Canal Ring

The Grachtengordel (Canal Ring) is one of Amsterdam's prettiest areas to wander through. As you explore, keep in mind that when these impressive canal houses were built for the movers and shakers of the 17th-century Golden Age, home owners were taxed on their houses' width, not height. Wealth and prestige was measured by the width of the house, the number of windows facing the canal, and the ornate gable work.

The grand, crescent-shape waterways of the Canal Ring, which surround the old center, are made up of Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht (Prince, Emperor, and Gentlemen canals). The intersecting canals and streets were originally built to house and provide work space for artisans and workers, but are now magnets to discerning shoppers, diners, and drinkers. The construction of the Canal Rings, which began at the beginning of the 17th century, proceeded from west to east.

The Eastern end of the Canal Ring is known as the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend), where elaborate gables, richly decorated facades, colored marbles, and heavy doors create an imposing architecture that suits the bank headquarters of today as well as it did the grandness of yore. Because the properties were so narrow, though, many well-heeled home owners decided to buy two adjoining allotments and build double-wide houses. This area is currently much less residential and largely devoted to banks, businesses, and hotels.