Amsterdam – Capital of Netherlands-City of Canals. Some say it’s the Venice of the North due to its many canals (165).
It’s a beautiful and historical city having approximately more than 800,000 people. It is the most popular city in the Netherlands.
It covers an area of 165 square kilometers of land and 53 kilometer square of water.
Firstly, the city originated as a small fishing village around a dam in River Armstel in the late 12th Century.
As the number one commercial capital of the Netherlands and one of the top financial centers in Europe, the city is considered an alpha world city. This city is the cultural capital of the Netherlands as well. So many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there.
The Stock Exchange is the oldest in the world.
It draws more than 5 million international visitors annually. It’s one of the world’s most multicultural cities in the world with more than 177 nationalities.
THINGS TO DO AND NOT TO DO IN AMSTERDAM
Don’t: go for wild parties during weekdays Instead: Wait for weekends or look for the best nightclubs around.
Don’t: Hire a bike without knowing how to ride. Instead: Use the alternative mode of transport to move around the city.
Don’t: walk-in cycle paths Instead: Use the pedestrian paths.
Don’t: Ever buy a bike from an unofficial source Instead: Find an authorized dealer for bicycles.
Don’t: smoke cannabis outside in public places Instead: Smoke in the smoking zones and inside coffee places.
Don’t: walk around in large groups Instead: Avoid groups and enjoy being there.
Don’t: stand still taking photos in Centrum Instead: Keep walking and enjoy the beautiful scenes and avoid being an unnecessary obstacle for other pedestrians or tourists.
Don’t: try to order large beer steins at Dutch bars. Instead: get used to Netherlands traditional small glasses for serving beer.
10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT AMSTERDAM
- Bikes – There are more bikes in Amsterdam than inhabitants. There are roughly 900,000 bikes. This is much more compared to the 800,000 people who live in Amsterdam.
- Coffee shops – there are around 185 Coffee shops.
- Canals in Amsterdam. There are around 165 canals. It’s second to Venice, which has 177.
- Bridges – There are between 1200-1700 bridges, while in Venice, there are only 409, connecting those 177 canals.
- One hundred eighty different nationalities live in Amsterdam. Therefore there are several languages used here.
- Houseboats. More than 3000 houseboats are an actual home in Amsterdam. It is one of the main attractions.
- Amsterdam’s Nicknames. ADAM or DAM is short for Amsterdam. The city has lots of nicknames, such as “Venice of the North” because of the number of its canals.
- Schiphol Airport. Amsterdam’s airport Schiphol is 4 meters below the sea level. In case the water level rises, there might be no airport anymore but a port instead.
- The blackhouses are built in honor of the people, who previously lived there and got infected during the plague, and not because the current owners like that color.
- Many houses are built inclined. In former times those houses used to a warehouse where goods were stored and pulled up. In order to leave no damage to the buildings on the way up, houses were built slightly inclined.
14 Rumors about Amsterdam
- True: Almost everything is legal.
- False: Amsterdam is full of sketchy behavior. In fact, among the safest cities in Europe.
- True: There are more bicycles than residents.
- False: Holland and the Netherlands are actually the same things.
- True: Amsterdam lies below sea level.
- False: Local Cuisine is just a raw Herring and Cheese.
- True: Amsterdamers love Coffee.
- False: People are rude.
- True: Culture per capita – Amsterdam has more than any other city in the world
- False: You can smoke Marijuana everywhere you like.
- True: Amsterdamers are the tallest people in the world.
- False: Is A 24-Hour City
- True: John Lennon And Yoko Ono Spent one Entire Week In Bed In Amsterdam
- False: Amsterdam Is All About The Party
History
History and Timeline of Amsterdam
Climate
Geography
8 MOST POPULAR THINGS ABOUT AMSTERDAM
#1 - Canals
One of the most iconic landmarks in the world is Amsterdam’s concentric canal system. These canals attract millions of visitors every year and have played a vital role with regards to Amsterdam’s history. The water-filled channels form a unique layout for the city as the streets follow the canal belt, thus giving Amsterdam an artistic design.
#2 - The Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is arguably the most visited in the whole of the Netherlands. It is located in Amsterdam and attracts an average of 1.5 million visitors per year. The museum was built and dedicated to Van Gogh, a prominent painter in the 19th century.
#3 - Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam is famous for hosting the most important museum in the Netherlands as well. It would be unfair to visit Amsterdam and fail to check into Rijksmuseum. It is located at the Museum Square within the city, next to the Van Gogh Museum
#4 - Bike Riding Culture.
Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the world’s capital of bicycles. Anybody who has ever tried to make their way through the city center of Amsterdam will tell you how painful it can get. Cyclists own the streets compared to the sheer number of motorists.
#5 - Anne Frank’s House
Anne Frank house is a great tourist attraction spot at the heart of Amsterdam. The house is a biographical museum that is dedicated to Jewish writer by the name Anne Frank. She was a wartime diarist who hid from the Nazi persecution during the second world war together with her family and other people.
#6 - Tulips
Amsterdam also boasts of specular flower scenes. In the Netherlands, the tulip season marks the onset of spring. The rising temperatures and colorful flowers attract lots of people to Amsterdam as millions of tulips bloom in and around the city every year.
#7 - Coffee Shops
The numerous coffee shops are among Amsterdam’s famous things. Well, you might be wondering why coffee shops would make a city memorable. Well, these are not just ordinary coffee shops. In these coffee shops, selling and smoking marijuana is also a regular business activity.
#8 - Royal Palace of Amsterdam
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is one of the three palaces in Holland. The castle is located on the western side of Dam Square. Not only is this exuberant civic structure known for hosting the royals, but it was initially built as a city hall in the 17th century.