Amsterdam Canal District Named UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Amsterdam canal district was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Heritage List. The decision was announced at the 34th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Brazil, making the canal district the ninth World Heritage Site in The Netherlands.

Amsterdam’s 17th century canal district is a remnant of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the city led the world in art, trade and architecture. The zone is composed of four curved canals that run parallel to each other and encircle the Amsterdam city center in a half moon -- the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht and the Prinsengracht. The bank of the outermost Prinsengracht canal is home to the world-famous Anne Frank House.

The Netherlands now has nine UNESCO-listed heritage sites, including an 18th century collection of windmills in Kinderdijk, about two hours south of Amsterdam. The Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions is the leading marketing organization for the promotion of leisure and business travel to and within Holland. NBTC has a worldwide network of eleven offices and one representative office abroad, with its head office in Leidschendam, near The Hague.