- Herengracht means "gentleman's canal."
- The Herengracht is widely known as the canal belt's most prominent address, as the plots of land were meant for the city's wealthiest citizens during construction of the Grachtengordel ("canal belt").
- The city dug this stretch of the Herengracht between 1660 and 1700, as Amsterdam expanded to accommodate its exploding population. The eastern end is known for stately mansions.
- At the intersection of the Herengracht and Reguliersgracht you'll be joined by tourists who've read about the "view of 15 bridges" from this vantage point. Perhaps I'm too short, or maybe the leafy trees of summer block the view, but I can never see them all. It doesn't matter -- the views are idyllic and worth a stop to take them in.
Further Directions
Take a left (heading east) on the near (odd) side of Herengracht. Not far down at 573 you'll find the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje.
Tassenmuseum Hendrikje (Museum of Bags and Purses)
- Named for founder Hendrikje Ivo, the stunning collection shows the history of the ladies' bag with more than 3,500 tassen ("bags"), purses and accessories from Medieval to modern times.
- The late-17th-century monumental mansion includes two exquisite period rooms with restored painted ceilings and décor.
- No time for the whole museum? Visit the gift shop to browse bags from contemporary Dutch and foreign designers.
Continue heading east down the Herengracht, crossing busy Utrechtsestraat, until you reach the Willet-Holthuysen Museum at 605.
Museum Willet-Holthuysen
- The palatial mansion dates to 1685 and is named after its last residents, Abraham Willet and his wife Louisa Holthuysen, who left the home and its contents to the city in 1895.
- Restored rooms and French-style manicured gardens offer a glimpse of the aristocratic lifestyle of the time.
