At the start of the 17th century, when Amsterdam's rise in population was at a height, a plan was made to build four main, concentric half-circles of canals with their ends resting on the Y River. Known as the "Canal belt" three of the canals were mostly for residences and houses: the Prinsen Gracht (the Prince's Canal); the Keizers Gracht (the Emperor's Canal); and the Heren Gracht (the Gentleman's Canal). The other canal was made for defense and water management purposes. |
