The Jordaan, between the outer canal and the town wall, was part of a major urban development at the start of the 17th century.

The canals and streets were not laid out on a new plan, but were enlargements of the existing polder ditches and pathways.

As a result, the Egelantiersgracht is slanted in relation to the canal belt and does not connect directly to the bridges over the Prinsengracht.

[2] The houses are built on a smaller scale than the great mansions on Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht.

The Egelantiersgracht, Bloemgracht, Lauriergracht, Looiersgracht and Passeerdersgracht maintained open water connections between the Prinsengracht and the Lijnbaansgracht.