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A ‘Must see’ in Amsterdam is a visit to the canals. There is just so much to admire and experience. If you enjoy visiting museums, you will also love the canal district, especially if you like exhibitions that are a little out of the ordinary. In this area, just to give you an idea, you can visit the Cat Cabinet, the Theater Museum or the Torture Museum.
HERENGRACHT
The section of this canal, which runs from Leidsestraat to Vijzelstraat, is known as the “Golden Bend.” The most beautiful and most magnificent of all canal houses are located in this curve of the canal. A lovely example is the house on the corner of Leidsegracht: it features a beautiful Dutch classicist clock gable. The house is named after the plaque featuring four knights on horseback (Vier Heemskinderen). Several of the other houses show family coat of arms.
PRINSENGRACHT
Some of the houses on this canal are very old indeed. The Papeneiland pub at number 2 dates from the 17th century! Holland’s first professional school for nurses, the Prinsengracht Hospital, is also located along this canal. The Wallon Orphanage stands at the corner of Vijzelgracht. The building’s wing on Prinsengracht dates from 1726.
KEIZERSGRACHT
Four warehouses where once 100,000 liters of cod liver oil were stored can be seen at Keizersgracht 40-44. Warehouses form an important part of Amsterdam’s industrial heritage. Number 123 is the “House with the Heads.” Legend has it that the maid caught six burglars red-handed and beheaded them with an axe. Number 546 boasts one of Amsterdam’s most beautiful clock gables.
A plaque in the wall of number 560 reminds us of the fact that writer and lawyer Jacob van Lennep lived here from 1830 until his death in 1868. Van Lennep is responsible for supplying the city with clean drinking water from the dunes. As a result, the poor people no longer had to drink the polluted water from the canals.
LEIDSEPLEIN SQUARE
Leidseplein Square is a real hot spot. It boasts pavement cafés, cinemas, theaters and in the winter, a skating rink. If you want to go clubbing or feel like a nice meal, this is the place to go. The square boasts Holland’s best-known coffee-shop The Bulldog and music temple De Melkweg (The Milky Way).
ENTERTAINMENT
Leidseplein offers great entertainment during the summer months. While enjoying a drink in the sun, musicians, jugglers and mime players entertain you. As you might expect, they come to collect some small change after they finish their act. For real theater lovers, a visit to the impressive Stadsschouwburg Theater at the corner of Marnixstraat and Leidseplein is a must. The Dutch soccer club Ajax thinks so too! Whenever its first team becomes champion of the Dutch soccer league, the players stand on the balcony of this theater to greet the rejoicing supporters. |
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