Visitors to the Netherlands will quickly see that this is a land at battle with nature. Any tourist coming the Netherlands doesn´t have to go far to appreciate both the struggle and the majesty of this fight with one of nature´s most powerful forces - water. Canals are both a thing of beauty and an instrument in the battle against water that can sometimes be deadly. They are a defining feature of Dutch history as well as an icon to the world for Dutch engineering skills and architerctural beauty, making it a must see for any tourist to the Netherlands.
The canals that are the most appealing for foreign tourists to the Netherlands are undoubtably those of the cities. Though there are many canals that criss-cross the country, many are nothing more to look at than a wide ditch filled with water. To see the beautiful city canals in the Netherlands the two best options are Amsterdam and Utrecht. Both are laced with historic canals and bridges over them.
In many ways these canals in Amsterdam and Utrecht are a relic of a by gone era. Due to more sophisticated modern flood defence systems, the canals are no longer an integral part of the Netherlands' fight against water. They still serve though as a great means by which to see these cities. Canal tours will give you both a great experience of the canal as well as taking you through a large part of both of these cities. If you appreciate the aesthetic value of the canals and are interested in a tour of either of these cities, a canal tour is your best bet. See our Amsterdam and Utrecht pages for more information on canal tours in each city.
Satellite View of Amsterdam's Canals
Due to much of the Netherlands being below sea level, the cities needed a way to stay above the water, especially during times of heavy rain. The method was two fold. The city would be built on raised dykes, placing them above the water. Running parallel to these, canals were dug out, allowing the water to collect in them - as this was now the lowest point - and to drain away. So began the canal systems in Amsterdam and Utrecht. This system shows why the ground walking level is so much higher than the canals, unlike in many other cities around the world. A second consideration in building the canals was commerce - the canals allowed traders to move goods by boat all the way to their front door.
Over time the canals also became a place of residence for people. Still today, through both the canals of Amsterdam and Utrecht there is a healthy sprinkling of house boats, continuing this long tradition. Those tourists interested in Dutch life on the canals can visit the Houseboat Museum in Amsterdam.
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