Amsterdam’s historic Canal Belt placed on Unesco’s World Heritage Sites list
August 2, 2010 News
Amsterdam’s historic grachtengordel (literally, belt of canals) around the city’s center has been added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.
Many Amsterdammers view the listing as a mixed blessing. On the one hand they hope that strict Unesco rules will prevent the city council from further damaging the city. On the other hand they fear those same rules could turn Amsterdam in a ‘sleepy village.’