Smallepadsgracht

Westelijke Eilanden (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌʋɛstələkə ˈʔɛilɑndə(n)], Western Islands) are three islands in the Centrum district of Amsterdam: Bickerseiland, Prinseneiland and Realeneiland. They are located to the south of the IJ and the Zeeheldenbuurt, to the north of the railway line between Central Station and Amsterdam-Sloterdijk, to the west of the Westerdok and to the east of the Planciusbuurt on the Westerkanaal. The Westelijke Eilanden form the core of the Golden Reael area, which also includes the adjacent Westerdok island, the Haarlemmerbuurt and the Planciusbuurt. The Westelijke Eilanden form a small world apart from the city. They are suitable for walks, which Joannes Antonides van der Goes recommended in a poem, Ystroom, as early as 1671. They are often used for filming. There have always been warehouses and shipyards on the Westelijke Eilanden. They formed an important part of the atmosphere on the islands, a combination of working and living. The islands are sometimes called the "Mokum Archipelago".

The Prinseneilandsgracht is a canal in the Centrum district of Amsterdam. It runs between Prinseneiland, an artificial island, to the east and the mainland to the west. Until after World War II (1939–45) the canal was bordered almost exclusively by warehouses and factories.

The Realengracht is a canal in Amsterdam, in the Centrum district.

The Zoutkeetsgracht (Salt sheds canal) is a canal to the west of the center of Amsterdam.

The Gouden Reael is a traditional designation for an area of the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It consists of the current neighborhood Westelijke Eilanden ("Western Islands", i.e. Prinseneiland, Bickerseiland and Realeneiland) plus the Westerdokseiland, Haarlemmerbuurt and Planciusbuurt. A 'Gouden Reael' ("golden real") was a Spanish coin from the 16th century. The birth house of Laurens Reael (1583–1637), third Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, had a golden real on its signpost or gable stone, from which the family took its name. In 1648, the Reael family, which counted several prominent Amsterdam citizens, built a warehouse on the Zandhoek, again with a golden real gablestone. Around 1800 this building turned into a popular inn, "De Gouden Reael", which was made famous by a 1940 Jan Mens novel by the same name, and after which the neighborhood has been named. In 1610 and 1615 three artificial islands (Prinseneiland, Bickerseiland and Realeneiland) were built as an extension of the harbor. Until the end of the 19th century this was an area with many wharfs, little industries and warehouses, related to the shipping trades. After the second World war the desolated area was discovered by many artists (Jan Sierhuis, Johan van der Keuken, Jef Diederen, Reinier Lucassen, Peter Schat among others), who established their homes and studios in the vacant buildings. During the second half of the 20th century the old warehouses were transformed into apartments one after another, and new apartments were built. Nevertheless, a lot of the atmosphere of the past is still present in the old buildings and wooden drawbridges.

As a continuation of the existing warehouses in the center of Amsterdam, around 1900 several new warehouses were built near the IJ bay. Most of these warehouses were converted into apartments at the end of 20th century.

The Eilandsgracht is a canal in Amsterdam between the Westelijke Eilanden (Western Islands) and the mainland. It originally ran between the mainland and two of the islands, Prinseneiland and Bickerseiland. In 1928 the section along Bickerseiland was filled in.

The Bickersgracht is a canal in Amsterdam that runs between the Westelijke Eilanden (Western Islands), and a street on one of these islands, Bickerseiland.

The Zeeheldenbuurt is a neighbourhood of Amsterdam, Netherlands. Located in the borough Amsterdam-West, it borders directly on the Westelijke Eilanden to the west. It lies between the Westerkanaal and the Westerdok; to the north is Houthaven and the IJ. The neighbourhood is served by the S100 road, and is sometimes confused with the nearby Admiralenbuurt.

Amsterdam Wooden Drydock II was the second floating dry dock of Amsterdam, and was located in the Westerdok.

Het Westerdok (Western Dock) is a former wet dock in Amsterdam. It was created in 1830-1834 by constructing the Westerdoksdam and Westerdoksluis, forming a reliable deep port closed off from the tidal IJ. It lost its function in 1876 when the North Sea Canal was opened. About half of it has since been filled up.

The Singelgracht is the waterway that borders the entire Amsterdam Center and flows along the Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade and Mauritskade. Formerly the canal and the ramparts on the city side formed the outer defenses of the city.