Sight on a Canal Boat Tour

Look at the city map of Amsterdam, and you will quickly see why. The city seems to be built in an elaborate ring shape with concentric canals making up the layers. There are literally hundreds of miles of canals and about 1500 bridges – that is, if you wished to cross them all, which you won’t. This is not the place to suffer from gephyrophobia (fear of bridges)! Canal boats and bicycles appear, to the North American, to be the predominant method of transport, perhaps because they are unusual to eyes accustomed to automobile traffic jams. Watch out for the bikers by the way: they cycle with Dutch determination and single-mindedness. But we digress …

Walkway/Bike Bridge over Canal

The canals of Amsterdam did not spring up in haste as required, but were actually planned over a number of centuries. The earliest and innermost canal, the Singel, was built in the 1400’s and served as a moat. The earliest canals are at the heart of this ancient watery city, and this is where you also find the infamous Red Light District (which is a whole article onto itself). Though there are many canals radiating out from the center, some built to aid residential development, some for transport (for example, food and beer), and some for defense, there are three main ones: the Lord’s or Gentleman’s Canal, the Emperor’s Canal and the Prince’s Canal. These encompass the majority of the area which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Red Light District at Night

Here’s a sample what you might find along each.

The Lord’s Canal was and still is home to stately residences, all built from brick and stone. Most houses in the city were destroyed by fires in medieval times, the last in a large fire in 1597 so most buildings do not pre-date that time though the city was founded in the 13th century. Watch for the Tunnel of Love, a view of the seven bridges of the Reguiliersgracht. These can be seen one after the other appearing much like a tunnel when viewed from the waterline, and is especially beautiful when lit after dark. The other building of note is the Museum Willet Holthuysen, in which the interior from the 1600’s is still intact and a show onto itself.

Tunnel of Love

The widest canal is the Emperor’s Canal. Many former business oriented buildings will be found here including the Greenland Warehouses (as in whale hunting products), and the Red Hat ( originally a hatmaker’s). Watch for the John Adams House, his residence during his ambassadorship years, and the home of Amnesty International, the Coymans House. Most of us will visit Amsterdam in the warm weather months but in winter, this canal freezes over and is used for skating.

Last, but not least, is the Prince’s Canal. Look for the Anne Frank house and museum (not the same building!), the famous Café Papeneiland at Brewer’s Corner, one of the oldest cafés in the city dating from the 1600’s, a houseboat museum, and the stork at the corner of the Reguliersgracht (old form of advertising midwifery). See if you can spot a five foot wide canal house of 5 stories. There are many narrow, but tall, houses in Amsterdam necessary from the time when paying tax was based on your canal frontage – but this one  should really stand out!

Amsterdam House Boats

Almost every building along the canals has a story, and the only way to take it all in is with a guided canal boat tour. If this excursion is not included on a river cruise itinerary that you take, or if you are just visiting the city on your travels, do take the time for one of these tours. You will not only get a great overview and understanding of this city and the people, but you will definitely be taking notes of all the wonderful places you want to visit – on foot – later.

Many of the Rhine River cruises either start or end in Amsterdam. Cruise Holidays of Flemington would be happy to help you choose the river cruise line and itinerary best suited for your tastes and budget.

Many European ocean cruise also start or end here. Currently, Cruise Holidays of Flemington has a 12 day Amsterdam to Barcelona in September 2015 on Oceania’s Marina. It includes prepaid gratuities and a $150 SBC!

Article written for Pack Your Bags, Cruise Holidays of Flemington by D.MacIntyre of compassmedia.us. She has dodged many a many a bicycle in Amsterdam !