They’re usually called canal houses in Amsterdam, or grachtenpanden in Dutch.

What people mean

  • The classic tall, narrow houses along the canals are the city’s famous canal houses.
  • Some specific rows also have nicknames, like the Damrak Canal Houses or “dancing houses” because they lean a bit.
  • A broader term you may also hear is hofjes for courtyard-style almshouses, but that means a different kind of historic housing.

Simple answer

If you mean the iconic old houses by the canals, the word you want is canal houses.

TL;DR: Amsterdam’s famous houses are called canal houses — in Dutch, grachtenpanden.