Prinsengracht, Amsterdam
Named after William l, Prinsengracht's name means Prince's Canal. He was in addition called William of Orange and participated in the eighty Years War that led to the Dutch Republic's independence. Prinsengracht is Amsterdam's longest, major canal, shaping the canal ring's outer circle. As the 3rd and outermost of 3 central canals, together they form the city's 4th outlay, which was an expansion project begun in 1612 and lasted 50 years to complete. By then, Amsterdam had grown four times larger. In 2009, the 3 central canals were given the UNESCO World Heritage Site status. A few of the city's best-known structures could be seen along it, from Unicorn Lock, Hudde's Stone to Noorderkerk, creating a picturesque stroll. Let's start the tour here:
Unicorn Lock
Prinsengracht's entrance called Eenhoomsluis, or Unicorn Lock, is one out of 16 waterlocks that were constructed around Amsterdam in the 17th century, in order to control the canals' water level as well as to protect the city from the sea. Since the city was a seaport, this worked as a sealock. Visitors could yet observe that the city-side's lockdoors are much lower than the outer flood doors, which were erected to safeguard the city from North Westerly storm and spring tides.
Hudde's Stone
The horizontal line running across this stone suggests the sea-dykes' height around Amsterdam in those days. The tidal average high-water level via those dykes turned into the benchmark for the canals' water level, which was 9 feet and 5 inches below that benchmark. Mayor Hudde put in a system of watermills, locks, and measuring stones by which citizens can have their feet dry and prevented from getting sick from the canals' pollution and stench.
Amsterdam Cafe Papeneiland
On the opposite side of the canal, stands a cafe on the corner of the Brewer's Canal, Papeneiland, one of Amsterdam's oldest cafes, established in the year 1641. It was originally a catholic cafe standing on a small island only outside the city.
The construction of a secret tunnel began in the 17th century that originated from the Posthorn church, beneath the canal itself, leading to the cafe's basement. That tunnel allowed the Catholics to escape the city in case of danger. If you politely ask the cafe's barman about it, he might take you to the actual basement and where the tunnel begins. Former president Bill Clinton spent a few hours here while visiting Holland back in 2011, enjoying the cafe's renowned home-made apple pie.
Posthorn Hidden Church
The reformation proved to be of huge significance for Amsterdam, for it sparked the city's fast growth during the 17th century. During this critical time, Catholics were tossed out of churches and out of public office and were not permitted to practice their religion in the open. As a result, they constructed 14 semi-clandestine concealed churches to exercise their faith in. Everyone knew they existed but they tolerated it if they continued in that fashion. Posthorn Church was one of these secret churches, which could be identified via a posthorn's gablestone above the door.
Northern ChurchBuilt after Western Church, Northern Church was commissioned by rich merchants, who wanted the common smelly citizens such as farmers and fishermen and others to enter. Though it took 13 long years to complete the fancy Western Church, the Northern Church was built in only 2 years.
Amsterdam's Narrowest House
The majority of the foreigners arriving in the early 17th century were merchants, all wanting a home standing on the canalside in order to hoist merchandise from their ships in the canals directly to their homes' attic for storage. All of such homes on the canals were erected deep and narrow and with very steep staircases. The local tax laws of the 17th century led to this particular architectural style. Estate on the canalsides was rare and valuable, and taxes were paid via the width of the homes' canalfront. The narrowest home sits on Singel canal nr 7, which is just 1 meter wide but the rear is 7 meters wide; that was an excellent size in a good site, plus the owner did not have to pay a lot of taxes.
Anne Frank House MuseumThe modern structure standing nearby is the Anne Frank Museum, which is one of the country's busiest museums, boasting nearly a million tourists every year. Three homes down is where Anne Frank hid throughout the war and drafted her famed diary.
Anne Frank House Museum
The modern structure standing nearby is the Anne Frank Museum, which is one of the country's busiest museums, boasting nearly a million tourists every year. Three homes down is where Anne Frank hid throughout the war and drafted her famed diary.
Most Famous Must-See Tourist Attractions in The Netherlands
