Canals+of+Amsterdam

=Canals of Amsterdam =

Amsterdam
More than one hundred kilometers of canals, ninety islands, and 1500 bridges make up the City of Amsterdam. The canals are the main form of transportation in Amsterdam, bringing wealth to the city with this easy way to transport goods. The canals were dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. There are over 1500 monumental buildings alongside the canals.

The canals were first planned to be a form of water management and defense. The plan was created in the 17th century for the Grachtengordel as immigration rose. The Grachtengordel is a concentric belt around the city consisting the following main canals: Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht. These canals were used for residential development. The fourth outer canal, Singelgracht, was used for water management and defense. Interconnecting canals were built as well primarily for the purposes of transporting goods throughout the city. The defensive purpose of the Nassau/Stadhouderskade was served by moat and earthen dikes, with gates at transit points but otherwise no masonry superstructures.

The construction of the canals was done from the west to the east, not from the center. Construction began in the north-west sector in 1613. The eastern sector was not completed until a long time after that. The canals had a big impact on the city of Amsterdam, bringing in many new residents. The population grew from 50,000 to 200,000 during the 17th century making it the 3rd most populated city in the world at the time following London and Paris.

The medieval center of Amsterdam is the Red Light District. The municipal project “1012” aims to highlight the historical importance of the Red Light District and the canals. In 2009 the Amsterdam Canal belt was placed on the world heritage list of UNESCO, protecting its historical value. Today the city offers canal cruises which are the greatest tourist attraction of the Netherlands.