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Main article: Canals of Amsterdam
Stalls of the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) floating in the Singel
Stalls of the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) floating in the Singel
The Ronde Lutherse Kerk ("Round Lutheran Church")
The Ronde Lutherse Kerk ("Round Lutheran Church")
The Munttoren seen from the Singel, postcard from 1900
The Munttoren seen from the Singel, postcard from 1900
Bridge over the Singel, painting by Breitner, ca. 1897
Bridge over the Singel, painting by Breitner, ca. The more than one hundred kilometers of canals in Amsterdam, about 90 islands and 1500 bridges have led the city to being termed the "Venice of the North" The Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating Flower Market. Founded in 1862 it is sited in Amsterdam, on Singel between Muntplein The Munttoren ("Mint Tower" or Munt is a tower in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. George Hendrik Breitner ( September 12, 1857 – June 5, 1923) wasa Dutch painter and Photographer. 1897
A bird's eye view of Amsterdam circa 1544, encircled by the Singel (right side)
A bird's eye view of Amsterdam circa 1544, encircled by the Singel (right side)

The Singel is a canal in Amsterdam which encircled the city in the Middle Ages. Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west It served as a moat around the city until 1585, when Amsterdam expanded beyond the Singel. A moat is deep broad Trench, usually filled with Water, that surrounds a structure installation or town normally to provide it with a preliminary line of The canal runs from the IJ bay, near Central Station, to the Muntplein square, where it meets the Amstel river. The IJ (sometimes shown on old Maps as " Y " or " Ye " is a River, formerly a Bay, in the Dutch Amsterdam Centraal (Asd is the Central station of Amsterdam. It is one of the main railway nodes of the Netherlands and is used by approximately 150000 The Muntplein (literally "mint square" is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. The Amstel is a river in the Netherlands which runs through the city of Amsterdam. It is now the inner-most canal in Amsterdam's semicircular ring of canals.

The canal should not be confused with the Singelgracht canal, which became the outer limit of the city during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th Century. This article focuses on social and cultural history For political events see History of the Netherlands and Dutch Revolt (1568–1648 As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar

Other Dutch towns also have ring-shaped canals named Singel.

Locations along the Singel

The Singel is lined by many beautiful, richly decorated canal houses built during the Dutch Golden Age. This article focuses on social and cultural history For political events see History of the Netherlands and Dutch Revolt (1568–1648 Notable buildings along the canal include:

Amsterdam's famous flower market, Bloemenmarkt, is also located along the Singel between Koningsplein and Muntplein. The Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating Flower Market. Founded in 1862 it is sited in Amsterdam, on Singel between Muntplein The market stalls are actually boats floating in the canal!

Part of the Singel has been designated a red-light district, with prostitutes offering their services from behind red-lit windows. A red-light district is a neighborhood where Prostitution and other businesses in the Sex industry flourish The area, known as the Singelgebied, is located near Lijnbaanssteeg and Oude Nieuwstraat. Yab Yum, one of Amsterdam's most exclusive brothels until closed by the local authority in January 2008, is located at Singel 295. Yab Yum was one of the best-known and most exclusive Brothels in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The Haringpakkerstoren tower was part of Amsterdam's Medieval city defenses. The tower stood at the beginning of the Singel, near the IJ. It was demolished in 1829. The municipal government is currently considering a plan to rebuild the tower and adjacent houses. However, this plan remains highly controversial; opponents consider it in poor taste and a waste of money.

The Torensluis, built in 1648, is an arched and exceptionally wide bridge across the Singel. Now covered by cosy café terraces and a bust of Dutch writer Multatuli, the Torensluis is the oldest remaining bridge in Amsterdam, and also the widest bridge in Amsterdam (42 meters). Eduard Douwes Dekker ( 2 March 1820 &ndash 19 February 1887) better known by his Pen name Multatuli, was a Dutch The Jan Roodepoortstoren tower stood on one end of the bridge but was torn down in 1829. However, the tower's foundations remain part of the bridge. The entrance and barred windows of the tower's dungeon are still visible. The bridge, also known as Brug 9, crosses the Singel near Dam square, at Oude Leliestraat. Dam Square, or simply the Dam (de Dam is a Town square in Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands.

Other names

Up until the 15th Century, the Singel was known as the Stedegracht ("City Canal"). In the 17th Century the canal was known for some time as Koningsgracht ("King's Canal"), in honour of King Henry IV of France, who was an important ally of the Dutch Republic during the early part of the 17th Century. Henry IV (Henri IV ( 13 December 1553 &ndash 14 May 1610) ruled as King of France from 1589 to 1610 and as Henry III "United Netherlands" redirects here For the "Kingdom of the United Netherlands" see United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Part of the canal, stretching from the Spui square to the Lijnbaanssteeg / Blauwburgwal, was also known at one time as Londense Kaai ("London Quay") or Engelse Kaai ("English Quay") because many ships sailing between Amsterdam and London moored there. The Spui is a square in the centre of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

Sources

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