Amsterdam City Centre Photo Gallery #3

Bicycles and canals give Amsterdam a very unique vibe. With a limited budget, a boat cruise along the city's famous canals was out of the question, but walking on either side of them in Old Centre and Grachtengordel was just as lovely. In 1607, the city decided to expand the city by building new canals in the outskirts, with the 3 main canals in Grachtengordel built during this period. Richer and more important folks lived along the canals while the poorer folks stayed on the cross streets. Nevertheless, residents had to meet strict planning regulations, including front door colours and frontage sizes that have resulted in the tall and narrow residences we see today.