Cornelis anthonisz vogelvluchtkaart amsterdam

The Singel is one of the

canals of Amsterdam Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, has more than 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, form c ...

. The Singel encircled

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

, serving as a

moat A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that is dug and surrounds a castle, fortification, building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive ...

around the city until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond the Singel. The canal runs from the IJ bay, near the

Central Station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...

, to the

Muntplein The Muntplein (Mint Square) is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. The square is in fact a bridge — the widest bridge in Amsterdam — that crosses the Singel canal at the point where it flows into the Amstel river. All bridges in Amsterdam a ...

square, where it meets the

Amstel The Amstel () is a river in the province of North Holland in the Netherlands. It flows from the Aarkanaal and Drecht in Nieuwveen northwards, passing Uithoorn, Amstelveen, and Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, to the IJ in Amsterdam. Annually, the riv ...

river. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals. The canal should not be confused with the

Singelgracht The Singelgracht () is the waterway that borders the entire Amsterdam Center and flows along the Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade and Mauritskade. Formerly the canal and the ramparts on the city side formed the outer defenses of the city. Name The n ...

, which became the outer limit of the city during the

Dutch Golden Age The Dutch Golden Age ( nl, Gouden Eeuw ) was a period in the history of the Netherlands, roughly spanning the era from 1588 (the birth of the Dutch Republic) to 1672 (the Rampjaar, "Disaster Year"), in which Dutch trade, science, and Dutch art, ...

in the 17th century. Other Dutch towns also have ring-shaped canals named Singel. The name is related to the Dutch word ''omsingelen'', "to surround", and comes ultimately from Latin ''cingulum'', meaning "belt".

Locations along the Singel

Amsterdam's famous flower market,

Bloemenmarkt The Bloemenmarkt () is the world's only floating flower market. Founded in 1862, it is sited in Amsterdam, Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subd ...

, is located along the Singel between

Koningsplein Koningsplein ('King's Square') is a square in Amsterdam. It is located between the Singel and Herengracht canals. It has become a meeting place for the local community References External links TERENA Webcam Koningsplein, Amsterdam via TEREN ...

and

squares. The market stalls are actually boats floating in the canal. Part of the Singel has developed into a

red-light district A red-light district or pleasure district is a part of an urban area where a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are found. In most cases, red-light districts are particu ...

, with prostitutes offering their services from behind red-lit windows. The area, known as the Singelgebied, is located near Lijnbaanssteeg and Oude Nieuwstraat. Yab Yum, one of Amsterdam's most exclusive brothels until closed by the local authority in January 2008, was located at Singel 295. The Singel is lined by many beautiful, richly decorated canal houses built during the

. Notable buildings along the canal include: * A house said to be the narrowest in the world — only one meter wide (admittedly, this is the back of the house; the front is quite a bit wider), at Singel 7. * De Dolphijn, at Singel 140–142, a monumental canalside house built in ca. 1600, once inhabited by Frans Banning Cocq, the central figure in Rembrandt's painting ''Night Watch (painting), The Night Watch''. * The Oude Lutherse Kerk (Amsterdam), Oude Lutherse Kerk ("Old Lutheran Church"), at Singel 411, built in 1632–1633. * The Ronde Lutherse Kerk (Amsterdam), Ronde Lutherse Kerk ("Round Lutheran Church"), also known as Koepelkerk or Nieuwe Lutherse Kerk, built in 1668–1671. * The library of the University of Amsterdam, at Singel 425. * The Kalvertoren shopping center, between Koningsplein and Muntplein squares. * The Munttoren tower, originally part of a gate in the Medieval city walls, on Muntplein square, where the Singel meets the

River. The Haringpakkerstoren tower was part of Amsterdam's Medieval city defenses. The tower stood at the beginning of the Singel, near the IJ. It was demolished in 1829. The municipal government is currently considering a plan to rebuild the tower and adjacent houses. However, this plan remains highly controversial; opponents consider it in poor taste and a waste of money. The Torensluis (Amsterdam), Torensluis, built in 1648, is an arched and exceptionally wide bridge across the Singel. Now covered by cosy café terraces and a bust of Dutch writer Multatuli, the Torensluis is the oldest remaining bridge in Amsterdam, and also the widest bridge in Amsterdam (42 meters). The Jan Roodepoortstoren tower stood on one end of the bridge but was torn down in 1829. However, the tower's foundations remain part of the bridge. The entrance and barred windows of the tower's dungeon are still visible. The bridge, also known as Brug 9, crosses the Singel near Dam (Amsterdam), Dam square, at Oude Leliestraat.

Other names

Up until the 15th century, the Singel was known as the Stedegracht ("City Canal"). In the 17th century the canal was known for some time as Koningsgracht ("King's Canal"), in honor of King Henry IV of France, who was an important ally of the Dutch Republic during the early part of the 17th century. Part of the canal, stretching from Spui (Amsterdam), Spui square to Lijnbaanssteeg / Blauwburgwal, was also known at one time as ''Londense Kaai'' ("London Quay") or ''Engelse Kaai'' ("English Quay") because many ships sailing between Amsterdam and London moored there.

Sources

* :nl:Singel (Amsterdam), Wikipedia.nl: Singel (Amsterdam)
Amsterdam.nl

{{Authority control Canals in Amsterdam History of Amsterdam Streets in Amsterdam Red-light districts in the Netherlands

Locations along the Singel

Other names

See also

Sources