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

Dec 15, 2018A long winter’s nap, perhaps?
Dec 15, 2019The Battle of the Bulge 75 years later
Dec 15, 2020A bridge that rocks
Dec 15, 2021The Hermitage of Santa Justa
Dec 15, 2022Borovets ski resort in Bulgaria
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Dec 15, 2024Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 11, 2020Mountains fit for a queen
Oct 6, 2023Taughannock Falls State Park
Oct 12, 2020Indigenous Peoples Day
Sep 20, 2018May we have this dance?
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Mar 16, 2023Panda Day
Aug 26, 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
Jan 7, 2025Moeraki Boulders, South Island, New Zealand
May 23, 2018Everybody loves World Turtle Day
Jul 18, 2020The moth wonderful time of the year
Nov 4, 2018And they’re off!
Feb 8, 2022Extraterrestrial Culture Day
Feb 1, 2026Black History Month
Oct 11, 2025World Migratory Bird Day
Mar 18, 2024Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
Feb 26, 2018A leafy seadragon in the waters off Wool Bay, Australia
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Oct 12, 2021High tide at the walled city
Apr 13, 2018Replica of a Viking home in Dublin National Botanic Gardens, Ireland
Jan 25, 2022Saint Dwynwen s Day
Sep 12, 2025In the Red Sea for World Dolphin Day
May 14, 2023Happy Mothers Day!
Dec 4, 2022World Wildlife Conservation Day
Dec 9, 2022Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway
Aug 8, 2019Spot on for International Cat Day
Mar 25, 2022Tolkien Reading Day
Oct 13, 2020Where can you find a red fox?
Jul 29, 2024International Tiger Day
Apr 15, 2024World Art Day
Mar 5, 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand