Amsterdam's canal ring: four concentric canals, dug between 1613 and 1662. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Some of these houses we know better than their own residents do.
Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht. Four concentric canals, dug in the Dutch Golden Age as status symbols of Amsterdam's merchant class. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010. Here, entrepreneurs live next to ambassadors, art collectors next to notaries.
We know every building: which is still waiting for restoration, which has just sold and which will only ever change hands through quiet channels. A house on the canal is something you don't buy for yourself alone. Literally.
The most prestigious stretch of the Herengracht lies between the Leidsestraat and the Vijzelstraat: the famous Gouden Bocht, the "Golden Bend". Here Amsterdam's merchant families built their richest city palaces, often wider and deeper than anywhere else in the old city. To this day, these addresses are among the most expensive square meters in the Netherlands.
The most expensive of the four, with Amsterdam's best-known canal houses. This is where the richest merchants of the Golden Age lived, and where their modern counterparts live now. Wide facades, monumental stoops, private gardens at the back.
At 31 meters, the widest of the four. Slightly less formal than the Herengracht, but just as sought after. Here you'll find a fine mix of nationally listed buildings and thoroughly renovated houses with modern interiors.
The canal of the Westerkerk, Anne Frank and the brown cafés. Slightly less expensive, slightly more life. Loved by those who want to live chic and a little bohemian at the same time.
The innermost, originally the moat of medieval Amsterdam. Smaller in scale and intimate, with narrower houses. Often surprisingly good value for those who want to live inside the ring.
The prices per m² are averages based on NVM transactions; character and home type are our interpretation.
| Grachtengordel | De Pijp | Jordaan | Rivierenbuurt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. price per m² | €10,600 | €10,800 | €10,000 | €9,400 |
| Character | Historic | Lively | Authentic | Quiet, family-oriented |
| Typical home | Canal house | Upper-floor apartment | Small apartment | Family home |
Indications based on NVM transactions. Actual prices vary by building and state of repair.
Prices in euros. k.k. = buyer's costs, v.o.n. = transfer costs included.
Far from every canal house makes it onto Funda. Sellers don't want open days or price debates in the press. Buyers find, through quiet channels, houses that rarely reach the open market. We are part of Qualis: the closed network of Dutch premium agencies that share off-market listings among themselves, in both directions.
If you're specifically looking for a house on the canal, we circulate your search profile through the network and you hear as soon as something comes up, even if it never goes public. A sale can follow the same off-market route: not visible here, by appointment only.
Book a conversation about an off-market sale →The Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk and Anne Frank House within walking distance. The Concertgebouw a short bike ride away. Galleries and art dealers around the Spiegelgracht.
A dense concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants, wine bistros and brown cafés. De Negen Straatjes for brunch, canal-side terraces for summer evenings.
The British School, the Amsterdam International Community School and international secondary schools within 15 minutes. Private primary schools around the edge of the Vondelpark.
Amsterdam Centraal within cycling distance. Schiphol 25 minutes via the A10. Parking permits are available, but canal residents often arrange a space in a parking garage.
Drop by our office or book a quiet moment. We'd rather listen first before we talk about square meters.
