AMSTERDAM

Rivers and Canals

The Amstel is the great river that runs through Amsterdam and whose water
was diverted into the city’s famous canals. IJ - a lake, former bay, known as the
Amsterdam waterfront, it is often considered a river.

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than 100 kilometers of grachten (canals), about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals (Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht), dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age.