The name of the Amsterdam canals. In 1612 Amsterdam began digging three main canals: the Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht. As the city continues to grow, these canals were extended and new canals were built. These lie in a circle, as a kind of belt, around the center of Amsterdam. The canals reminiscent of the successful seventeenth century, also known as the Golden Age.