Leliegracht Explained

Leliegracht
Postal Code:1015, 1016
Location:Amsterdam
Coordinates:52.3752°N 4.8864°W
Direction A:East
Terminus A:Herengracht
Terminus B:Prinsengracht
Construction Start Date:17th century

The Leliegracht (in Dutch; Flemish pronounced as /ˈleːliˌɣrɑxt/; Lily Canal) is a canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, between Herengracht (no. 148 and 169) and Prinsengracht (no. 124 and 241). The canal lies within the western Grachtengordel (canal belt) in the Jordaan neighborhood of the Amsterdam-Centrum district.

History

The canal was dug after 1612 when the canal belt was created south of the Brouwersgracht. The remains of a lock can be recognized on the Prinsengracht side. That lock was necessary because the water of the Prinsengracht (along with the rest of the Jordaan Canals) remained at the polder level, while the water level in the Leliegracht, Keizersgracht and Herengracht was at the higher city level.

Six of the eleven Jordanian canals were filled in in the 19th century. Only the Bloemgracht, Egelantiersgracht, Lauriergracht, Looiersgracht and Passeerdersgracht remained besides the canal belt Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Singel, Lijnbaansgracht, Brouwersgracht, Leliegracht and Leidsegracht.

Architecture

Famous residents

See also

Sources