The Herengracht ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦeːrə(ŋ)ˌɣrɑxt] ) is the second of four Amsterdam canals belonging to the canal belt and lies between the Singel and the Keizersgracht . The Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend) in particular is known for its large and beautiful canal houses.
17-461: The Herengracht was built starting in 1612 on the initiative of Mayor Frans Hendricksz. Oetgens, city carpenter Hendrick Jacobsz. Staets and city surveyor Lucas Jansz Sinck. Before that it was a moat (dug in 1585) for the companies located behind the Singel. The canal ran within the city wall parallel to the canal outside the city wall. The Herengracht therefore still has a kink at Driekoningenstraat, where
34-737: Is depicted on a gable stone between the Zuiderzee and the new IJsselmeer . Pieter Goemans was inspired to write the classic song Aan de Amsterdamse grachten (On the Amsterdam canals) in 1949 while walking across the bridge where the Prinsengracht and the Leidsegracht intersect. Almost all canal houses and former warehouses on this canal are now houses. Aan de Amsterdamse grachten "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten" ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈaːn də ʔɑmstərˌdɑmsə ˈɣrɑxtə(n)] ; "At
51-713: Is filled in. Maarssen also has a Herengracht; on the right bank of the Vecht . There are also Herengrachts in Drimmelen , Leiden , Muiden , Middelburg , Purmerend , Terneuzen , Weesp and even in Cape Town and other places in South Africa . In Madurodam a part of the Amsterdam Herengracht can be seen in miniature. The Herengracht index is an economic index that measures the price of housing along this canal, from 1628 to
68-668: The IJ . This last part, located in the prosperous part of Amsterdam's Jewish quarter, was named Nieuwe Herengracht. There are many monumental canal houses on Herengracht, such as: There are also historic gardens such as: Herengracht begins in the north at the Brouwersgracht in the West Indian house bridge and Milkmaid Bridge, parallels bends on the Singel and the Keizersgracht gradually towards
85-606: The Amsterdam canals I have given my heart for ever; Amsterdam fills my mind as the most beautiful city of our country. All those Amsterdam people, all those lights late at night on the square. No one could wish for anything better than to be an Amsterdammer") Goemans was inspired to write the song in 1949 while walking across the bridge where the Prinsengracht and the Leidsegracht intersect. It wasn't supplied with sheet music and recorded until 1956, when an arrangement
102-470: The Amsterdam canals") is a Dutch song by Pieter Goemans . It was written in 1949 but not recorded until 1956, and many times more since then. It is one of the standard songs celebrating the city of Amsterdam , and one of the best-known and most popular songs in the Netherlands. The song is a waltz , in 3/4 measure. Typical accompaniment is the accordion. The first verse recounts a childhood experience in
119-400: The Amsterdam canals; Amsterdam fills his thoughts, and nothing could be better than to be an Amsterdammer. Aan de Amsterdamse grachten heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand. Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten, als de mooiste stad in ons land. Al die Amsterdamse mensen, al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein. Niemand kan zich beter wensen dan een Amsterdammer te zijn. ("To
136-529: The first and the second phase of the construction of the Grachtengordel (canal belt). Between 1615 and 1658, the Leidsegracht was the southern boundary of the city. The canal got its name in 1658 and is named after the city of Leiden . Cornelis Lely (1854–1929), the hydraulic engineer, governor and minister who made the original plans for the reclamation of the Zuiderzee , was born on Leidsegracht no. 39. He
153-454: The house of the grandparents, a house now occupied by other people and partly converted to office space. The second explains that after having traveled widely the speaker still longs to return to the city "on the Amstel and the IJ ". A transitional verse suggests that the trees, high above traffic, and the boats on the water are unchanged. According to the refrain, the speaker has given his heart to
170-493: The morning; he called Visscher, since he did not drink. The first recording that was released was made in 1956 by singer/soccer player Hans Boskamp in a duet with his wife Nan; the spelling on that recording is still the old-fashioned "Amsterdamsche". A page dedicated to the song on the web site of the Amsterdam City Archives plays that first released recording. Other notable artists of the 1950s and 1960s to record
187-562: The most prestigious part of the Herengracht. Many of the houses were inhabited here by regents, mayors and traders who earned their fortunes in trade with South America or the Dutch East Indies . Many buildings were built by the Amsterdam architects Philips Vingboons (1607–78) or Adriaan Dortsman (1635–82). In the last expansion, the section east of the Amstel was laid to the water of
SECTION 10
#1732845642165204-570: The outer moat was routed around a stronghold at that height. When the ditch was widened into the present canal it was given the name Herengracht in 1612, after the Heren Regeerders van de stad Amsterdam (Gentlemen Governors of the city of Amsterdam). The part between Leidsegracht and the Binnen Amstel is part of the expansion after 1658. This part contains the Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend),
221-629: The present. Leidsegracht The Leidsegracht ( Dutch pronunciation: [ˈlɛitsəˌɣrɑxt] ) is a canal in Amsterdam , Netherlands. It is a cross-canal in Amsterdam-Center that connects Herengracht , Keizersgracht , Prinsengracht and Lijnbaansgracht and flows into the Singelgracht at Marnixstraat. The Leidsegracht was part of the Expansion of Amsterdam and marked the border between
238-405: The song include Tante Leen . Of all renditions Wim Sonneveld 's (1962) is probably the best known. It was covered by foreigners as well, including Belgian singer Louis Neefs , and by experimental jazz musician Willem Breuker . More recent versions were made by Huub van der Lubbe and André Rieu . Goeman's ashes (he died in 2000) were spread over the Prinsengracht. A plaque is affixed to
255-550: The southeast, and flows into the Amstel . The odd-numbered side of the canal is on the side of the heart of the city ( Dam Square ). The Herengracht is spanned by eleven bridges: With the passage heights in the table, one should take into account the fact that the Herengracht, like all other canals in the city center, is -0.40 metres (1 ft 4 in) from the Amsterdam Ordnance Datum . The Herengracht in The Hague
272-537: Was the first to sing and record the song, though other sources have Kraaijkamp sing it first, in the Café de Paris near the Leidseplein . In 2006, Visscher, a friend of Goemans from the cafe, explained that he had been asked to record a demo for the song the morning after Goemans and Schallies had finally put music to the lyrics, with Schallies playing piano. Goemans had wanted Kraaijkamp, but knew better than to call him early in
289-558: Was written by pianist Dick Schallies (then a member of the Metropole Orkest ) since (Schallies explained) Goemans couldn't write music. Schallies denies rumors that Enrico Neckheim was responsible for the music. Goemans published the song under a pseudonym, Peter Shott; he was a diplomat's son and his father allowed him to be associated with the popular music industry only if he did so under an assumed name. Henk Visscher, singer as well as guitar and bass player with Johnny Kraaijkamp ,
#164835