Seagulls fly over the Singel canal in Amsterdam by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Seagulls fly over the Singel canal in Amsterdam"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

Amsterdam's Singel is one of the city's oldest and most important canals. It was originally built as a defensive moat and marked the outer boundary of the city until the end of the 16th century.

With the expansion of the city during the Golden Age, the Singel lost its function as a city boundary, as new canals such as the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht were built outside the Singel. The Singel then became one of the city's inner canals. Today, the Singel lies within the famous Grachtengordel and has mainly a historical and tourist function.

The Amsterdam Grachtengordel is an iconic and historic urban area formed by a network of canals and associated streets in the centre of Amsterdam. This area is known for its architecture, rich history and unique urban planning.

The ring of canals was built during the 17th century, the Golden Age, when Amsterdam was one of the richest and most influential cities in the world. The city grew rapidly through trade and shipping, leading to the need for expansion. The ring of canals was designed as an expansion plan and consisted of four main canals: the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. The canals served not only as waterways for transportation, but also as a drainage system and a prestigious residential location.

In 2010, the ring of canals was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This recognises the area as a unique example of urban planning and architecture.