The story of the Amsterdam Canals | Highlights, visitor’s guide & more

Often voted the most beautiful street in the city, the Brouwersgracht (Brewers’ Canal) marks the northern boundary of the central Amsterdam canals. Historically, this area was the industrial heart of the canal belt, home to numerous breweries and tanneries that used the fresh water of the Amsterdam canals. Today, the massive former warehouses with their colourful shutters have been converted into some of the most sought-after residential lofts along the Amsterdam canals. Its location at the intersection of the four main waterways makes it a focal point for photographers capturing the quintessential Dutch reflection of brickwork on water.

The Zwanenburgwal is a significant waterway located in the former Jewish Quarter, historically connected to the broader network of Amsterdam canals. This canal gained fame for its illustrious residents, including the painter Rembrandt van Rijn and the philosopher Baruch Spinoza. When you walk along the Zwanenburgwal, you can enjoy expansive views toward the Amstel River, a perspective that inspired many of Rembrandt’s sketches. It remains one of the most culturally significant stretches of the Amsterdam canals, bridging the gap between the medieval city centre and the later 17th-century expansions.

Flowing south from Nieuwmarkt to the Amstel River, the Kloveniersburgwal was once a defensive boundary for the medieval city. As the city grew, it became a site for opulent architecture unlike many other Amsterdam canals. The most striking example is the Trippenhuis, a neoclassical "double house" built for the Trip family of arms dealers, which now serves as the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. Exploring this part of the Amsterdam canals offers a view of the transition from military fortification to residential luxury, featuring some of the most imposing stone facades in the city.

In the late 1990s, the Amsterdam canals were extended into the Eastern Docklands as part of a modern residential project on Java Island. Canals such as the Brantasgracht, Majanggracht, and Serangracht were excavated to bring the city’s traditional water-based identity to a contemporary setting. These Amsterdam canals are narrow and intimate, crossed by small, creatively designed pedestrian bridges that contrast with the historic stone arches of the city centre. Named after Indonesian islands and rivers, these modern Amsterdam canals demonstrate how the city continues to use water as a tool for high-quality urban living and sustainable development.

To experience the Amsterdam canals like a local, rent a bicycle and ride along the cobblestone paths of the Prinsengracht or Herengracht. This moderate-intensity activity allows you to cover several miles of the Amsterdam canals in a single afternoon. You will feel the breeze and hear the constant ring of bicycle bells. Sturdy shoes are recommended for the uneven bricks lining the Amsterdam canals. This is ideal for travellers who want to see the city quickly.

Walking the historic "Nine Streets" that bisect the main Amsterdam canals is a high-reward, low-intensity activity for shoppers and photographers. This micro-neighbourhood spans across the Amsterdam canals, offering views of leaning facades and boutique window displays. Expect to spend 2 to 3 hours wandering between the bridges of the Amsterdam canals. It is a romantic and family-friendly way to soak in the atmosphere of the Amsterdam canals on foot.

For the truly adventurous, the Amsterdam City Swim is a high-intensity charity event where participants plunge into the Amsterdam canals. Swimmers cover a 2-kilometre course through the historic Amsterdam canals, starting at the Marine Terrain and finishing at the Keizersgracht. This activity is for strong swimmers and requires a wetsuit and pre-registration. It offers a rare, immersive physical connection to the Amsterdam canals, surrounded by thousands of cheering spectators lining the quays.

Combine sightseeing with environmental impact by joining a plastic fishing trip on the Amsterdam canals. Using a net, you will pull plastic debris and "treasures" from the Amsterdam canals while learning about the city's modern efforts to keep the waterways clean. This is a family-friendly, low-intensity activity that usually lasts 2 hours. No gear is required as nets and gloves are provided.

If you have ever wondered what life is like beneath the surface of the Amsterdam canals, visiting the Houseboat Museum (Woonbootmuseum) is essential. Located on the Prinsengracht, one of the most famous Amsterdam canals, this stationary barge shows the clever use of space required to live on the water. This is a very low-intensity, 30-minute walk-through, making it perfect for families. It provides a cosy, tactile look at the unique residential culture found only on the Amsterdam canals.

Historically, the water in the Amsterdam canals faced significant pollution challenges. Until the mid-19th century, the Amsterdam canals were often stagnant and served as an open sewer for the city’s growing population. To resolve this, the Gemaal Zeeburg pumping station was commissioned in 1879 to flush the Amsterdam canals with cleaner water from the Zuiderzee (and later the Markermeer). While the city centre began connecting to modern sewers in 1935, many houses along the Amsterdam canals continued discharging wastewater directly into the water until 1987. Today, strict regulations require all houseboats on the Amsterdam canals to be connected to the municipal sewage system, ensuring the water is cleaner than it has been in centuries.

Conservation is a high priority for the modern management of the Amsterdam canals. A fascinating part of the city’s maintenance involves ‘bicycle fishing’ using specialised hydraulic claws on boats to pull thousands of sunken bicycles from the bottom of the Amsterdam canals every year. Beyond debris removal, the city has introduced strict "Emission Free" zones on the Amsterdam canals, transitioning commercial tour boats from diesel to electric propulsion to reduce noise and water pollution. Visitors are encouraged to support these environmental efforts by choosing electric boat rentals and using the numerous public bins to prevent litter from entering the delicate ecosystem of the Amsterdam canals.