Amsterdam & The Netherlands
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Herengracht canal homes
During the height of trade in the Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s, the East and West India trade companies brought wealth and people to the city. The local government decided to construct three canals to help with the exploding population. Herengracht, or "gentleman's" canal was the widest and became the most affluent.
To help control space restrictions, canal houses were taxed by their frontage width. So while these homes are crammed together and skinny, they are quite large and are adorned with large windows and soaring gables as a display of wealth. Many successful merchants built their Amsterdam homes along this canal.
