Brouwersgracht, or the Brewers’ Canal, is named for the many breweries that were once situated here. In the 17th and 18th centuries the canal served as a site for returning ships filled with goods from Asia and the canal was lined with warehouses, which have been restored and turned into some of the most luxurious apartments in Amsterdam today. Houseboats can also be seen along the canal.
Brouwersgracht can easily be explored on foot, by bike, or on a boat. A canal cruise offers the perfect introduction to Amsterdam’s scenic waterways. Options include evening canal cruises, food and wine themed tours, and historic private canal cruises.
The Brouwersgracht connects the Singel and Singelgracht canals in the northwestern most part of Amsterdam’s Canal Ring. The Brouwersgracht is a 10-minute walk from Amsterdam Central Station and can also be easily accessed via the line 18, 21, and 22 bus. Brouwersgracht is only a 10-minute walk from the Anne Frank House and the Amsterdam Tulip Museum.
As Brouwersgracht is a public street and the canal is a mode of transportation, Brouwersgracht is always open. The ideal time to enjoy a canal cruise is during the warmer months and during the Amsterdam Light Festival over the holiday season. Brouwersgracht is particularly lovely at night, when the canal waters are calm and the canal house lights are reflected on the water.
There are over 100 canal houses alongside the Brouwersgracht that are listed as official national heritage sites. Highlights include Brouwersgracht 20, with its interesting neck-gabled facade, and Brouwersgracht 174, a triple warehouse featuring the Amsterdam coat of arms. Don’t miss seeing the shuttered windows on houses 188-196, which once protected spices from Asia from too much sunlight.
