The Oudezijds Voorburgwal is the oldest canal in Amsterdam; it was dug between 1342 and 1380. Almost all buildings on this part of the canal have been restored to their original state, including this impressive house on the corner. The 'House on the Three Canals' has three beautiful stepped gables, one on each canal. In addition to the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, these canals are the Grimburgwal and the Oudezijds Achterburgwal. The house was built in the early 17th century, but remains from a century earlier have been found. The architectural style is called Dutch Renaissance style. From 1936 a printing house was located here and later a bookstore. In 2002 it was used as a residential home. In 2024, the House on the Three Canals is immortalized as the #105 KLM house.
Gable stones of Amsterdam
The Amsterdam canal houses have many different facades. You can often tell from the facade when the building was built. Not because the year is written on it, but also because roughly each period had its own facade shape that was popular at that time. Wooden facades were used until about 1550. In the first half of the 17th century, these wooden facades were replaced by stepped gables of brick. Spout gables date from the same period, but these were mostly seen on warehouses. In the 18th century, people opted for neck gables, with or without an extra 'step'. Then came the bell gables and the cornice gables.
Velvet Burgwal
A facade stone on the House on the Three Canals bears the name 'Fluwelen Burgwal', meaning Velvet Canal. This quiet part of the old town used to be called so because of the prominent families who lived there. These rich people usually dressed in velvet clothes.
