This part of Herengracht owes its name to the opulence of the houses, which were inhabited in the 17C by the city's wealthiest merchants and ship-owners. Here, the pediments are wider, and levelled and adopt the Classical style, retaining their decorative exuberance. A double stairway gives access to the piano nobile, where guests were received and the ceilings were highest. Today, most of these buildings are occupied by banks or consulates.