Canal Ring & Jordaan

Grachtengordel / Jordaan

Three concentric half-ring canals dug to a plan in the 17th century, lined with gabled canal houses, form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the west, the Jordaan, a former working-class neighbourhood, is known for its cafés, small galleries and weekend markets.

The Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) is made up of three concentric half-ring canals planned and dug during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century: the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. More than 1,500 national-monument gabled canal houses line their banks. They are narrow and tall, lean slightly forward, and have hooks at the top for hoisting furniture through the windows. The ring was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. The most beautiful stretches are the Golden Bend (Gouden Bocht) on the Herengracht, home to the grandest mansions; the spot where the Keizersgracht meets the Reguliersgracht, from which you can see seven bridges at once; the old warehouses along the Brouwersgracht; and the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) over the Amstel, especially at night. To see the interiors, visit Het Grachtenhuis or Museum Van Loon. A one-hour canal cruise (about €18–25, departing from the docks by Centraal Station or beside the Rijksmuseum) is the easiest way to take it all in, and the evening light cruises are especially romantic. West of the Canal Ring, the Jordaan was originally a neighbourhood of 17th-century craftsmen and labourers, and today it is Amsterdam's most convivial district. Narrow streets hide courtyard almshouses called hofjes (such as the Karthuizerhof), small galleries and brown cafés (Café 't Smalle, and the apple pie at Café Papeneiland). There is the organic Noordermarkt on Saturdays, the Lindengracht market, and the Westerstraat fabric market on Mondays. Between the Canal Ring and the old town, the Nine Streets (De 9 Straatjes) are packed with independent designer shops and cheese shops. Getting there: tram 13 or 17 to Westermarkt, or a 10-minute walk from Dam Square. Cycling is the most local way to explore, but don't stop on the bike lanes to take photos, and watch your step, as there are no railings along the canals. The coordinates above are for the centre of the Jordaan.

Canal Ring & Jordaan

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Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby