Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7
3
2
8
1
0
4
9
Entrepotdok
An imposing stretch of former
dockland has been restored to provide
offices and apartments, with outdoor
cafés overlooking colourful houseboats.
6
5
Reguliersgracht
Much loved for its
pretty houses and
hump-backed bridges,
Reguliersgracht was
cut in 1664. Look out for
Nos 57, 59 and 63.
Amstel River
Until the construct-
ion of the Grachtengordel
pushed it out of focus,
the river Amstel was the
city's
raison d'être
. It is
still used by barges to
transport goods to the
city's port.
Brouwersgracht
The happy-go-lucky
feel of the “brewers”
canal' makes a pleasant
contrast to the sophistic-
ated elegance of the
Grachtengordel.
Bloemgracht
A charming canal
crossed by cast-iron
bridges, Bloemgracht
is known locally as
“the Herengracht of the
Jordaan , because of
its elaborately gabled
houses.
Leidsegracht
This lovely - and
exclusive - canal was cut
in 1664, when it was the
main barge route from
Amsterdam to Leiden.
How Amsterdam's
Houses are Built
Each house is built on
wooden piles sunk into
the marshy, porous
subsoil. It wasn't until
the 17th century, when
the piles could be sunk
deep enough to reach
the hard layer of sand
that lies at 13 m (42 ft),
that any real stability
was achieved. Some
reach even further, to a
second layer of sand at
18 m (58 ft). If piles
come into contact with
air, they rot, so today,
concrete is used
instead of wood.
Singel
Once a fortified moat,
the Singel is now home
to Bloemenmarkt, the
domed Ronde Lutherse
Kerk and the soaring Neo-
Gothic Krijtberg church.
9
