{"id":2773,"date":"2020-11-25T17:59:38","date_gmt":"2020-11-25T16:59:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/?p=2773"},"modified":"2024-01-26T13:44:28","modified_gmt":"2024-01-26T12:44:28","slug":"amsterdam-canals-the-10-most-asked-questions-and-answers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/amsterdam-canals-the-10-most-asked-questions-and-answers\/","title":{"rendered":"Amsterdam Canals; The 10 Most Asked Questions &#038; Answers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Why does Amsterdam, the picturesque capital of The Netherlands, boast such an intricate network of canals? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: black; background-color: white; border: 2px solid #FF0800; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: black; font-size: 13pt;\">Explore the Amsterdam canals and uncover their history, highlights and impact on the city<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a resident deeply familiar with the city&#8217;s waterways, I provide insights into this question and answer nine other common queries about the Amsterdam canals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Visitors can join me on this journey to discover why Amsterdam&#8217;s identity is deeply tied to its beautiful and functional canals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e1f5fe\" id=\"rank-math-toc\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ol><li ><a href=\"#1-why-are-there-canals-in-amsterdam\">Why Are There Canals In Amsterdam?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#2-history-of-amsterdam-canals\">History Of Amsterdam Canals? <\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#3-how-many-canals-are-in-amsterdam\">How Many Canals Are In Amsterdam?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#4-what-is-the-most-beautiful-canal-in-amsterdam\">What Is The Most Beautiful Canal in Amsterdam?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#5-what-are-the-best-amsterdam-canal-cruises\">What Are The Best Amsterdam Canal Cruises?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#6-how-deep-are-amsterdam-canals\">How Deep Are Amsterdam Canals?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#7-are-the-canals-in-amsterdam-clean\">Are The Canals in Amsterdam Clean?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#8-do-the-canals-in-amsterdam-ever-freeze\">Do The Canals In Amsterdam Ever Freeze?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#9-how-were-houses-built-between-the-canals-in-amsterdam\">How Were Houses Built Between Canals In Amsterdam?<\/a><\/li><li ><a href=\"#10-why-were-the-lakes-around-amsterdam-drained\">Why Were The Lakes Around Amsterdam Drained?<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-nosnippet=\"\">Read on to learn more about the fascinating background of the Amsterdam canals, or click on the question that interests you most.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">Amsterdam is a city well below sea level and in the middle of a former peat swamp<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-why-are-there-canals-in-amsterdam\" style=\"text-transform:capitalize\">1. Why Are There Canals In Amsterdam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-nosnippet=\"\">Let&#8217;s start with the most obvious question first. Why are there canals in Amsterdam? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are canals in Amsterdam for continuous water drainage to avoid flooding. Amsterdam is located \u00b1 0.5 meters below sea level and would be underwater without constant drainage. The canals in Amsterdam were also used for the transportation of goods, defensive purposes, and the discarding of sewage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The canals in Amsterdam are man-made. Amsterdam is located well below sea level and in the middle of a former peat swamp. Amsterdam needed canals to avoid flooding and survive as a city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to learn how the Dutch dug those canals to be able to build Amsterdam in the middle of a swamp and create one of the most admired cities in history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3790\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Waalseilandgracht.jpg\" alt=\"Amsterdam canals are among the most beautiful in the world\" class=\"wp-image-3790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Waalseilandgracht.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Waalseilandgracht-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Waalseilandgracht-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3747\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/netherlands_Amsterdam_instagram_oudezijds-achterburgwal-2.jpg\" alt=\"One of the oldest canals in Amsterdam in the center of the city\" class=\"wp-image-3747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/netherlands_Amsterdam_instagram_oudezijds-achterburgwal-2.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/netherlands_Amsterdam_instagram_oudezijds-achterburgwal-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/netherlands_Amsterdam_instagram_oudezijds-achterburgwal-2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-history-of-amsterdam-canals\">2. History Of Amsterdam Canals? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam&#8217;s intricate canal system and dikes were crucial in protecting the city, which sits 0.5 meters below sea level, from flooding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam, located in a peat swamp, required extensive drainage for habitation and agriculture. Early settlers around 1250 AC built primitive ditches, followed by more substantial dams and canals, to manage the water from the Zuiderzee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">The name Amsterdam originates from this dam in the Amstel River<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The significant Amstel River dam, constructed around 1265-1275, gave Amsterdam its name. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can see this dam in the Amstel River in the middle of Amsterdam&#8217;s oldest known city map, a painting from Cornelis Antoniszn from 1538 (see below, figure on the left).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam later expanded in the 16th and 17th centuries, forming concentric canal rings for continuous water management, ensuring the city remained above water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"690\" data-id=\"3185\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Netherlands_View-of-Amsterdam_Painting-by-Cornelis-Antonszoon.jpg\" alt=\"First known map of Amsterdam and Amsterdam canals on which the dam in the Amstel river is visible\" class=\"wp-image-3185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Netherlands_View-of-Amsterdam_Painting-by-Cornelis-Antonszoon.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Netherlands_View-of-Amsterdam_Painting-by-Cornelis-Antonszoon-300x218.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Netherlands_View-of-Amsterdam_Painting-by-Cornelis-Antonszoon-768x558.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3746\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_north-of-magere-brug.jpg\" alt=\"The Amstel river is the artery that feeds all canals in Amsterdam with water.\" class=\"wp-image-3746\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_north-of-magere-brug.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_north-of-magere-brug-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_north-of-magere-brug-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-how-many-canals-are-in-amsterdam\"><span data-nosnippet=\"\">3. How Many Canals Are In Amsterdam?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A frequently asked question is how many canals there are in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, totaling \u00b1 75 km (\u00b1 46 mi)<\/strong>. <strong>The number of canals in Amsterdam varies because sometimes a canal is turned into a road and vice versa. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Singelgracht is Amsterdam&#8217;s longest canal at 6.3 km (2.2 miles). The Singelgracht was dug for defensive purposes and was Amsterdam&#8217;s outer defensive parameter in the 17th century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Oudezijds Voorburgwal is the oldest canal in Amsterdam and dates back to 1385. The widest canal is the Keizersgracht, with 31 meters (33 yards).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"location of the 11 most beautiful Amsterdam canals\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=1UpsR-tXInpAMp_CN3v2ybRM0fqyZPap7\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-what-is-the-most-beautiful-canal-in-amsterdam\"><span data-nosnippet=\"\"><span data-nosnippet=\"\">4. What Is The Most Beautiful Canal in Amsterdam?<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2008, Amsterdam&#8217;s local newspaper, Parool, asked its readers what they considered Amsterdam&#8217;s most beautiful canal. Participants were all local readers of <em>Parool<\/em>, virtually all Amsterdam inhabitants. These locals knew all the canals of Amsterdam and could compare them like no one else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The most beautiful canal in Amsterdam is the Brouwersgracht<\/strong>, <strong>selected by the locals.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">The most beautiful canal in Amsterdam is the Brouwersgracht<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The reasons that the Brouwersgracht was selected as the most beautiful canal in Amsterdam are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-2310cedd\">\n\n<ul>\n<li><em>The beautifully restored canal houses along the Brouwersgracht.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The picturesque views at the intersections with the main canals<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The graceful bridges over the Brouwersgracht.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The narrow streets along the canal with little traffic<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>The large trees directly along the water<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3736\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-2.jpg\" alt=\"The brouwers gracht is considered the most beautiful of all Amsterdam canals\" class=\"wp-image-3736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-2.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3740\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-Prinsengracht.jpg\" alt=\"The corner of Brouwersgracht and prinsengracht is one of the most picturesque Amsterdam canal scenes\" class=\"wp-image-3740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-Prinsengracht.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-Prinsengracht-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-Prinsengracht-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\"><em>The Brouwersgracht is the most beautiful canal in Amsterdam.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Reguliersgracht is another photogenic canal that connects a number of the main canals. The Reguliersgracht is probably the most photographed Amsterdam canal due to its seven beautiful bridges in a straight line.<strong> <\/strong>Lovely for a daylight boat trip or a romantic evening walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Reguliersgracht connects the three main canals, <strong>the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, and the Prinsengracht<\/strong>. These three canals are all must-sees, but the Herengracht is the most beautiful. The mayor of Amsterdam lives and works at Herengracht 502. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Herengracht was the canal where Amsterdam&#8217;s richest people lived. The canal houses along the Herengracht are stunning. Herengracht is still one of the most expensive and prestigious places to live in The Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">The Herengracht was the canal where Amsterdam&#8217;s richest people lived<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The  Jordaan is a densely populated neighborhood with dozens of narrow streets and a handful of canals. The canals in the Jordaan are narrower than in other parts of the city. The Bloemgracht is the most beautiful canal of the Jordaan due to its gorgeous mixture of beautifully restored canal houses and elegant bridges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Groenburgwal is a hidden gem of a canal<strong> <\/strong>in the middle of the center of Amsterdam. It is a short and narrow side canal of the Amstel River and intersects with the Amstel close to the Stopera. The Groenburgwal can best be admired from the Staalmeestersbrug, looking towards the Zuiderkerk (see below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to enjoy the beautiful canals, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/how-much-does-a-3-day-trip-to-amsterdam-cost\/\">check out what a 3-day trip to Amsterdam<\/a><\/strong> will cost. You want to visit this mesmerizing city with fairytale-like canals at least once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"713\" data-id=\"6038\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_canal-cruises-2.jpg\" alt=\"A canal cruise on a sunny summer day in one of the canals in Amsterdam\" class=\"wp-image-6038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_canal-cruises-2.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_canal-cruises-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_canal-cruises-2-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A standard canal cruise in Amsterdam on a sunny summer day<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-what-are-the-best-amsterdam-canal-cruises\">5. What Are The Best Amsterdam Canal Cruises?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/30-things-to-do-in-the-netherlands-suggested-by-locals\/\">Canal cruises are among the most popular Amsterdam attractions<\/a><\/strong> and are enjoyed by over three million visitors annually. There are dozens of cruises available, and there is enough competition to keep ticket prices reasonable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In Amsterdam, there is no difference between the standard canal cruises of different cruise companies. They will sail through the same canals and show you the same highlights. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A standard canal cruise lasts \u00b1 60 minutes and costs \u20ac 15-20 ($ 15-20), depending on the season.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-b21c75d5\">\n\n<div data-gyg-href=\"https:\/\/widget.getyourguide.com\/default\/activities.frame\" data-gyg-locale-code=\"en-US\" data-gyg-widget=\"activities\" data-gyg-number-of-items=\"3\" data-gyg-cmp=\"Canals\" data-gyg-partner-id=\"7V70OKG\" data-gyg-tour-ids=\"42049,313498,8271\"><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a standard canal cruise, dozens of alternative canal cruises are possible, often with drinks and food. I love the <em>evening canal cruise<\/em>s in Amsterdam in particular because Amsterdam looks a bit like a fairytale in the evening. Romantic dinner cruises and party cruises are also possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check the canal cruise possibilities out in this <strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/Amsterdam Canal Cruises\" target=\"_blank\">overview of canal cruises in Amsterdam<\/a><\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-how-deep-are-amsterdam-canals\">6. How Deep Are Amsterdam Canals?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You may wonder how deep are Amsterdam canals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The canals in Amsterdam are 1.5-3.0 m (5-10 ft) deep, depending on their size. Typically, the wider the canal, the deeper it is.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Water levels in the Amsterdam canals are stable and tightly regulated, remaining between 0.3-0.6 m (1-2 ft) below sea level, even in heavy rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The larger canals in Amsterdam are deep enough to drown in if you can&#8217;t find a stair to get yourself out of the water again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, this happens yearly with around a dozen drunk men who urinate in an Amsterdam canal and fall forward in the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider yourself warned&#8230;.!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery aligncenter has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3752\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Prinsengracht.jpg\" alt=\"The Prinsengracht is one of the oldest canals in Amsterdam\" class=\"wp-image-3752\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Prinsengracht.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Prinsengracht-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Prinsengracht-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3735\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Prinsengracht is one of the most beautiful canals in Amsterdam\" class=\"wp-image-3735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-1.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Instagram_Brouwersgracht-1-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-caption wp-element-caption\"><em>The Prinsengracht<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-are-the-canals-in-amsterdam-clean\">7. Are The Canals in Amsterdam Clean?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people wonder if the Amsterdam canals are clean enough to swim in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Amsterdam canals have become much cleaner over the last decades. The Amsterdam canals are now so pure that it is possible to fish in Amsterdam<\/strong> <strong>again. Nowadays, more people are swimming in the canals, although that is not officially allowed. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The discarding of sewage by the (oldest) canal houses and the many houseboats in the canals has stopped, significantly improving water quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another major step to improving the canals&#8217; water quality was to move the sewage plant to stop discarding purified sewage in the Amstel River. This step led to another significant improvement in the water quality of the Amstel River and Amsterdam canals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">Boats of the Amsterdam municipality constantly cruise the canals to remove floating trash<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Boats of the Amsterdam municipality constantly cruise the canals to remove floating trash. As a result, the Amsterdam Authorities claim that the water in the Amstel River and canals now meets the standards of official bathing water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Improving water quality has significantly increased the number and diversity of fish in Amsterdam&#8217;s canals. Keep in mind that you need a fishing permit in The Netherlands. The Netherlands is a highly regulated country. These days, you also see more and more people swimming in the Amsterdam canals, although that is not officially allowed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The staggering number of bicycles still thrown into the canals remains. Every year, the municipality of Amsterdam removes around 15.000 bicycles from the canals. These bicycles were most likely stolen, and the thieves needed to get rid of them without leaving traces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a data-wpil=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/is-the-netherlands-a-safe-country\/\">The large-scale theft of bikes is one of the most important problems in Amsterdam<\/a>. Therefore, always lock your bike if you discover Amsterdam by bike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"522\" data-id=\"3070\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_skating-on-frozen-canal-e1613376173399.jpg\" alt=\"Skating on an Amsterdam canal in the winter of 2021-2022\" class=\"wp-image-3070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_skating-on-frozen-canal-e1613376173399.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_skating-on-frozen-canal-e1613376173399-300x165.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_skating-on-frozen-canal-e1613376173399-768x422.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"712\" data-id=\"3072\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_frozen-canal-from-atlas-maiorbridge.jpg\" alt=\"Skating on one of the canals in Amsterdam in January 2022\" class=\"wp-image-3072\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_frozen-canal-from-atlas-maiorbridge.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_frozen-canal-from-atlas-maiorbridge-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_frozen-canal-from-atlas-maiorbridge-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-do-the-canals-in-amsterdam-ever-freeze\">8. Do The Canals In Amsterdam Ever Freeze?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It seems impossible if you walk along the Amsterdam canals on a sunny summer day, but skating on the Amsterdam canals is sometimes possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In some years, the winter is severe enough for all canals in Amsterdam&#8217;s center to be frozen, and ice skating on the canals is possible. For example, in February 2021, ice skating on the canals in Amsterdam was possible after two weeks of ice-cold weather.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the weather forecast predicts at least five days of freezing conditions, sailing with a boat in the canals will be prohibited. In addition, locks around Amsterdam are closed to stop the water currents and improve the canals&#8217; ice quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those severe winters are the best, and every Dutchman looks forward to skating on the canals again. Those winters will get us all very excited. Consider yourself lucky if you visit The Netherlands during an ice-cold winter because you will see an entire country celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, these severe winters are becoming very rare. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/dutch-weather-the-11-most-asked-questions-answers\/\">The Netherlands has a moderate climate and relatively mild winters<\/a><\/strong>, and winters seem to be less severe. But every 5-10 years, like in 2021, we get lucky and enjoy ice strong enough to skate on the canals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"713\" data-id=\"6035\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Damrak-Houses.jpg\" alt=\"One of the most familiair views of Amsterdam, Houses bordering Damrak near the Central Station in the center of the city\" class=\"wp-image-6035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Damrak-Houses.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Damrak-Houses-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Netherlands_Amsterdam_Damrak-Houses-768x576.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-how-were-houses-built-between-the-canals-in-amsterdam\">9. How Were Houses Built Between The Canals In Amsterdam?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Building houses between the canals was more complicated than you can imagine. The peatland between the canals was not solid enough to build houses on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately, the peat layer under Amsterdam was only 8-9 meters thick, and under the peat layer were solid layers of sand.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Houses between the Amsterdam canals were built on long wooden poles, driven in the ground until solidly anchored in an underlying sand layer to provide a sufficient foundation for building a canal house.<\/strong> <strong>These wooden poles still support many of the houses in Amsterdam&#8217;s center.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Dutch built houses in a peat swamp between the canals. A city in the middle of a peat swamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">God created the world,\nbut the Dutch created The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam&#8217;s 5-fold expansion between 1600-1700 turned Amsterdam from a small medieval city into one of the most important cities of its time. During this period, the famous concentric rings of canals were dug, giving the center of Amsterdam its current shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Youtube video below, called&nbsp;<em>Expansion of Amsterdam between 1600-1700<\/em>, gives a fantastic impression of Amsterdam&#8217;s massive expansion during that century. Viewing this video gives you an excellent impression of Amsterdam&#8217;s rapid development during the Golden Age of Amsterdam in less than five minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed aligncenter is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"De groei van de Grachtengordel \/ Expansion of Amsterdam in the Seventeenth Century\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IvsHvfs3G1M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UNESCO considered Amsterdam&#8217;s canals so unique that<strong>&nbsp;the<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/what-are-the-12-dutch-unesco-world-heritage-sites\/\"><strong><em>Amsterdam Canal District<\/em>&nbsp;is now a&nbsp;<em>UNESCO<\/em>&nbsp;<em>World Heritage Site<\/em>.<\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amsterdam was the capital of the world economy in the 17th century and was considered the ideal city. As a result, Amsterdam was a reference for building new cities worldwide until the 19th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">The Amsterdam Canal District required expertise in hydraulics, civil engineering, town planning, construction, and architectural know-how<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-why-were-the-lakes-around-amsterdam-drained\">10. Why Were The Lakes Around Amsterdam Drained?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The canals were needed to drain the peat swamps. However, that was not the only problem with water that Amsterdam had to solve to exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you look at the map below, you will note&nbsp;many large lakes around Amsterdam&nbsp;before 1250 AC. These lakes rapidly grew by rapid erosion of the weak peat layers, threatening Amsterdam&#8217;s existence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drainage of these lakes became necessary to safeguard Amsterdam against the water threatening it from the outside. The Beemster Lake was the first lake drained in the early 17th century&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/why-is-the-netherlands-known-for-windmills\/\">with the help of windmills<\/a>. Over the following centuries, the Dutch drained many more lakes in the western part of The Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"950\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Netherlands_Amsterdam-Location_Then-Now_v2.jpg\" alt=\"A map of water surrounding Amsterdam in 1250 vs. 2020\" class=\"wp-image-2785\" srcset=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Netherlands_Amsterdam-Location_Then-Now_v2.jpg 950w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Netherlands_Amsterdam-Location_Then-Now_v2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Netherlands_Amsterdam-Location_Then-Now_v2-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 950px) 100vw, 950px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/MapPorn\/comments\/6kbnmo\/gif_land_reclamation_in_the_netherlands_13002000\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Beemster Polder is now another UNESCO World Heritage Site in The Netherlands<strong>. <\/strong>Almost all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in The Netherlands&nbsp;have something to do with water management. That is a central theme in a country that would not exist if it were not for its water management skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"padding: 10px; color: grey; background-color: white; border: 2px solid black; text-align: center; border-radius: 10px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-size: 13pt;\">Almost all UNESCO World Heritage Sites in The Netherlands\u00a0have something to do with water management<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> &#8230; <a title=\"Amsterdam Canals; The 10 Most Asked Questions &#038; Answers\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/amsterdam-canals-the-10-most-asked-questions-and-answers\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Amsterdam Canals; The 10 Most Asked Questions &#038; Answers\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3736,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2773"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8918,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2773\/revisions\/8918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2773"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2773"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/netherlandsinsiders.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2773"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}