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Leidsegracht

Leidsegracht
Location of Leidsegracht (dark blue)
Length	.5 kilometres (0.31 mi)
Location	Amsterdam
Postal code	1016
Coordinates	52°21′59″N 4°53′01″E / 52.366389°N 4.883611°E / 52.366389; 4.883611
East end	Herengracht
To	Singelgracht
Construction
Construction start	17th century

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.

History

The Leidsegracht was part of the Expansion of Amsterdam and marked the border between 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 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.

• Map of Amsterdam by Balthasar van Berckenrode (1625). Shows Leidsegracht as the boundary of the buildings at the time, with the still short Prinsengracht (Prince Graft), ending at the Leidsegracht (top center).
• Leidsegracht 2-22 c. 1904
• View of the canal

See also

• Canals of Amsterdam

Notes

1. "Amsterdams lijflied 7: rond en over het water". Het Parool (in Dutch). 7 September 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2013.

Sources

External links

• Die Verheelinghe; geschiedenis van de Leidsegracht e.o., www.theobakker.net

v t e Canals of Amsterdam
Excludes former canals that have since been filled in
Amstel sections	Damrak (partly filled up) Rokin (partly filled up) Amstel
Inner City	Oudezijds Kolk Oudezijds Voorburgwal Oudezijds Achterburgwal Grimburgwal Geldersekade Kloveniersburgwal Singel
Lastage	Kromme Waal Rechtboomssloot Kromboomssloot Groenburgwal Zwanenburgwal Raamgracht Oudeschans Snoekjesgracht Waalseilandsgracht Rapenburgwal Uilenburgergracht Houtkopersburgwal
Grachtengordel	Herengracht Keizersgracht Prinsengracht Lijnbaansgracht Singelgracht Brouwersgracht Blauwburgwal Leliegracht Leidsegracht Spiegelgracht Reguliersgracht Achtergracht
Jordaan	Brouwersgracht Egelantiersgracht Bloemgracht Lauriergracht Looiersgracht Passeerdersgracht
Plantage	Nieuwe Herengracht Nieuwe Keizersgracht Nieuwe Prinsengracht Nieuwe Achtergracht Onbekendegracht Plantage Muidergracht Schippersgracht Entrepotdok Entrepotdoksluis
Westelijke Eilanden	Eilandsgracht Bickersgracht Prinseneilandsgracht Realengracht Smallepadsgracht Zoutkeetsgracht
Oostelijke Eilanden	Oosterdok Dijksgracht Nieuwe Vaart Kattenburgervaart Wittenburgervaart Oostenburgervaart

• Canals in Amsterdam