Amsterdam's 17th century canal district, added this past weekend to UNESCO's World Heritage List, is a remnant of the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the city led the world in art, trade and architecture.

The zone is composed of four curved canals that run parallel to each other and half encircle the Amsterdam city centre, including its famous red light district -- the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizergracht and the Prinsengracht.