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Leidsegracht
The Leidsegracht () is a canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is a cross-canal in Amsterdam-Center that connects Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Lijnbaansgracht and flows into the Singelgracht at Marnixstraat. History The Leidsegracht was part of the Expansion of Amsterdam and marked the border between the first and the second phase of the construction of the Grachtengordel (canal belt). Between 1615 and 1658, the Leidsegracht was the southern boundary of the city. The canal got its name in 1658 and is named after the city of Leiden. Cornelis Lely (1854–1929), the hydraulic engineer, governor and minister who made the original plans for the reclamation of the Zuiderzee, was born on Leidsegracht no. 39. He is depicted on a gable stone between the Zuiderzee and the new IJsselmeer. Pieter Goemans was inspired to write the classic song ''Aan de Amsterdamse grachten'' (On the Amsterdam canals) in 1949 while walking across the bridge where the Prinsengracht and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Keizersgracht
The Keizersgracht (; "Emperor's canal") is a canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It is the second of the three main Amsterdam canals that together form the Grachtengordel, or canal belt, and lies between the inner Herengracht and outer Prinsengracht. History The first part of the Keizersgracht, between Brouwersgracht and (approximately) the current Leidsegracht, was dug in the summer of 1615 at the initiative of mayor Frans Hendricksz. Oetgens, city carpenter Hendrick Jacobsz Staets and city surveyor Lucas Jansz Sinck. The Keizersgracht was named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. It is the widest canal in the center of Amsterdam, namely one hundred Amsterdam feet, that is . The Keizersgracht is the second of the three main canals to have been dug; the Prinsengracht was dug in 1614. In September 1614 there arose an intention to turn the Keizersgracht into a chic boulevard without water, following the example of Lange Voorhout in The Hague. This idea was abandoned for a num ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Prinsengracht
The Prinsengracht is a -long canal that runs parallel to the Keizersgracht in the center of Amsterdam. The canal, named after the Prince of Orange, is the fourth of the four main canals belonging to the canal belt. History Construction started in 1612 on the initiative of Mayor Frans Hendricksz. Oetgens, after a design by city carpenter Hendrick Jacobsz Staets and city surveyor Lucas Jansz Sinck. The part between the Leidsegracht and the Amstel was developed during the city explanation of 1658. The section to the east of the Amstel was constructed during the last expansion. This part was named Nieuwe Prinsengracht. The Korte Prinsengracht is in the extension of the Prinsengracht between the Brouwersgracht and the Westerdok. Architecture and monuments There are many monuments and monumental canal houses on the Prinsengracht, including: * A crow-stepped gable on the corner with the Brouwersgracht at Prinsengracht 2–4. * The van Brienenhofje, or Rk. St Van Brienens Found ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lijnbaansgracht
Lijnbaansgracht () is a partly filled-in canal in Amsterdam which bends beyond the boundary of the center, Amsterdam-Centrum. The canal runs parallel to the Singelgracht, between the Brouwersgracht and the Reguliersgracht. History The Lijnbaansgracht is named after the ropewalks ("lijnbanen") of the ropemakers, which needed a lot of space and were located here on the former edge of the city. Construction of the canal started in 1612 during the first stages of the construction of the canal belt. Filled in parts The Lijnbaansgracht ran through the Schans to the Muiderpoort until the 19th century. In the 19th century parts were filled in, overclocked or overlaid. *The Raamplein and the Raamdwarsstraat are on the filled in part between the Passeerdersgracht and the Leidsegracht (between Lijnbaansgracht 217 and 219). *The Leidseplein and the adjacent Kleine Gartmanplantsoen lie on the filled in part between Lijnbaansgracht 243 and nr. 245. The work around the Kleine-Gartmanpla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Herengracht
The Herengracht () is the second of four Amsterdam canals belonging to the canal belt and lies between the Singel and the Keizersgracht. The Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) in particular is known for its large and beautiful canal houses. History The Herengracht was built starting in 1612 on the initiative of Mayor Frans Hendricksz. Oetgens, city carpenter Hendrick Jacobsz. Staets and city surveyor Lucas Jansz Sinck. Before that it was a moat (dug in 1585) for the companies located behind the Singel. The canal ran within the city wall parallel to the canal outside the city wall. The Herengracht therefore still has a kink at Driekoningenstraat, where the outer moat was routed around a stronghold at that height. When the ditch was widened into the present canal it was given the name Herengracht in 1612, after the ''Heren Regeerders van de stad Amsterdam'' (Gentlemen Governors of the city of Amsterdam). The part between Leidsegracht and the Binnen Amstel is part of the expansion aft ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pieter Goemans
Pieter Goemans (1925-2000) was a Dutch composer, probably best known for having written the classic song "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten". Biography Goemans was born on 6 June 1925 in Amsterdam. The son of a diplomat, his father forced him to write under a pseudonym to avoid any association between the family and the popular entertainment industry. Under the name Peter Shott he wrote, in 1949, the song "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten"; Goemans was inspired to write the song in 1949 while walking across the bridge where the Prinsengracht and the Leidsegracht intersect. It wasn't supplied with sheet music and recorded until 1956, when an arrangement was written by pianist Dick Schallies (then a member of the Metropole Orkest) since (Schallies explained) Goemans couldn't write music. Henk Visscher, singer as well as guitar and bass player with Johnny Kraaijkamp, was the first to sing and record the song, In the 1960s Goemans was one of the regular lyricists for Corry Brokken, translating f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aan De Amsterdamse Grachten
"Aan de Amsterdamse grachten" (; "At the Amsterdam canals") is a Dutch song by Pieter Goemans. It was written in 1949 but not recorded until 1956, and many times more since then. It is one of the standard songs celebrating the city of Amsterdam, and one of the best-known and most popular songs in the Netherlands. Structure and content The song is a waltz, in 3/4 measure. Typical accompaniment is the accordion. The first verse recounts a childhood experience in the house of the grandparents, a house now occupied by other people and partly converted to office space. The second explains that after having traveled widely the speaker still longs to return to the city "on the Amstel and the IJ". A transitional verse suggests that the trees, high above traffic, and the boats on the water are unchanged. According to the refrain, the speaker has given his heart to the Amsterdam canals; Amsterdam fills his thoughts, and nothing could be better than to be an Amsterdammer. History Goemans w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
