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:

Dec 17, 2023Bohemian waxwings
May 16, 2024International Day of Light
A dramatic celebration of peace
Jan 24, 2025Strokkur geyser in Iceland
Nov 24, 2023Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
Jun 21, 2024International Day of Yoga
Aug 9, 2025Raksha Bandhan
Amber waves of grain
Celebrating the Scottish bard
Dec 24, 2025Christmas Eve
Where did you drop the fish, son?
Jan 22, 2026Karlovy Vary, Bohemia, Czechia
Jun 10, 2024The city of Osaka at night, Japan
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
May 28, 2025World Otter Day
Aug 11, 2024Wooden path to Kennedy Lake, Vancouver Island, Canada
Nov 15, 2024Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Lighting the world
Nov 5, 2025Guru Nanak Gurpurab
Feb 27, 2025Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Oct 23, 2023Corn maze in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
Dec 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
May 16, 2025Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Jan 6, 2024A male chaffinch in a crab apple tree
Sep 23, 2023Autumnal equinox
Dec 16, 2024Salzburg, Austria
Oct 10, 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado
Nov 5, 2024Ranakpur Jain temple, Ranakpur, Rajasthan
A beacon in the golden light
Feb 18, 2026Przewalskis horses