De grachtenhuizen van de Jordaan

The canal houses of the Jordaan may not have the grandeur of the stately merchants’ houses on the Herengracht, but that is precisely what makes them so special. Along canals such as the Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, Brouwersgracht and Lauriergracht stand characteristic buildings with narrow façades, tall windows and graceful bell, neck and step gables. Many houses date from the 17th century and were built for craftsmen, small traders and skippers. Today they are among the most beloved homes in Amsterdam. Together with the bridges, trees and water, the canal houses form the picturesque streetscape for which the Jordaan is so famous.
Where does this type of house come from?
The canal houses arose during the great city expansion of the 17th century. Because the land along the canals was expensive, the plots were deliberately kept narrow. Houses were therefore built mainly upwards. The narrow façades are thus not only typically Amsterdam, but also a clever solution to fit as many homes as possible along the water.
Fun fact
Did you know that many canal houses in the Jordaan still have a hoisting beam at the top of the façade? Via this wooden beam, furniture, merchandise and building materials were hoisted up with a pulley. Because the stairwells are so narrow, at some buildings this still happens even today – a typically Amsterdam sight!