Amsterdam’s world-heritage Canal Ring
The Amsterdam Canal Ring is one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Netherlands. It's like a ring around the city, but it's not all just canals. There are some 150 buildings along the way, including many beautiful churches and historic homes. In total, there are around 800 bridges in Amsterdam -- that's more than Venice! And with more than 100 museums in Amsterdam (including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum), there's plenty to do when you visit this bustling metropolis.
Amsterdam's canal ring is one of the most iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites
It was built in 1615 and it is a ring of canals that encircles Amsterdam, connecting all its major points. The canals were originally used for defense purposes but today they are mainly used for recreation and transportation. The area features many beautiful 17th century buildings with stunning architecture that you can visit while visiting Amsterdam!
It's like a ring around the city, but it's not all just canals
The Canal Ring is a UNESCO world heritage site that includes Amsterdam's most famous canals. You can walk or bike around this ring to see the canals, houses, shops, cafes and museums that surround them. If you're visiting Amsterdam for just one day then I would recommend visiting at least some of these places:
- De Pijp neighborhood - This is a great place for shopping and eating out as well as being close to Museumplein which has many museums including Rijksmuseum (National Gallery) and Van Gogh Museum. There are also lots of cool bars in this area too!
- Jordaan district - This area has lots of cute shops with vintage clothing stores mixed among modern boutiques selling clothes by local designers such as Viktor & Rolf & G-Star Raw amongst others...and if you need somewhere quiet after all that walking then check out Stadsschouwburg Theater where you can enjoy some theatre performances while having dinner beforehand!
The Canal Ring is made up of some 150 buildings
The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's not hard to see why. The ring of canals that surrounds Amsterdam's city center was built in the 17th century to provide water for the city's inhabitants. Today, it has become an iconic symbol of the Netherlands' capital city--and there are plenty of reasons why you should visit this historic landmark yourself:
- It's one of only three complete rings of canal houses in Europe (alongside Bruges and Venice).
- You can enjoy some beautiful views over Amsterdam from here!
In total, there are around 800 bridges in Amsterdam
That's more than any other city in the world (Venice comes second with around 600). Amsterdam has so many bridges that it's often called the 'Venice of the North'. The most famous bridge is De Magere Brug (or "skinny bridge") which crosses over the Singel canal and dates back to 1691.
Another thing that makes Amsterdam unique is its canals: there are over 100 kilometers of them! But did you know that most people don't actually live right on one? Most people live on streets above or below these waterways instead; only about 10% actually live directly next to them.
There are more than 100 museums in Amsterdam, including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum
If you love museums, Amsterdam has plenty to offer. The Rijksmuseum houses a collection of paintings, including Rembrandt's The Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid. It also has sections on Asian art and Indonesian culture. The Van Gogh Museum offers an extensive collection of Vincent van Gogh's works from his early days in Paris until his death in Auvers-sur-Oise at age 37--including some of his most famous paintings like Starry Night over the Rhone (1888) and Sunflowers (1888).
The Anne Frank House has been visited by over one million visitors since it opened in 1960
The Anne Frank House is a museum, memorial and place of learning. It was opened in 1960 to commemorate Anne Frank's life and death during World War II. The house has been visited by over one million visitors since then.
The museum displays original belongings of the family who hid there for two years during the German occupation of Holland in World War II, as well as historical artifacts related to their story and other victims of Nazi persecution.
Amsterdam is home to more than 1,500 bridges -- that's more than Venice!
The city's many canals and rivers have inspired the construction of some of its most notable landmarks. In fact, Amsterdam has over 1,500 bridges (and counting). That's more than any other city in Europe! The majority of these structures were built between the 16th and 19th centuries when wooden boats were still used for trade and transport across local waterways.
While there are certainly some similarities between Amsterdam's historic architecture and those found in Venice -- particularly with regard to its canal-side homes -- one key difference is that most of Amsterdam's iconic bridges are made from wood instead of stone (or brick), making them easier to assemble or dismantle when needed by local authorities during times like floods or emergencies such as fires breaking out near them due to poor maintenance standards among homeowners who live nearby.
Amsterdam has so much history to share with its visitors
Amsterdam is one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back to the 12th century. The city has a rich history that visitors can explore at many museums and historical sites throughout Amsterdam.
The Rijksmuseum, which houses paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer among others, is one of Amsterdam's most popular museums with over 1 million visitors per year. It's also home to some of the world's most famous artworks including "The Night Watch" by Frans Hals (1614) and Jan Steen's "A Merry Family" (1663). Other must-sees include Anne Frank House -- where Anne hid from Nazis during World War II -- as well as Van Gogh Museum: The largest collection of Vincent van Gogh works outside France!
The Canal Ring is one of Amsterdam's most famous attractions, and it has a lot of history to share with its visitors. Whether you want to check out one of the museums or just take in all the sights on foot, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is sure to be an unforgettable experience.