The Smallepadsgracht is on the west side of the Realeneiland and connects the Zoutkeetsgracht with the Realengracht and Prinseneilandsgracht.

Smallepadsgracht originated in the defenses of Amsterdam added outside the Haarlemmerdijk and Hogendijk during the expansion of the city, with the active advice of Maurice, Prince of Orange.

[1] The counterpart of the Lijnbaansgracht outside the dike was a ditch along that Narrow Path, sometimes called the Smallepadsgracht.

[2] The Brandspuitenboek by Jan van der Heyden has is an etching of the path and canal: "Fire on June 24, 1680 in three ropemakers on the Schans on the Smallepadsgracht".

Another engraving, attributed to Laurens Scherm, shows the ruins of the three burnt out lijnbanen.