Amsterdam's canal houses
Amsterdammers have known for centuries that their canal district is a special place, and now the whole world is in on the secret. Recently, the canal district was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of what makes this district so unique is the canal houses and the glorious stories hidden behind their impressive facades. They were homes to the wealthy and often the backdrop for historic events. Nowadays, they might conceal beautiful gardens, hotels or museums. Step back in time and check out a canal house or two during your visit to Amsterdam!
Essentially Amsterdam
Many of Amsterdam’s canal houses were built during the 17th century at the height of Amsterdam’s Golden Age. These town houses served as homes as well as workplaces. Canal houses are often typified by their striking gables and dual entrances. The well-to-do used the doors above the stairs while tradespeople and servants scurried in through the door underneath. Space was at a premium which meant that canal houses were usually long and narrow, with a hook at the top to pull furniture and goods up and in through the windows.
Hidden museums
Pay a visit to one of Amsterdam’s canal house museums to experience first-hand the grandeur of a 17th century canal-side residence. Fabulously preserved Museum van Loon with its magnificent 'piano nobile' first floor and original coach house (from 24 Sept) is certainly worth a look. Museum Geelvinck hosts a concert every Sunday afternoon at 16:45, usually performed using a historic instrument. And the Willet-Holthuysen Museum on the Herengracht is home to a treasure trove of antique collectables.
Grachtenhuis Museum (The Canal House Museum)
The Canal House Museum is set to offer a multimedia exhibition on how the Canal Ring was built, showcase Golden Age art and provide a starting point for walking tours and canal cruises to the city’s cultural and historical treasures. The museum is also equipped to help you plan a personal itinerary of how to further explore the Canal District. Located on the Herengracht at the gateway to the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend), visitors can feast their eyes on the Golden Age splendour of this stretch of the Canal Ring, where the city’s richest merchants built stately mansions.
KLM canal houses at the House of Bols
The Dutch National Airline KLM has been handing out Delft Blue miniatures of canal houses to its long haul first class passengers since 1952, and to business class passengers since 1993. The houses have achieved legendary status and there are serious collectors all over the world. There are even tales of passengers making deals with flight attendants to try to get their hands on the canal houses not yet in their collection. The miniatures actually contain a tot of jenever (Dutch gin), which is why the House of Bols showcases the KLM canal houses at their museum. Do you want to admire these houses full-size? Then walk over to the Oudezijds Armsteeg and visit the shops in these six small "Delft Blue houses".
Canal house accommodation
What better way to get the complete canal house experience than by staying in a hotel situated in one of these glorious buildings? There are several in Amsterdam, varying from basic 1 star accommodation to 5 star grandeur. The Canal House Hotel is suitably glamorous and all the rooms are decorated with antiques. The acclaimed Pulitzer Hotel was constructed by combining no less than 25 canal houses! And hotels like Hotel Orlando and Hotel De Toren pride themselves on personal service and stylish interiors.
Amsterdam’s canal belt is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the canal houses are an integral part of Amsterdam’s heritage.
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