Herengracht canal

The flower market is located between the Herengracht canal on the west side and Singel Canal on the east. Both canals are prime examples of the architecture that shaped the face of the city during its golden age (17th century). The most important and prosperous families of Amsterdam had their high-class houses built along these canals.

Even today foreign embassies, museums, the official residencies of past and present mayors, expensive restaurants, and chic cafes are still housed in many of these perfectly preserved examples of Dutch architecture.

The stroll along the sides of these two prestigious canals is surely one that will provide you with a big bunch of photograph-worthy material, especially the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) the most prestigious and picturesque part of the Herengracht canal with a long tradition of high-class residents and loads of artworks dedicated to it over time.

The Golden Bend is defined by the series of double-width mansions, inner gardens and garages. The gentleman’s canal is one of the three main canals in the center of Amsterdam. There are traditional Dutch-style houses on both sides of the canal.

The always savvy Dutch tried to reduce the frontal area as much as possible to save themselves of the state tax that depended on the width of each house. Because the facades are small, all the decorations were put on the gable of the roof. A closer look will reveal that the gables of each house are different. Due to the narrow door, large furniture must enter through the window, that’s why most rooms with a window have a protruding hook.