Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands Dec 15, 2025

Have you ever wondered how canals changed the way cities developed? For thousands of years, people have built canals to transport goods, control water flow and connect places. From ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to medieval Europe, they transformed cities like Venice and Bruges into trade hubs. The Netherlands took this even further—by the 17th century, they were designing waterways that shaped cities such as Amsterdam.

© Amith Nag Photography/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Winter wonderland for your wallet
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Oct 26, 2024Gespensterwald, Nienhagen, Germany
Sway with the Amazonian canopy
A magnificent place of worship
Dare to delve into this dense swamp
Apr 7, 2025North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming, United States
This snow will never melt
Dec 6, 2023Palolem beach, Goa, India
A beach of many colours
What’s blooming so brightly?
Aug 13, 2024Telašćica Nature Park, Dugi Otok, Croatia
Misty mountain hop
Sep 4, 2024Dusky eagle-owls, Pakistan
Dec 7, 2024Orchha Fort complex, Orchha, Madhya Pradesh
Dec 30, 2025Whooper swans, Kotoku Pond, Japan
Feb 12, 2024Volcán Alcedo giant tortoises
Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl
Jul 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Mar 10, 2024Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, India
Jan 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
A cuddling pair of Taiwan yuhina
Oct 7, 2025Fall colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
There’s more to Pisa than leaning towers
Jan 30, 2024Martyrs’ Day
Jun 3, 2024Jaswant Thada and Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
An endless stretch of sky
Sep 9, 2025A female Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland
Feb 13, 2026Third Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge connecting Laos and Thailand
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Apr 8, 2026Seattle, Washington, United States