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Canals Of Amsterdam

Over 100 kilometers of Water Network

Amsterdam is a city on water, with 100 km of canal waterways, the three main ones being called the Patricians' Canal, the Emperor's Canal, and the Prince's Canal. The Amsterdam Canals have been selected as a World Heritage Site because of their unique appearance and the historical buildings along the rivers.

Amsterdam is a city on water. In the 17th century, people dug a number of concentric semicircular canal waterways outside the city, centering on the Old Town of Amsterdam, with a total length of more than 100 kilometers, thus giving Amsterdam the name of “Venice of the North”.

Patricians' Canal (Herengracht), Emperor's Canal (Keizersgracht) and Prince's Canal (Prinsengracht) are three of Amsterdam’s most famous canals, which surround the Old Town, forming a liveable residential area. The Canals of Amsterdam was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2010, thanks to its unique landscape and historic buildings along the rivers.

Manywhere Tips:
Amsterdam’s waterways make up a quarter of the city’s total area.

Canal Residential Area

There are 1500 Bridges of All Kinds on the water of the Amsterdam canals, with flat bridges for pedestrians and motor vehicles, and huge arches for ships of all sizes. The Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) is known as the most beautiful bridge in Amsterdam, with its unforgettable white body and open-and-close design.

The Boat Cruise is the best way to get intimate with the canals, with wine and food onboard and the boatman telling you all the funny stories about the canals and the old town.