Elandsgracht

Walking along this canal, you might think the name comes from the animals that used to roam here, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Elandsgracht in the Jordaan district is named after the numerous tanneries that were located here. It was a popular place to work leather from moose. As such, it is the only canal in the Jordaan named after an animal. The Jordaan was chosen in 1613 as the location for a major urban expansion, intended to accommodate many working-class families. Initially, Elandsgracht was seen as a place for the well-to-do, but it soon turned into a place where squalor prevailed. Consequently, the canal was filled in 1891 because of its unbearable stench. But even after it was filled in, pauperisation persisted.

Walking to the end of the canal, where it crosses the Prinsengracht, you come to a number of striking busts of famous Amsterdammers. Johnny Jordaan, an icon of the neighbourhood and of Amsterdam, is one of the most famous statues. But musicians such as Tante Leen, Manke Nelis, Johnny Meyer and the duo Jan and Mien are also honoured here.