Waterways in the Netherlands

Gracht (; plural: grachten) is a Dutch word for a canal within a city. Often, Grachten encircle city centres in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Northern Germany. Outside the Netherlands, the word grachten mostly refers to the city canals of Amsterdam (for which it is well known) and also Utrecht, Leiden and The Hague. The Koninginnegracht in The Hague was conceived by King Willem I for the promotion of tourism in the early 19th century. Since 2009 the Willemsvaart once more offers tours over this gracht, to Scheveningen, known as "StrandRelax" or "BeachRelax", a unique stretch of sand between Th

thumb|the Kardingermaar as seen from the bridge Keesrieftil between Bedum and Middelstum