Attraction: Amsterdam Canals

Amsterdam Canals refers to four main canals, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel.

Amsterdam is known as the “Venice of the North” because of its 165 canals. These canals have a total length of 50 kilometers, or 31 miles. Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Singel are the most well-known canals. In Amsterdam, there are 1281 bridges. The most well-known bridges are Magere Brug and Blauwbrug, though Torensluis is the oldest.

The region was largely swampland before the canals and houses of Amsterdam were constructed. The swamps were drained in sections at a time, resulting in islands surrounded by canals. This is a traditional Dutch can scheme, in which the waterway serves as a transportation, water management, and irrigation system. The canals also served as a part of the city’s military defense.