The canalsHistory
From fishing village to world-famous canal belt
The canals
Climate and nature
Biodiversity and climate change along the canalsClimate, nature and biodiversity
For centuries, Amsterdam was notorious for its dirty canal water. It was not until the construction of the Oranjesluizen and the Zeeburg pumping station in the nineteenth century that this began to change.
Photography: Frans Ruiter
Biodiversity in the Amsterdam canals
In recent decades, the quality of the canal water has improved significantly. Waternet, the Regional Water Authority Amstel, Gooi en Vecht, and the City of Amsterdam ensure that the water in the canals remains clean. Partly because of this, Amsterdam and its canals currently offer a remarkably rich biodiversity. This high level of biodiversity is partly due to the clean water. In addition, the combination of fresh and salt water in Amsterdam and the fact that Amsterdam is part of an important migration route for fish contribute to a rich biodiversity. These factors ensure that fish such as flounder, sea bass, sea trout, cod, and plaice swim in the IJ. In the fresher parts of the IJ and in the canals, species such as whitefish, carp, pike, pike-perch, and eel can be found. In total, no fewer than 65 different species of freshwater and saltwater fish swim in the canals, harbors, and the IJ.
Furthermore, the canal water also attracts many birds that use the city as a feeding ground. Notable new residents of the canals are the great crested grebe and the coot. They feed respectively on fish, plants, and mussels, which indicates that the canals can provide sufficient food.
The canal water is also kept clean by Waternet. Floating debris is fished out of the canals daily, and the area around the canals is cleaned several times a year.
Source: City of Amsterdam
The consequences of climate change
Plants and trees also thrive along the canals. With its one hundred kilometers of canal and quay walls, Amsterdam is rich in many different types of wall plants. In 2017, the city estimated there were no fewer than 270,000 trees, approximately one tree for every three inhabitants. Trees are not only important for the cityscape, they also contribute to the city's climate resilience. They provide a cooling effect because they evaporate a lot of water.
In recent decades, Amsterdam has also been confronted with the consequences of climate change. In particular, the rising sea level will ensure in the future that the city's water level cannot always remain at the same level. In the event of sea-level rise, Amsterdam is dependent on the technique of pumping, the removal of water. By means of pumping, Amsterdam and Amstelland can maintain the correct water level. If the water in the IJ becomes too high, the locks between Amsterdam and the IJ are closed, and the Zeeburg pumping station ensures that the excess water is discharged. The consequence of climate change for Amsterdam will therefore be that the city needs more pumping capacity. For this purpose, a new pumping station would have to be built that can discharge more water to the IJmeer.
The subsidence of old buildings in the city center is also a result of climate change. The long periods of drought occurring due to climate change cause a drop in the groundwater level. As a result, the wooden piles beneath the canal houses become dry, causing them to pulverize.
See also
The canals
The canalsWorld Heritage
UNESCO World Heritage since 2010
The canalsMain canals
Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht and Singel