diff --git a/src/timeline/Timeline.js b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
index d646e632..a54a8a76 100644
--- a/src/timeline/Timeline.js
+++ b/src/timeline/Timeline.js
@@ -346,7 +346,6 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
   this.dom.right                = document.createElement('div');
   this.dom.top                  = document.createElement('div');
   this.dom.bottom               = document.createElement('div');
-  this.dom.foregroundVertical   = document.createElement('div');
 
   this.dom.background.className           = 'vispanel background';
   this.dom.backgroundVertical.className   = 'vispanel background vertical';
@@ -359,7 +358,6 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
   this.dom.left.className                 = 'content';
   this.dom.center.className               = 'content';
   this.dom.right.className                = 'content';
-  this.dom.foregroundVertical.className   = 'vispanel foreground vertical';
 
   this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.background);
   this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.backgroundVertical);
@@ -369,7 +367,6 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
   this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.rightContainer);
   this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.top);
   this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.bottom);
-  this.dom.root.appendChild(this.dom.foregroundVertical);
 
   this.dom.centerContainer.appendChild(this.dom.center);
   this.dom.leftContainer.appendChild(this.dom.left);
@@ -389,7 +386,8 @@ Timeline.prototype._create = function () {
 
   var me = this;
   var events = [
-    'touch', 'pinch', 'tap', 'doubletap', 'hold',
+    'pinch',
+    //'tap', 'doubletap', 'hold', // TODO: catching the events here disables selecting an item
     'dragstart', 'drag', 'dragend',
     'mousewheel', 'DOMMouseScroll' // DOMMouseScroll is needed for Firefox
   ];
@@ -807,7 +805,6 @@ Timeline.prototype.redraw = function() {
   dom.centerContainer.style.height      = props.centerContainer.height + 'px';
   dom.leftContainer.style.height        = props.leftContainer.height + 'px';
   dom.rightContainer.style.height       = props.rightContainer.height + 'px';
-  dom.foregroundVertical.style.height   = props.background.height + 'px';
 
   dom.background.style.width            = props.background.width + 'px';
   dom.backgroundVertical.style.width    = props.centerContainer.width + 'px';
@@ -815,7 +812,6 @@ Timeline.prototype.redraw = function() {
   dom.centerContainer.style.width       = props.center.width + 'px';
   dom.top.style.width                   = props.top.width + 'px';
   dom.bottom.style.width                = props.bottom.width + 'px';
-  dom.foregroundVertical.style.width    = props.centerContainer.width + 'px';
 
   // reposition the panels
   dom.background.style.left           = '0';
@@ -834,8 +830,6 @@ Timeline.prototype.redraw = function() {
   dom.top.style.top                   = '0';
   dom.bottom.style.left               = props.left.width + 'px';
   dom.bottom.style.top                = (props.top.height + props.centerContainer.height) + 'px';
-  dom.foregroundVertical.style.left   = props.left.width + 'px';
-  dom.foregroundVertical.style.top    = '0';
 
   // redraw all components
   this.components.forEach(function (component) {
@@ -852,131 +846,6 @@ Timeline.prototype.repaint = function () {
     throw new Error('Function repaint is deprecated. Use redraw instead.');
 };
 
-/**
- * Handle selecting/deselecting an item when tapping it
- * @param {Event} event
- * @private
- */
-// TODO: move this function to ItemSet
-Timeline.prototype._onSelectItem = function (event) {
-  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
-
-  var ctrlKey  = event.gesture.srcEvent && event.gesture.srcEvent.ctrlKey;
-  var shiftKey = event.gesture.srcEvent && event.gesture.srcEvent.shiftKey;
-  if (ctrlKey || shiftKey) {
-    this._onMultiSelectItem(event);
-    return;
-  }
-
-  var oldSelection = this.getSelection();
-
-  var item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
-  var selection = item ? [item.id] : [];
-  this.setSelection(selection);
-
-  var newSelection = this.getSelection();
-
-  // emit a select event,
-  // except when old selection is empty and new selection is still empty
-  if (newSelection.length > 0 || oldSelection.length > 0) {
-    this.emit('select', {
-      items: this.getSelection()
-    });
-  }
-
-  event.stopPropagation();
-};
-
-/**
- * Handle creation and updates of an item on double tap
- * @param event
- * @private
- */
-// TODO: move this function to ItemSet
-Timeline.prototype._onAddItem = function (event) {
-  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
-  if (!this.options.editable.add) return;
-
-  var me = this,
-      item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
-
-  if (item) {
-    // update item
-
-    // execute async handler to update the item (or cancel it)
-    var itemData = me.itemsData.get(item.id); // get a clone of the data from the dataset
-    this.options.onUpdate(itemData, function (itemData) {
-      if (itemData) {
-        me.itemsData.update(itemData);
-      }
-    });
-  }
-  else {
-    // add item
-    var xAbs = vis.util.getAbsoluteLeft(this.contentPanel.frame);
-    var x = event.gesture.center.pageX - xAbs;
-    var newItem = {
-      start: this.timeAxis.snap(this._toTime(x)),
-      content: 'new item'
-    };
-
-    // when default type is a range, add a default end date to the new item
-    if (this.options.type === 'range' || this.options.type == 'rangeoverflow') {
-      newItem.end = this.timeAxis.snap(this._toTime(x + this.rootPanel.width / 5));
-    }
-
-    var id = util.randomUUID();
-    newItem[this.itemsData.fieldId] = id;
-
-    var group = ItemSet.groupFromTarget(event);
-    if (group) {
-      newItem.group = group.groupId;
-    }
-
-    // execute async handler to customize (or cancel) adding an item
-    this.options.onAdd(newItem, function (item) {
-      if (item) {
-        me.itemsData.add(newItem);
-        // TODO: need to trigger a redraw?
-      }
-    });
-  }
-};
-
-/**
- * Handle selecting/deselecting multiple items when holding an item
- * @param {Event} event
- * @private
- */
-// TODO: move this function to ItemSet
-Timeline.prototype._onMultiSelectItem = function (event) {
-  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
-
-  var selection,
-      item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
-
-  if (item) {
-    // multi select items
-    selection = this.getSelection(); // current selection
-    var index = selection.indexOf(item.id);
-    if (index == -1) {
-      // item is not yet selected -> select it
-      selection.push(item.id);
-    }
-    else {
-      // item is already selected -> deselect it
-      selection.splice(index, 1);
-    }
-    this.setSelection(selection);
-
-    this.emit('select', {
-      items: this.getSelection()
-    });
-
-    event.stopPropagation();
-  }
-};
-
 /**
  * Convert a position on screen (pixels) to a datetime
  * @param {int}     x    Position on the screen in pixels
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js b/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
index ac824cb7..8707292a 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/CurrentTime.js
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ CurrentTime.prototype._create = function _create () {
  */
 CurrentTime.prototype.redraw = function redraw() {
   if (this.options.showCurrentTime) {
-    var parent = this.timeline.dom.foregroundVertical;
+    var parent = this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical;
     if (this.bar.parentNode != parent) {
       // attach to the dom
       if (this.bar.parentNode) {
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js b/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
index b95079cd..3ac61096 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/CustomTime.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ CustomTime.prototype._create = function _create () {
  */
 CustomTime.prototype.redraw = function () {
   if (this.options.showCustomTime) {
-    var parent = this.timeline.dom.foregroundVertical;
+    var parent = this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical;
     if (this.bar.parentNode != parent) {
       // attach to the dom
       if (this.bar.parentNode) {
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
index 4126ef15..9ba812ee 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
+++ b/src/timeline/component/ItemSet.js
@@ -111,10 +111,21 @@ ItemSet.prototype._create = function _create(){
   this.hammer = Hammer(frame, {
     prevent_default: true
   });
+
+  // drag items when selected
   this.hammer.on('dragstart', this._onDragStart.bind(this));
   this.hammer.on('drag',      this._onDrag.bind(this));
   this.hammer.on('dragend',   this._onDragEnd.bind(this));
 
+  // single select (or unselect) when tapping an item
+  this.hammer.on('tap',  this._onSelectItem.bind(this));
+
+  // multi select when holding mouse/touch, or on ctrl+click
+  this.hammer.on('hold', this._onMultiSelectItem.bind(this));
+
+  // add item on doubletap
+  this.hammer.on('doubletap', this._onAddItem.bind(this));
+
   // attach to the DOM
   this.show();
 };
@@ -187,7 +198,7 @@ ItemSet.prototype.show = function show() {
 
   // show axis with dots
   if (!this.dom.axis.parentNode) {
-    this.timeline.dom.foregroundVertical.appendChild(this.dom.axis);
+    this.timeline.dom.backgroundVertical.appendChild(this.dom.axis);
   }
 
   // show labelset containing labels
@@ -1003,6 +1014,131 @@ ItemSet.prototype._onDragEnd = function (event) {
   }
 };
 
+/**
+ * Handle selecting/deselecting an item when tapping it
+ * @param {Event} event
+ * @private
+ */
+ItemSet.prototype._onSelectItem = function (event) {
+  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
+
+  var ctrlKey  = event.gesture.srcEvent && event.gesture.srcEvent.ctrlKey;
+  var shiftKey = event.gesture.srcEvent && event.gesture.srcEvent.shiftKey;
+  if (ctrlKey || shiftKey) {
+    this._onMultiSelectItem(event);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  var oldSelection = this.getSelection();
+
+  var item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
+  var selection = item ? [item.id] : [];
+  this.setSelection(selection);
+
+  var newSelection = this.getSelection();
+
+  // emit a select event,
+  // except when old selection is empty and new selection is still empty
+  if (newSelection.length > 0 || oldSelection.length > 0) {
+    this.timeline.emitter.emit('select', {
+      items: this.getSelection()
+    });
+  }
+
+  event.stopPropagation();
+};
+
+/**
+ * Handle creation and updates of an item on double tap
+ * @param event
+ * @private
+ */
+ItemSet.prototype._onAddItem = function (event) {
+  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
+  if (!this.options.editable.add) return;
+
+  var me = this,
+      snap = this.options.snap || null,
+      item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
+
+  if (item) {
+    // update item
+
+    // execute async handler to update the item (or cancel it)
+    var itemData = me.itemsData.get(item.id); // get a clone of the data from the dataset
+    this.options.onUpdate(itemData, function (itemData) {
+      if (itemData) {
+        me.itemsData.update(itemData);
+      }
+    });
+  }
+  else {
+    // add item
+    var xAbs = vis.util.getAbsoluteLeft(this.dom.frame);
+    var x = event.gesture.center.pageX - xAbs;
+    var start = this._toTime(x);
+    var newItem = {
+      start: snap ? snap(start) : start,
+      content: 'new item'
+    };
+
+    // when default type is a range, add a default end date to the new item
+    if (this.options.type === 'range' || this.options.type == 'rangeoverflow') {
+      var end = this._toTime(x + this.props.width / 5);
+      newItem.end = snap ? snap(end) : end;
+    }
+
+    var id = util.randomUUID();
+    newItem[this.itemsData.fieldId] = id;
+
+    var group = ItemSet.groupFromTarget(event);
+    if (group) {
+      newItem.group = group.groupId;
+    }
+
+    // execute async handler to customize (or cancel) adding an item
+    this.options.onAdd(newItem, function (item) {
+      if (item) {
+        me.itemsData.add(newItem);
+        // TODO: need to trigger a redraw?
+      }
+    });
+  }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Handle selecting/deselecting multiple items when holding an item
+ * @param {Event} event
+ * @private
+ */
+ItemSet.prototype._onMultiSelectItem = function (event) {
+  if (!this.options.selectable) return;
+
+  var selection,
+      item = ItemSet.itemFromTarget(event);
+
+  if (item) {
+    // multi select items
+    selection = this.getSelection(); // current selection
+    var index = selection.indexOf(item.id);
+    if (index == -1) {
+      // item is not yet selected -> select it
+      selection.push(item.id);
+    }
+    else {
+      // item is already selected -> deselect it
+      selection.splice(index, 1);
+    }
+    this.setSelection(selection);
+
+    this.timeline.emitter.emit('select', {
+      items: this.getSelection()
+    });
+
+    event.stopPropagation();
+  }
+};
+
 /**
  * Find an item from an event target:
  * searches for the attribute 'timeline-item' in the event target's element tree
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/css/currenttime.css b/src/timeline/component/css/currenttime.css
index 20164cd8..093fc603 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/css/currenttime.css
+++ b/src/timeline/component/css/currenttime.css
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 .vis.timeline .currenttime {
   background-color: #FF7F6E;
   width: 2px;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/css/customtime.css b/src/timeline/component/css/customtime.css
index f5832e4b..c590485d 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/css/customtime.css
+++ b/src/timeline/component/css/customtime.css
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@
   background-color: #6E94FF;
   width: 2px;
   cursor: move;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/css/itemset.css b/src/timeline/component/css/itemset.css
index b9f5f54e..3acb7a88 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/css/itemset.css
+++ b/src/timeline/component/css/itemset.css
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@
   /**/
 }
 
-.vis.timeline .background,
-.vis.timeline .foreground {
+.vis.timeline .itemset .background,
+.vis.timeline .itemset .foreground {
   position: absolute;
   width: 100%;
   height: 100%;
 }
 
-.vis.timeline .foreground {
+.vis.timeline .itemset.foreground {
   overflow: hidden;
 }
 
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
   width: 100%;
   height: 0;
   left: 1px;
+  z-index: 1;
 }
 
 .vis.timeline  .group {
diff --git a/src/timeline/component/css/panel.css b/src/timeline/component/css/panel.css
index a1064938..e8eba312 100644
--- a/src/timeline/component/css/panel.css
+++ b/src/timeline/component/css/panel.css
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@
 
 .vis.timeline .background {
   overflow: hidden;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}