Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, known for its artistic heritage, an elaborate system of canals and narrow houses with gabled roofs, legacies of the city's 17th-century golden age. The museum district is home to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, with works by Rembrandt and Vermeer, and the Stedelijk, which focuses on modern art. Cycling is an essential feature of the city, which has a large number of cycle paths.