Amsterdam Canals: Explore the Heart of the City’s History & Culture

Why explore Amsterdam Canals

See a UNESCO World Heritage Site: In 2010, UNESCO designated Amsterdam's inner canal ring as a World Heritage site and classified it as a protected area. This ancient site winds around Dam Square and inside the Prinsengracht canal's semi-circle.
Participate in festivals: In addition to being one of the main forms of transportation in Amsterdam, the canals also host several events and festivals throughout the year, like the Amsterdam Light Festival and the Amsterdam City Swim, attracting tourists and visitors worldwide.
Explore popular landmarks differently: At least 1,550 monuments are currently located inside the borders of the canals, including some significant landmarks and institutions such as Westerkerk, Anne Frank Huis, and Museum van Loon.

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Amsterdam: Luxury Open Boat Cruise

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Amsterdam: 75-Minute City Canal Cruise

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Combo (Save 29%): Anne Frank Walking Tour + 1-Hour Canal Cruise Tickets

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Amsterdam: Luxury Classic Cruise with Unlimited Cheese & Wine

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Amsterdam: 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

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I Amsterdam City Card: Access 70+ Attractions & Unlimited Public Transport

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Combo: NEMO Science Museum Tickets + Amsterdam Canal Cruise

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Amsterdam: 1-Hour Sightseeing Canal Cruise

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Combo: Heineken Experience Tickets + 75-Min Canal Cruise

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Combo (Save 22%): Rijksmuseum Entry Tickets + 75-Min Amsterdam Canal Cruise

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5 interesting facts about the Amsterdam canals

There are more than 1,700 bridges in Amsterdam. For comparison, that’s 1,300 more than there are in Venice!
Amsterdam canals separate the city of Amsterdam into 90 different islands.
Every year, more than 10,000 bicycles are fished out of the canals.
2500 houseboats line Amsterdam canals and many have been afloat for more than a century.
Almost a quarter of the city is covered by water, making it the most watery city in the world.

Top sights to see on an Amsterdam Canal cruise

Major canals of Amsterdam

Herengracht Canal

Herengracht is the oldest and most important canal in Amsterdam, and it has a fascinating history. It’s so fancy that only the richest and most powerful people, including regents and mayors, lived here in the 17th century. Mayor Frans Hendricksz commissioned this canal in 1612, and it used to be a moat for companies at Singel, within the city wall.

Prinsengracht Canal

The Prinsengracht is the second and farthest of Amsterdam's three main canals. It's part of the ‘fourth outley’, an extension project that started in 1612 and took 50 years to complete. Together, they're on the UNESCO World Heritage List! The Prince of Orange Canal is two miles long and runs right next to another famous canal called Keizersgracht.

Keizersgracht Canal

The inner city’s widest canal, measuring 31 meters in length, is the Emperor's Canal, and it's right in the middle of Amsterdam's main canals. They named it after the Austrian Emperor Maximilian. Fun fact: There used to be lots of elm trees along the canal, but a disease killed them all. So, they replaced them with linden trees instead in 1949.

Singel Canal

In the Middle Ages, the Singel acted as a moat until 1585, when the city expanded beyond it. It's the innermost of Amsterdam's main canals, and it runs all the way from the IJ Bay at Centraal Station to the Muntplein Square, where it meets the Amstel River. Visit Bloemenmarkt, or Flower Market, a floating market on the Singel canal where you can find flowers, bulbs, and seeds.

Other notable Amsterdam Canals

Zwanenburgwal

The Zwanenburgwal is a canal and roadway in Amsterdam's city center, famous for its residents — the painter Rembrandt and the philosopher Spinoza. It was named one of Amsterdam's most attractive streets by readers of Het Parool in 2006 for its views of the Amstel River.

Brouwersgracht

Brouwersgracht is in the city center and connects the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht canal belts, marking the canal belt's northern border. Ships returning from Asia with spices and silks in the 17th century used the canal as a stopover.

Kloveniersburgwal

On the outskirts of the old city, the Kloveniersburgwal runs south from Nieuwmarkt to the Amstel River. It is home to a few palaces, such as the Trippenhuis, which currently houses the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

Brantasgracht

The Brantasgracht is a canal in Amsterdam-East that runs across quays and is part of the Indische Buurt. In the late 1990s, a canal was excavated on Java Island, which was then changed from a ship mooring area to a residential area.

Lamonggracht

The Langegracht is a road and former canal in Leiden's northern inner city. The canal was a key component of the 1611 northern city expansion, built north of the Oude Vest. As the new district's major axis, it was built parallel to the Oude Vest.

Majanggracht

The Majanggracht is a canal in Amsterdam-East with quays dug in the late 1990s on Java Island and later transformed from a ship mooring area to a residential neighborhood. The canal was named after the Majang River in Java, Indonesia.

Seranggracht

In Amsterdam-East, the Serangracht is a canal with quays, named after the the Indonesian river Serang. Like Majanggracht, this canal was built in the late 1990s and then transformed from a ship mooring area to a residential area, connecting the IJ and the IJ harbor.

History of Amsterdam Canals

The first Amsterdam Canal was constructed for water management and defense. Almost all dwellings are thus built on poles that are secured meters below the surface on a set stratum. However, as the city grew in the Middle Ages, successive defense moats were built inside the city walls and lost their purpose. They did, however, acquire a significant new one: local merchandise transportation.

During Amsterdam's Golden Age in the 17th century, trade boomed. The city's three main canals were dug and buildings erected around them in one massive expansion project that spanned 50 years.

In the 20th century, Amsterdam needed additional space for cars and other land traffic. Many waterways were drained to make way for streets and parking lots. Not without a fight: in 1901, the iconic Reguliersgracht Seven Bridges were saved by a ferocious outcry. Almost half of Amsterdam's original water has been lost to landfills, although navigable rivers still cover 25% of the city's surface. With 65 miles of ancient canals, Amsterdam still holds the honor of being the most watery city in the world.

Who built the Amsterdam Canals?

A body of Lords, heren regeerders, were responsible for governing Amsterdam in the 16th and 17th centuries. These were the city's rich long-term citizens who oversaw various areas of the city's operations. They put a lot of money into the canals' construction. Herengracht, the first of these waterways, is named for these reagents.

Water in the Amsterdam Canals

The water in the canals was stagnant and unclean until the mid-19th century, full of debris, dead fish, and feces. To address this, the Gemaal Zeeburg steam-powered pump station was built in 1879 to flush the canals with water from the Zuiderzee. In 1935, the inner city was connected to the sewer system for the first time. However, the Grachtengordel was not connected directly until 1987. Houses had been dumping wastewater into the canal up until this point. In recent years, additional efforts to improve water quality have included legislation forbidding houseboats from dumping wastewater into canals.

Architecture of Amsterdam Canals

Because of the city's particular structure, Amsterdam's canals are one-of-a-kind. Although most canal cities are rectangular, Amsterdam's three main canals are made up of five kinked straights. They form a semicircle around the original medieval city center when combined. The radials all come together at Dam Center, the city's central square. The Amsterdam canals are man-made, and their architecture reflects Amsterdam's economic prowess during the Golden Age.

Amsterdam Canals activities

Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Floating down Amsterdam's canals on a cruise is one of the fascinating ways to experience the city's sites and attractions, in addition to providing a lovely backdrop to the city's historical center. Most of the canal cruises and tours last for over an hour when you will get to explore Amsterdam's UNESCO-protected canal ring and learn various intriguing insights about the city while enjoying several unique experiences.

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Amsterdam City Swim

The Amsterdam City Swim (ACS) is a 5 or 10-km open water event that takes place every year, on the first Sunday in September at the Marine Etablissement Amsterdam. Swimmers raise money against ALS (Lou Gehrig's illness) in this event. This event was first organized in 2009 and is open to adults and kids, attracting even international swimmers because of the iconic route.

Frequently Asked Questions about Amsterdam Canals

Why are the houses beside the Amsterdam Canals leaning?

Houses built on wooden piles in Amsterdam may tilt to one side due to the degradation of the wooden base. However, nowadays, construction workers drill the poles further into the ground until they hit a second layer of sand so the houses won’t topple over.

Is the water on the Amsterdam Canals hygienic?

Although the wastewater from many houseboats goes directly into the canals, the canal water is getting cleaner every year. Waternet, a government organization, works to keep the water as pure as possible by addressing pollution sources.

What events take place on the Amsterdam Canals?

The Amsterdam City Swim is one of the most renowned events on the Amsterdam Canal. This charity swimming event is organized to collect funds for ALS. You can also enjoy the Amsterdam Light Festival by taking one of the Amsterdam Canal Cruises or enjoy the city from a unique perspective by taking a boat tour.

Can I rent a private boat to explore the canals?

Yes, private boat rentals are available for those who prefer a more personalized experience. You can even rent pedal boats if you want to explore the canals at your own pace.

What are the best viewpoints along the Amsterdam Canals?

One of the best spots is the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) for panoramic views, especially at night. The Seven Bridges of Reguliersgracht is another must-see spot for those who want an iconic photo opportunity. A typical canal tour will take you past famous landmarks such as the Anne Frank House, the Westerkerk, and the Rijksmuseum. You’ll also get a chance to admire the gabled houses, houseboats, and vibrant neighborhoods along the canals.