What is a singel?

A singel is a Dutch term for a canal or moat running around a town or fortress, originally dug as a defensive ditch in front of the town wall or rampart. Many Dutch towns still have one. Once the fortifications lost their military role in the 19th century, the ramparts were often levelled and turned into park-like promenades along the water. The word has a second meaning too: a houtsingel, a line of trees and shrubs.

Meaning 1: the town moat

The singel lay outside the wall and made it harder for attackers to approach. As towns expanded, the defensive line moved outwards and an old singel ended up inside the city. A well-known example is the Singel in Amsterdam, which in the 15th century was the defensive moat on the edge of the city and is now the innermost canal of the canal ring. A gracht is any dug canal in a Dutch town; a singel is specifically the one following the (former) fortifications.

Meaning 2: the tree line

A houtsingel is a linear planting of trees and shrubs, usually along a farm or field boundary in the countryside. Unlike a hedgerow bank, it stands at ground level rather than on a raised earth bank, often alongside a ditch. It gives shelter, provides habitat and defines the character of many Dutch landscapes.

Application: building next to a singel

1. Quay walls and banks. Old quay walls may have settled or been undermined. Excavation or piling right next to them can cause further damage, so have their condition assessed first.
2. Consent for work in or near water. Jetties, bank protection, discharges or excavation next to a singel usually need permission from the water authority and/or the municipality. Ask before starting, as rules and protected zones vary by authority.
3. Conservation areas. Singels often lie within protected historic townscapes, which bring extra requirements for facades, roof shapes and extensions.
4. Groundwater and foundations. Groundwater is usually high near open water. Plan for dewatering during construction and consider the foundations of neighbouring buildings.
5. Removing trees. Felling trees is usually subject to municipal consent within built-up areas, and other rules may apply in the countryside. Always check first.

Related terms

• Gracht
• Moat
• Hedgerow bank
• Quay wall
• Listed building

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