CANALS, History Part 2

When the canals were dug in Amsterdam, the architecture throughout the surrounding area inevitably underwent major changes, with the construction of new buildings.

The banks of the canals were divided into a series of closely packed, narrow residential lots: the wealthy bought two or three alongside one another so they could build more comfortable homes.

The small amount of ground space available was made up for by the height of the buildings, almost all of which had three or four floors and an attic. Taxes on the houses were paid based on the width of the facades, so they were built very narrow, with narrow staircases. This was why they were provided with a winch to raise and store goods; if you look carefully, you’ll see that many of the facades were built leaning forward, to avoid being hit and damaged by the loads on the winches.

A key role during the initial stage of the work was played by the sculptor and architect Hendrick de Keyzer, who designed one of the oldest and most important buildings on Herengracht, the Bartolotti Huis, now an integral part of the Theater Museum....