The Canal Ring (Grachtengordel) wraps around Amsterdam's old centre with three large concentric canals: the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht, laid out in an arc around the Singel. Digging began in 1613 between the Haarlemmerdijk and the Leidsegracht, and the ring was extended to the Amstel in the second half of the 17th century. According to the city archives, the project produced some 14 km of canals and 80 bridges. Since 2010, the area has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name "Seventeenth-Century Canal Ring Area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht". Gabled merchants' houses, brick bridges and lived-in houseboats can be explored on foot, by bike or by boat.
Highlights
The bridges of the Reguliersgracht
This cross canal cuts through the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht. From the Herengracht bridge at the mouth of the Reguliersgracht, you can see several bridges lined up one behind the other: this is the famous "seven bridges" view. In the evening, the lit arches are reflected in the water.
The Herengracht and the Golden Bend
The Herengracht was the most prestigious canal, with arched stone bridges. Its stretch between the Koningsplein and the Vijzelstraat, the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend), has the largest patrician mansions, built on the profits of the cocoa, sugar, coffee and tobacco trade.
Exploring on foot
The quays are ideal for a stroll with no set route. Follow one canal, cross it on a bridge, then come back along the next one: the junctions, such as the one where the Prinsengracht meets the Reguliersgracht, offer the finest views.
Canal cruises
Stromma runs a one-hour cruise from Damrak (pier 5, a 2-minute walk from Central Station), Central Station, Leidseplein and the Rijksmuseum, from €13.50 online (€14.50 without the discount, €12.50 for ages 4 to 12), with an audio guide in 18 languages including English. Blue Boat Company departs from Stadhouderskade 501 for a 75-minute cruise at €26 (€13.50 for children).
The Amsterdam Light Festival
From 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, light artworks are installed along the canals of the centre. Several companies run special evening cruises during the festival.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Prices checked in October 2026 on the companies' official websites; booking online is often cheaper than buying at the ticket office. Most quays have no railings, so keep an eye on children near the water. On narrow quays, stay on the pavement and leave the road to cyclists.
How to get there
From Amsterdam Centraal, allow about 10 minutes on foot to reach the start of the Herengracht, where it meets the Brouwersgracht. Trams 2 and 24 cross the Canal Ring along the Leidsestraat (stops Koningsplein, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht); trams 4 and 14 stop at Rembrandtplein, near the Reguliersgracht; metro line 52 serves Rokin and Vijzelgracht stations. Golden Bend: Herengracht, between the Koningsplein and the Vijzelstraat, 1017 Amsterdam.
Opening hours
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