Amsterdam Canal Belt

If you’re walking around in Amsterdam’s centre, you will find yourself in the canal belt – it’s impossible to miss. With beautiful 17th-century houses lining each side of the canal, charming cafes, and endless bridges you could spend an entire day walking around and taking in the scenery. A canal cruise can’t be missed out on as it offers a unique perspective on the picturesque canals with the canal houses, and typical Amsterdam architecture.

The four canals that make up the inner canal belt in Amsterdam are the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, and the Prinsengracht. This area is known in Dutch as the ‘Grachtengordel’. Built in the 17th century to deal with an increasing population during the Dutch Golden Age, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

To get to the Singel Canal, you need to come out of the front of Amsterdam’s central station, turn right and walk for about 5 minutes until you can see water. Because the inner canal belt is in an arc around the city, it is easy to navigate your way around. To reach any one of the other canals you can turn right on one of the bridges along the Singel and follow the street to the next canal.

History of the Amsterdam Canal Belt

Amsterdam’s canals were built during the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the Dutch Golden Age. This project was designed to create a new port city to allow for better transportation, protection from enemies, effective water management and provide more space for urban development. Because at that time the land they needed to do this was on a swamp, and the Ijsselmeer was sea, they had to drain it by using the canals and by filling in the spaces in between to create land. It became a blueprint for urban planning across the world until the 19th century. If you want to learn more about the history of the Amsterdam Canal Belt, consider visiting the Grachtenhuis Museum which is housed in one of the beautiful canal houses and dedicated to this topic! Or if you’re interested in the history of Amsterdam, visit this page.

UNESCO World Heritage site

Because of its rich history, the canal belt in Amsterdam became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010. It was nominated in 2006 because it demonstrates urban planning on a large scale, and it was unique in terms of engineering, town planning and construction over two centuries. Amsterdam was a centre for culture, trade, intellectual exchange and was pioneering in the technical, maritime and cultural fields. The ‘port city’ was born and the gables and facades of the traditional Amsterdam canal houses were established. This earnt Amsterdam’s reputation as being the Venice of the North. Also check out the listing at the official UNESCO website.

Hotels in the Canal Belt area

In the Canal Belt area, you’ll find a wide selection of hotels. Since this area is in high demand, the room prices are fairly high. The hotels that are directly on the canals usually charge a higher price for rooms with canal views, usually, these rooms sell out fast. Therefore, make sure to book early if you want the canal view! If you’d like to find a hotel in the Canal Belt area at a lower price, we recommend checking out hotels which are not directly on the canal. If you’re not on a budget, there are plenty of options for prestigious luxury hotels. Some of the best hotels one can find in the Amsterdam Canal Belt area are;

1. Waldorf Astoria – definitely the most prestigious 5-star hotel in the Canal Belt area, located on the Herengracht near the Rembrandtplein nightlife area. >> Check out Waldorf Astoria on Booking.com <<
2. Hotel Pulitzer – a marvellous five-star luxury hotel housed in historical canal houses. Situated on Prinsengracht right next to the famous Nine Streets area. >> Check out Hotel Pulitzer on Booking.com <<
3. The Toren – spread over a couple of 17th-century townhouses, this unique boutique hotel offers a unique getaway. A quiet, but superb location on the Keizersgracht, right behind the Anne Frank House. >> Check out The Toren on Booking.com <<
4. The Dylan – this modernly furnished five-star hotel is located hidden away in the characteristic canal houses on the Keizersgracht. Its location in the Nine Streets area offers a calm hideaway with all the highlights of Amsterdam within reach. >> Check out The Dylan on Booking.com <<
5. Andaz Amsterdam – this modern 5-star hotel spoils its guests with all the facilities one can wish for, including a spa. The location on the elegant Prinsengracht, close to the Nine Streets is perfect for exploring the city. >> Check out Andaz Amsterdam on Booking.com <<
6. Hotel Seven one Seven – this classical five-star hotel housed in a monumental, 17th-century canal house is truly a hidden gem! With its location only a few hundred metres from Rijksmuseum, it’s a perfect accommodation for exploring the unique museums of Amsterdam >> Check out Hotel 717 on Booking.com <<
7. Ambassade Hotel – this highly appreciated four-star hotel offers classical furnished rooms with lovely canal views of the Herengracht. The location in the Nine Streets area makes it a perfect quiet, yet centrally located hideaway  >> Check out Ambassade Hotel on Booking.com <<
8. The Hoxton – this 4-star hotel is situated in five exceptionally elegant canal houses. Its location is superb with both Dam Square and the Anne Frank house within less than 500 metres!  >> Check out The Hoxton on Booking.com <<
9. Hotel Estheréa – this elegant, classical family-run hotel is a true hidden gem in the Canal Belt. Its location is quiet, yet close to the livelihood Amsterdam has to offer. >> Check out Hotel Estheréa on Booking.com <<

The best places for you to take photos in the canal belt Amsterdam

Of course, you want to take home some good pictures of the Amsterdam canal belt or share them directly online with your friends and relatives. Thus we selected a few picturesque hotspots for you, where you can take the perfect photograph or selfie. We definitely recommend roaming around the canals to find your own perfect picture, but make sure you don’t miss out on the following spots;

• Outside Herengracht 161 there is a bridge and if you look through it you’ll see 7 bridges in a row
• The golden bend on the Herengracht between Leidestraat and Vijzelstraat which showcases some of Amsterdam’s most opulent canal houses
• The Brouwersgracht with the old breweries
• The Groenburgwal with the Zuiderkerk in the background
• Magere Brug (Skinny bridge) and the Amstel area
• The view of the Westerkerk
• The homo monument (Gay monument) near the Westerkerk
• The Grimburgwal and the house on three canals
• The Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market)

Things to do in the Amsterdam Canal Belt

Roaming around in the canal belt will keep you busy for a few hours. Just enjoy the sights, architecture and culture. If you’re up for a break there are plenty of cosy cafes and restaurants where you can sit down, have a drink or a full meal. When it’s cold you might want to try a Dutch hot chocolate with a “Stroopwafel”. They’re one of the best if you ask us! A truly intimate way of exploring the canal belt with your loved one(s) is on a private boat tour over the canals.

If you’re up to do something more active, you might want to do some shopping. In the inner canal belt, you’ll find an area referred to as “the nine streets” or “Negen straatjes” in Dutch. The area is popular because of the many one-of-a-kind stores; boutiques, vintage stores, galleries, bookstores, and delicacy stores.

Museums in the area

In the canal belt area, you’ll also find several museums. Best known is, of course, the Anne Frank House. But there are several others to be explored;

• Het Grachtenhuis / Museum of the Canals: Take a look at interactive exhibits that explain the history of Amsterdam’s inner canal ring.
  Address: Herengracht 386, 1016 CJ Amsterdam
• Museum Willet-Holthuysen: This is a great example of a classic 17th-century canal house furnished with rare objects, glassware, silverware, fine china and paintings.
  Address: Herengracht 605, 1017 CE Amsterdam
• Museum van Loon: Another classic example of a beautifully kept canal house with family portraits dating from the 17th to the 20th century.
  Address: Keizersgracht 672, 1017 ET Amsterdam
• Bijbels Museum / Biblical Museum: Look at a collection of bibles from across the centuries in this museum on the canal belt in Amsterdam
  Address: Keizersgracht 672, 1017 ET Amsterdam