What to See on an Amsterdam Canal Cruise: A Full Guide On an Amsterdam canal cruise you will see the 17th-century canal houses lining the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht — Amsterdam’s three UNESCO-listed concentric canals. Key landmarks include the Anne Frank House at 263 Prinsengracht, the Westerkerk tower, the Golden Bend on the Herengracht, the … Read more
Amsterdam’s Most Famous Canal Houses (And Where to Spot Them) Amsterdam’s most famous canal houses include the Anne Frank House at 263 Prinsengracht, the grand mansions of the Herengracht’s Golden Bend, the Huis met de Hoofden (House with the Heads) at 123 Keizersgracht, and the Groenland Warehouses on the Keizersgracht. The best way to see … Read more
Amsterdam Canal Cruise vs. By Foot: Two Ways to See the City Both a canal cruise and walking the canal ring are worthwhile ways to experience Amsterdam — they are complementary rather than alternatives. The canal cruise gives a water-level view of the canal houses and bridges that is impossible on foot, along with historical … Read more
Amsterdam Canal Cruise at Night: What You’ll See & Why It’s Special At night, Amsterdam’s canal ring is illuminated by streetlights, bridge lighting, and the warm glow from canal house windows — creating reflections in the canal water that double the visual impact of the city’s architecture. The canal houses, which are architecturally interesting in … Read more
Bridges of Amsterdam: What You’ll Pass on a Canal Cruise Amsterdam has more than 1,500 bridges — more than Venice. On a standard canal cruise you pass under and alongside dozens of these, including the famous Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) over the Amstel River, the Blauwbrug (Blue Bridge), and the Reguliersgracht, where seven bridges are … Read more
The Amsterdam Canals: History, Facts & Why They’re UNESCO-Listed Amsterdam’s canal ring (grachtengordel) was built between 1613 and 1665 during the Dutch Golden Age — the period when Amsterdam was the wealthiest and most commercially powerful city in the world. The ring consists of three concentric canals (Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Herengracht) dug as a planned … Read more