Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. It is famous for its complex network of waterways known as grachten, or canals. The city contains about 90 islands and over 1,500 bridges.

A major feature of the city is the Grachtengordel, or the canal belt. This area consists of concentric rings of canals. In 2010, this historic canal ring was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of these beautiful waterways, many people call Amsterdam the "Venice of the North."

The canal system was the result of careful city planning. In the early 17th century, the population of Amsterdam was rising due to immigration. Planners created a comprehensive design to manage this growth. The plan called for four main concentric half-circles of canals. These canals were designed to end at the IJ Bay.

The plan also included interconnecting canals along radii. It featured parallel canals in the Jordaan quarter to transport goods like beer. It also included more than one hundred bridges to connect the land.

The canals served very different purposes. Three of the main canals were built for residential development. These are the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, and the Prinsengracht. The Herengracht is also known as the "Patricians' Canal." The Keizersgracht is the "Emperor's Canal." The Prinsengracht is the "Prince's Canal." The fourth, outer canal is called the Singelgracht. This canal was used for water management and city defense.

Construction of the canals followed a specific pattern. Historian Geert Mak describes the work as moving like a giant windshield wiper. The work proceeded from west to east across the layout. It did not start in the center and move outward as some people believe. Construction of the northwestern sector began in 1613 and ended around 1625. Building in the southern sector started after 1664. However, an economic depression caused this work to move slowly. The eastern part of the plan was not implemented for a long time.

The main canals each have unique characteristics and histories. The Singel is the innermost canal. It once served as a moat for the medieval city from 1480 until 1585. The Herengracht is named after the heren regeerders, the city governors. Its most fashionable area is the Golden Bend. The Keizersgracht is the second and widest of the three major canals. It is named after Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor.

The Prinsengracht is the fourth and longest of the main canals. It is named after the Prince of Orange.

Many famous people have been connected to these waters. Peter the Great stayed at houses on both the Herengracht and the Keizersgracht. The painter Rembrandt lived near the Zwanenburgwal canal. This canal was originally called Verversgracht, meaning "dyers' canal." This name came from the textile industry. Workers used the canal to hang dyed textiles to dry. The Brouwersgracht was also important for trade. It served ships returning from Asia with silk and spices.

Today, many of the old warehouses there are used as expensive apartments.

Water quality in the canals has changed significantly over time. In the mid-19th century, the water was stagnant and unsanitary. It was often full of refuse and feces. To fix this, the Gemaal Zeeburg steam-powered pump station was built in 1879. This station used water from the Zuiderzee to flush the canals. The city connected the inner city to a sewer system in 1935. The Grachtengordel was not fully connected to sewers until 1987. Recently, laws were passed to ensure houseboats connect to the sewage system.

Today, the canals are used for tourism, recreation, and houseboats. Many tourists take boat tours to see the city.

Bicycles are also a major part of life in Amsterdam. Every year, between 12,000 and 15,000 bicycles are pulled from the canals. People call this "bike fishing." Despite past pollution, locals now swim in the canals. The Amsterdam City Swim is held annually to raise money for ALS research. However, heavy rains can sometimes cause high levels of E. coli in the water. This can lead to the cancellation of swimming events.