Canals and Canal Houses; Amsterdam’s Best Tourist Attraction

The 17th century was Amsterdam’s Golden Age. The population exploded which resulted in a housing shortage. New building projects started. The three newly-dug canals, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht encircled the city. These new suburbs with their luxurious canal mansions became favourite placed to live for wealthy Amsterdamers. Today these three canals are known as de grachtengordel, the canal belt, and still sought after places to live.

Wealthy merchants, men of standing and gentlemen of independent means were the new occupants of the sumptuous manors along the canals. The lay-out of these houses was more or less the same for all of them. Kitchen, scullery and store room were in the basement. This was also the part of the house where the servants lived. They had their separate entrance. This was a nondescript door under the outside flight of stairs. These stairs led to the first floor and main entrance.

Canal House on Herengracht

The first floor was the most awsome part of the house. It contained a marble-tiled hall, a sweeping staircase and large high-ceilinged rooms; reception room with canal view, garden room, dining room with garden view and often a ball room. Bedrooms were on the upper floors. At the back of most canal houses are large garden laid-out in French style.

Canals and canal houses are Amsterdam’s number two tourist attraction. (Number one is the Red Light District and  coffee shops aka hash bars are  a joint first). The canals were dug out of necessity because Amsterdam was built on marshy soil. They provided good drainage and prevented Amsterdam from flooding.

Amsterdam has about 200 canals. All canals together have a length of 100 km. On average the canals are 2,4 m deep and 27 m wide. The canals are dredged on a regular basis. Guess what they find. Bikes!

Most canal houses and gardens are usually not open to the public, but during open tuindagen festival (open garden festival) in June many open their doors for visitors to have a peep.

Canal House Garden

If you cannot wait until June, several museum are housed in canal houses, they can be visited every day (except Mondays)

Huis Marseille, Keizersgracht 401.  Museum for Photography,  Opening hours: 11.00 – 18.00, closed Mondays

Museum van Loon, Keizersgracht 672.  Home of the family van Loon, interior and furnishing as it was in 17th century. Opening hours: 11.00 – 17.00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Museum Willet-Holthuysen, Keizersgracht 605.  A peep into 17th century life, Opening hours: 10.00 – 17.00, closed Mondays

photos: personal collection

poppe