at the Dutch East India Company, being close to its nerve center on Oude Hoogstraat and its warehouse. Brantasgracht, Lamonggracht, Majanggracht and Seranggracht These four canals are the newest in Amsterdam, constructed on Java Island in 1995, a manmade island in the IJ Harbor, north-east of the City Center. The canals are lined with modern interpretations of classic Amsterdam canal houses, which were designed by 19 young Dutch architects. Each house is 4.5 meters wide and 4 or 5 stories tall, but the designs are totally unique and are often featured in Amsterdam travel guides despite being off the beaten path of most tourists. Nine ornate metal bridges, designed by artist couple Guy Rombouts and Monika Droste, cross the canals for pedestrians and cyclists. Map of Amsterdam - Canals Canals of Amsterdam Canals of Amsterdam (34th Session ) Amsterdam , capital of the Netherlands , has more than one hundred kilometers of canals , about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges .

The three main canals, Herengracht , Prinsengracht , and Keizersgracht , dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age , form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel . Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings . [1] The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, [2] contributing to Amsterdam’s fame as the “ Venice of the North “. [3] [4] Contents History Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, c. 1686 Much of the Amsterdam canal system is the successful outcome of city planning . In the early part of the 17th century, with immigration rising, a comprehensive plan was put together, calling for four main, concentric half-circles of canals with their ends resting on the IJ Bay.

Known as the “grachtengordel”, [5] three of the canals are mostly for residential development ( Herengracht or ‘’Patricians’ Canal’’; Keizersgracht or ‘’Emperor’s Canal’’; and Prinsengracht or ‘’Prince’s Canal’’), and a fourth, outer canal, Singelgracht , for purposes of defense and water management. The plan also envisaged interconnecting canals along radii; a set of parallel canals in the Jordaan quarter (primarily for the transportation of goods, for example, beer); the conversion of an existing, inner perimeter canal (Singel) from a defensive purpose to residential and commercial development; and more than one hundred bridges. The defensive purpose of the Nassau/Stadhouderskade was served by moat and earthen dikes , with gates at transit points but otherwise no masonry superstructures . [6] Construction proceeded from west to east, across the breadth of the layout, like a gigantic windshield wiper as the historian Geert Mak calls it – not from the center outwards as a popular myth has it.

Construction of the north-western sector was started in 1613 and was finished around 1625. After 1664, building in the southern sector was started, although slowly because of an economic depression. The eastern part of the concentric canal plan, covering the area between the Amstel river and the IJ Bay, was not implemented for a long time. In the following centuries, the land went mostly for park, the Botanical garden , old age homes, theaters and other public facilities – and for waterways without much plan. [7] Several parts of the city and of the urban area are polders , recognisable by their postfix -meer meaning ‘lake’, such as Aalsmeer , Bijlmermeer , Haarlemmermeer , and Watergraafsmeer . The canals in Amsterdam are now used as a main form of transportation around the city. A map showing Amsterdam with its canals from 1662 Notable canals in the Canal Belt Inward to outward, the canals are as follows: Singel Singel Singel encircled the medieval city of Amsterdam.

It served as a moat around the city from 1480 until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond Singel. The canal runs from the IJ Bay, near Central Station , to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam’s semicircular ring of canals. The canal should not be confused with Singelgracht canal, which became the outer limit of the city during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century. Herengracht Herengracht Herengracht (Patricians’ Canal or Lords’ Canal) is the first of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam. The canal is named after the heren regeerders who governed the city in the 16th and 17th century. The most fashionable part is called the Golden Bend , with many double wide mansions, inner gardens and coach houses on Keizersgracht. [8] Samuel Sarphati (1813-1868) lived at the house at number 598 and Peter the Great stayed at the house at number 527 during his second visit to Amsterdam.

Keizersgracht Keizersgracht Keizersgracht (literal English translation: Emperor’s Canal) is the second and widest of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, in between Herengracht and Prinsengracht. It is named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor . [9] John Adams stayed at the house at number 529, Heinrich Schliemann worked for almost three years at number 71, Daniel Fahrenheit at 463-465, and during his first visit to Amsterdam (1693), Peter the Great stayed at the house at number 317. The Homomonument (Gay Monument) faces the Keizersgracht. Prinsengracht Prinsengracht Prinsengracht (Prince’s Canal) is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam. It is named after the Prince of Orange . Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces . The bridges over the Prinsengracht canal connect with the streets in the Jordaan .

Notable buildings along Prinsengracht include the Noorderkerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market), [10] Anne Frank House , [11] [12] and the Westerkerk (Western Church, Amsterdam’s tallest church). [13] Annually, the Prinsengrachtconcert is held on a pontoon in the canal in front of Hotel Pulitzer . [14] Other notable canals Zwanenburgwal Zwanenburgwal Zwanenburgwal is a canal and street in the center of Amsterdam . The painter Rembrandt and philosopher Spinoza lived here. In 2006 it was voted one of the most beautiful streets in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool , a local daily newspaper. [15] Zwanenburgwal flows from Sint Antoniessluis sluice gate (between the streets Sint Antoniesbreestraat and Jodenbreestraat ) to the Amstel river. The canal was originally named Verversgracht (“dyers’ canal”), after the textile industry that once dominated this part of town. Dyed textiles were hung to dry along the canal.

Brouwersgracht Brouwersgracht Brouwersgracht is a canal in the city centre of Amsterdam and is part of the canal belt connecting the Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht and marks the northern border of the canal belt. The canal served as a site for ships returning from Asia with spices and silks, therefore Brouwersgracht had many warehouses and storage depots for the ships inventories. Likewise some officials of the Dutch East India Company lived here such as their cartographer (1708-1743) Isaak de Graaf. Breweries were also prevalent in the area due to the access to fresh water shipments. Today the warehouses are now apartments, some of the most expensive in Amsterdam. Houseboats also are seen in the canal. [16] In 2007, Brouwersgracht was voted the most beautiful street in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool , a local daily newspaper. [17] Kloveniersburgwal Kloveniersburgwal is a canal running south from Nieuwmarkt to the Amstel River on the edge of the medieval city.

The east side became populated in the 17th century and has a few grand mansions, like the Trippenhuis , now housing the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). Kloveniersburgwal was popular with administrators at the Dutch East India Company , being close to its nerve center on Oude Hoogstraat and its warehouse. Brantasgracht, Lamonggracht, Majanggracht and Seranggracht Lamonggracht These four canals are the newest in Amsterdam, constructed on Java Island in 1995, a manmade island in the IJ Harbor , north-east of the City Center. The canals are lined with modern interpretations of classic Amsterdam canal houses, which were designed by 19 young Dutch architects. Each house is 4.5 meters wide and 4 or 5 stories tall, but the designs are totally unique and are often featured in Amsterdam travel guides despite being off the beaten path of most tourists. Nine ornate metal bridges, designed by artist couple Guy Rombouts and Monika Droste, cross the canals for pedestrians and cyclists.

[18] References ^ Canals, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 3596 insider tips, photos, reviews & tickets Amsterdam Canals Paddleboat Rental with Optional Heineken Experience "Check in at one of three piers in central Amsterdam then hop in your boat. Travel independently or bring along family and friends. Each boat can accommodate up to four people.See Amsterdam how it was meant to be seen while floating around the busy waterways. Enjoy unfettered transport drinking in the gorgeous architecture as you go.

Seek out top attractions including Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum and slow down to take pictures when and wherever you wish.After one and a half hours on the canals sightseeing at your own pace return the paddleboat to one of three rental piers Skip-The-Line Amsterdam Canal Cruise and Heineken Experience "Discover all of the wanders that Amsterdam has to offer by embarking on a 75-minute canal cruise that will allow you to witness it's beautiful bridges traditional merchant houses and uniquely designed houseboats.Skip-the-line at the former working Heineken brewery which now offers you the unique opportunity to be a part of the Heineken Experience an interactive tour of Heineken and all of it's brewing and marketing process that finishes off with a free pint of beer for you to enjoy.The combined ticket will save you time and money on individual purchases. And the best thing is that you can after collecting them at the ticket office of Blue Boat Company."""Relax and enjoy this unique 75-minute Amsterdam Canal Cruise and discover the city from a standpoint that even many locals have yet to experience.

Quench your thirst and love for beer and all it's intricacies in a cultural journey of the former Heineken b Private Tour: Half Day Guided Amsterdam Bike Tour "After getting a brief introduction about the city and the route to follow we will head towards the Vondelpark. On the tour you will also get to visit the area museums squares and many other places which will simply take your breath away. The tour would highlight 3 main stops: Between art and HistoryThe tour will start from Dam Square and after a brief history about the historic square the royal palace and the church we will head towards the train station. On the way you will also get to have a cup of the finest Italian coffee. Next we will ride toward the famous canals of Amsterdam and the Anne Frank museum. You will also get to have a closer look at the buildings there. Squares and parks of AmsterdamNex which is famous for its nightlife and busy restaurants. From there we head toward huge Vondelpark which is spread on more than 40 hectares.

Moreover we will also visit the museum there and see the famous Amsterdam.Markets and Red LightOur tour will also take us to the Biggest and most known market of the city Amsterdam – Buildings, Places, Waterways – Let's Explore: Out & About in Singapore! Tweet When you think of Amsterdam, you think of canals and waterways! Amsterdam has been called the “Venice of the North” for its more than one hundred kilometres of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, are put on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. When property was sold in the early years of the city, it was valued by width, not depth. So you will see many narrow buildings throughout the city.

After so many years and real estate transactions, many buildings that seem very tiny from the outside open into beautiful spaces. All along the canals the rear end of the houses open on to beautiful well kept gardens which are occasionally open to the public. If you look up, you will see many of the gables are adorned with a hook. Not a decoration, the hook is there to enable residents to pull large, bulky objects up and into a window at the proper floor. Most homes in Amsterdam have narrow, steep, often winding staircases that make it difficult to bring large, bulky objects upstairs. Voila, the hook. Many windows can be taken out of the wall completely for the same reason. In warm weather you will pass by many an establishment that has removed the windows to let the warm breeze waft through. One of the many things that makes Amsterdam a little unusual is the fact that certain neighborhoods have quite a few free public urinals right out in the open. The original designs were all metal, and most of them literally drained right into the canals, but newer models are made of all plastic, and most of the new ones are also plumbed in such a way that the urine goes into the waste water system instead of directly into the canals.

Statue of Multatuli on a square over the Singel canal in Amsterdam. Eduard Douwes Dekker (born 2 March 1820), better known by his pen name Multatuli (from Latin multa tuli, “I have carried much”), was a Dutch writer famous for his satirical novel, Max Havelaar (1860), which denounced the abuses of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia). When in Amsterdam, a visit to the Anne Frank House is a must. It is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms she called the Secret Annex at the rear of the building. I remember studying the The Diary of Anne Frank in literature class in school and wished that I could have visited here earlier to appreciate the book and what she and her family endured a little more. The Damrak is a partly filled in canal at the centre of Amsterdam, between Amsterdam Centraal railway station and Dam Square, running north-south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the centre of Amsterdam.

The street was located on a rak (reach), a straight part of the Amstel river near a dam, hence the name. Just a five-minute walk down the Damrak from Centraal Station takes you into this jam-packed square, jostling with locals and tourists day and night. Dam Square is located in the historic center of Amsterdam, one of the largest in Europe. The square was named to the National Monument located in it, the Dam, a marble obelisk 22 meters high which is dedicated to soldiers killed during World War II. During the sixties, the square was renowned for its Dam Square hippies, and the laid back and relaxed character of this densely pigeon populated square lives on. There are food stalls, restaurants and shops galores, including the trendy Bijenkorf, Magna Plaza, Bonneterie and the Amsterdam Diamond centre. Such is the popularity of Dam Square that you might even have to wait for a seat at one of the many cafés and bars. Whatever the weather, there is always something going on here so expect lots of entertainment. In spring, there may be a carnival on or you can have a go on the colourful Ferris wheel.

In the summer months, mimers and other street performers come out to surprise unexpected onlookers. At first glance, visitors can tell that Magna Plaza wasn’t always the local mall. Originally built in 1899, Magna Plaza was once Amsterdam’s Post Office building. But aside from its crowned Gothic towers and magnificent four-story Gothic/Moorish interior, the building was also considered a technological wonder of its era, built on 4,650 piles stuck in the muddy ground. Magna Plaza is architecturally stunning to the eye – both inside and out. Inside, the shops at Magna Plaza are situated around the central atrium under the original 19th-century glass dome and a tour of the interior also provides the opportunity to visit one of three mezzanines on the top story, from which you can view the entire plaza. The removal of the non-supporting walls provides a wonderful open space with high ceilings, rich decoration, and much more. Douwes Fine Art is an art dealer in Amsterdam specialised in Flemish and Dutch old masters, French barbizon, pre and post impressionism, romantic period.

It was established in 1805 and is the oldest of its kind in The Netherlands and in Europe. Montelbaanstoren on Oudeshans. This used to be part of the medieval fortifications of the city and featured in some paintings/drawings by Rembrandt. Its not open to the public. The Muntplein (literally “mint square”) is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. The square is in fact a bridge — the widest bridge in Amsterdam — which crosses the Singel canal at the point where it flows into the Amstel river. All bridges in Amsterdam are numbered, and the Muntplein carries the number 1. Muntplein is named after the Munttoren Tower which stands on this square. This tower was once part of one of the three main medieval city gates. In the 17th century, it temporarily served as a mint, hence the name. Walenpleintje is a little square on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam. It is named after the Waalse Church which is at the square. This square is said to be called the pearl of the Red Light District.

From Oudezijds Achterburgwal you can see the Waalse Church and on both sides of this mini plaza there are intact medieval houses. The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is a national museum located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art. It also displays the stern of the HMS Royal Charles which was captured in the Raid on the Medway, and the Hartog plate. The Stadsschouwburg (city theatre) of Amsterdam is the name held by the theatre building at the Leidseplein in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and by its predecessors, all of which are lost and/or have burnt down. The present theatre was built between 1892 and 1894 to a design of Jan L. Springer, with the cooperation of his father J. B. Springer and Adolf Leonard van Gendt. In 1982 it became a Rijksmonument. NAP – Inside this building, you’ll find stairs leading to the official Amsterdam Ordnance Datum-marker.

This ordnance datum is the referral point for all constructions of any kind in the Netherlands, and in a lot of other neighbouring countries. The marker is a bronze knob, mounted on a concrete pile, that represents the exact zero level. You can actually touch it, and when you do that, you are below sea level without wet feet! Location: N 52° 22.076 E 004° 54.096. The Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s most popular park, and a Mecca for the bohemian. Park facilities include: the Blauwe Theehuis (‘Blue Tea House’), Friday Night Skate, City Hostel Vondelpark, Café Vertigo, Groot Melkhuis café & restaurant, the Film Museum, Openluchttheater (open-air theater), Vondeltuin terrace and Centrum de Roos (rose garden with over 70 species). The Vondelpark was designed by garden architect L.D. Zocher (1865) and is a national heritage monument. This post is one of an 10 part entry of our trip to Netherlands and Belgium. See all the places we visited on this trip below:

Question: What city has more than one hundred kilometres of canals (the main ones called Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht), which were dug in the 17th century to form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel?
Answer: Amsterdam