Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands has been called the "Venice of the North" for its more than one hundred kilometres of 1,500 bridges, about 90 islands and 3 canals. In the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age the three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht dug. The Amsterdam canal system is the successful outcome of city planning. The medieval city of Amsterdam Singel encircled. From 1480 until 1585 when Amsterdam expanded beyond Singel it served as a moat around the city. the first of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam is Herengracht (Patricians' Canal or Lord's Canal). By the name of th governed Heren regeerders the canal is named who served the city in the 16th and 17th century. The second and widest of the three major canals between Herengracht and Prinsengracht in the city centre is Keizersgracht of Amsterdam. Prinsengracht is the fourth and the longest of the main canals in Amsterdam which is named after the Prince of Orange. Most of the canal houses along it were built during the Dutch Golden Age of the United Provinces. In the center of Amsterdam Zwanenburgwal is a canal and street. The painter Rembrandt and philosopher Spinoza lived here. In 2006 it was voted one of the most beautiful streets in Amsterdam by readers of Het Parool, a local daily newspaper. Brouwersgracht is a canal in the city centre of Amsterdam and is part of the canal belt connecting the Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht and Prinsengracht and marks the northern border of the canal belt Brantasgracht, Lamonggracht, Majanggracht and Seranggracht These four canals are the newest in Amsterdam, constructed on Java Island in 1995, a manmade island in the IJ Harbor, north-east of the City Center. The canals are lined with modern interpretations of classic Amsterdam canal houses, which were designed by 19 young Dutch architects
