With a few bicycles, several bridges and a pedestrian zone, you're sure to be close to a canal in Amsterdam.
A cruise along one of Amsterdam's canals tops the list of things to do for many visitors to this city.
If you don't want to cruise the canals, you're more than likely planning to sit back and drink a coffee while you contemplate them.
Today, I'm talking about what you can do near Amsterdam's canals.
Canal in Amsterdam: article summary
Amsterdam canal: look for rickety houses
As you cruise down the river on your sightseeing tour or dinner cruise, you may come across houses that look a little rickety.
In fact, some of them look like they're about to tip over on their side!
These were houses built along the canals for Amsterdam's wealthy. Sometimes, local merchants lived and worked in them.
Unfortunately, they were built on stilts that rested on the swampy marshland that was once Amsterdam. The problem with swamps, is that they don't have solid foundations.
Inevitably, the houses began to sink into the canals and rivers, giving them the rickety appearance they have today.
Amsterdam's many bridges
If you're asked to think of a city associated with canals, you automatically think of Venice. However, despite the fact that there are 150 canals in Venice, more than double the number in Amsterdam, there are only 409 bridges.
Amsterdam has 1,281 bridgesmore than three times more than its Italian counterpart.
These bridges help separate Amsterdam into almost 90 separate islands. You'll have to come back more than once to visit them all.
Amsterdam canal: a life of barges
Any city with canals has people who live there. In fact, people adapt to the environment they are given. In a city where space is at a premium, common sense dictates that people should find more space where they can!
More 2,500 barges are currently floating on the Amsterdam canals. Some are offices, others hotels and sometimes even museums. On the whole, however, they're homes.
Traditional barges are made of wood, but composite barges are becoming increasingly popular, as they are stronger and require fewer repairs.
Wooden houses also have to be repainted every three years. Which makes owning this type of dwelling more restrictive!
Canals full of bicycles
In a city with around 800,000 bicycles, it's not surprising that a few fall into the canal from time to time. Nor is it surprising that the authorities are working hard to remove the bicycles canals every year.
What is surprising, however, is the volume of bikes that are removed from the canals. Over 10,000 are removed every year.
Amsterdam's canals: a UNESCO heritage site
The inner ring of the Amsterdam canal was officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. This demonstrates the site's cultural and historical significance.
Canals weren't always as clean as they seem now
People used to dump their waste in the canals, giving it a pungent smell.
The cleanliness of the canals is due to the government's efforts to clean them and educate people about their upkeep.
During your trip to Amsterdam, you can take a tour of its magnificent canals and discover the city's many attractions. from a different point of view.
What to do in Amsterdam in 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 5 days, a week?
Whatever the length of your stay, I invite you to download my special Amsterdam guide.
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