Amsterdam's Canal Belt - The Expansion of Amsterdam in the Golden Age

Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum presents a new exhibition featuring paintings, prints and sketches documenting the spectacular expansion of seventeenth-century Amsterdam.

The Golden Curve

A focal point of the exhibition are six works by Gerrit Berckheyde depicting the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) - a section of the Herengracht that became the wealthiest part of the new city.

Light and shade on an unfinished canal

The images provide a magnificent picture of one of the most beautiful parts of Amsterdam's canal belt. Berckheyde captured the bend three times from the perspective of Leidsestraat and three times from Vijzelstraat. Some of the plots had not yet been built on circa 1672, which created a number of gaps where the sun shone through Amsterdam's cityscape.

Amsterdam's Canal Belt - The Expansion of Amsterdam in the Golden Age runs from 1 June to 6 September.