CANALS, History Part 1

Hi, my name’s Scott, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: the canals of Amsterdam.

The canals represent the unmistakable image of Amsterdam. The Dutch capital is built on 90 islands, divided by a network of artificial canals over 100 kilometers long and crossed by 1281 bridges. This is why the city is known as “Venice of the North”. 

Until the end of the 16th century, Amsterdam was an oval-shaped island, protected by brick walls, situated on the estuary of the Amstel River, which was blocked by a dam, and surrounded by the Singel, a long canal that was also used as a moat.

By the beginning of the 17th century, the Netherlands had become a major economic power thanks to national autonomy, the success of the East India Company fleet and an extraordinary period of commercial and colonial expansion. Amsterdam thus grew into a populous city, the home of rich financiers, merchants and entrepreneurs, and an attractive destination for numerous immigrants....