Did you know that ...?
- The Netherlands and Holland are the same place?
- One-quarter of Holland is below sealevel?
- The International Court of Justice (at the Peace Palace) and the International
Criminal Court are both in The Hague?
- Holland still has around a thousand old-fashioned working windmills?
- Holland is the third biggest exporter of agricultural produce, trailing only the US
and France, even though only 3% of the Dutch population works in the agriculture sector?
- Holland has no less than 15,000 km of cycle paths?
- Flevoland, the twelfth province, was reclaimed from the Zuider Zee in 1986?
- The Dutch are the tallest people in Europe?
- Amsterdam is built entirely on piles?
- Holland always has a coalition government, so it is a land of compromise?
- Every Dutch person has a bike and there are twice as many bikes as cars?
- The Van Gogh collections in the Van Gogh Museum and the Kröller-Müller Museum are
the largest in the world?
- Holland has the ghighest concentration of museums in the world, with 42 in
Amsterdam alone?
- Holland was one of the six founding members of the European Community?
- The former island of Schokland, the fortifications around Amsterdam, the windmills
of Kinderdijk-Elshout, Willemstad (in the Netherlands Antilles) and the
Rietveld-Schröderhuis are all on UNESCO’s World Heritage List?
- The highest point in Holland is 323 metres above sea level, and is referred to as a
‘mountain’?
- Amsterdam is the capital, but the government is in The Hague?
- Most Dutch people speak a foreign language as well as Dutch?
- Rotterdam is the second largest port in the world? Holland is 6.7 metres below sea
level at its lowest point?
- Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges?
- Prince Willem-Alexander, the heir to the Dutch throne, takes personal interest in
water management?
- When you arrive at Schiphol Airport, you are four metres below sealevel?
- Holland has more than 4,400 km of navigable rivers, canals and lakes?
- At Neeltje Jans in Zeeland, you can see how Holland waged war against the sea?
Amsterdam was originally established as a fishing village at the mouth of the Amstel
River during the 13th century. The city prospered over the years, with its wealth and
power peaking during the 17th century's Golden Age. Today the restored façades of
buildings representing all periods in Amsterdam's history await your visit. When you first
arrive, you are stunned by its well preserved beauty. Be it sunny, cloudy or rainy: in any
weather the city can hypnotize you with a sense of timelessness, but the summer is perfect
for walking around and exploring this fine city.
Amsterdam's canals were laid out in concentric rings as the city grew. You can walk for
miles and miles along these grachts, or better yet, rent a bike and explore Amsterdam the
Dutch way. The Damrak, once the site of the Amstel river, is now a busy tourist street
lined with cafes, shops, currency exchanges and tourist information centers. It ends at
the Dam square where the Amstel dam was located, Amsterdam's original namesake. The square
is used for official events, festivals, concerts, and an occasional market. The Royal
Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, De Bijenkorf (a department store),
all face the square.
In the center of the Dam is a monument to Holland's World War II dead. Central Station,
where you can get the metro or tram around town or a train to Paris or Berlin, is located
here as well.
Amsterdam is a cultural center with a diverse range of events all year round. The city
plays host to several world famous museums including the Van Gogh, the Rijksmuseum
containing the National Art Collection, and the Stedelijk museum of modern art. All three
museums are easy to find, as they're located on the same street! The world renowned
Concertgebouw offers classical concerts year- round, and free Wednesday lunch concerts.
Amsterdam's fine parks are popular places on sunny days. The Vondelpark hosts the National
Film Museum, the Vertigo cafe, and an outdoor music venue for free concerts in the summer.
Bring your skates! (the weather in Amsterdam is usually cool with several inches of rain
every month, so bring a rain jacket as well.)
The Leidseplein is one of several centers for nightlife. With hundreds of restaurants,
clubs and cinemas the Leidseplein is very busy in the summer. Street musicians, jugglers
and other performers make the square a lively place until the early hours. Another popular
area for dining and dancing is the Rembrandtplein. Amsterdam's brown pubs are cozy places
to soak up the relaxed atmosphere and some great brew in the country of Heineken, Amstel
and Grolsch.
Amsterdam fashions are a bit eclectic. Check out the unusual shoes, a must for the rave
crowd! Also popular are plaid jackets, anything in orange (the national color), and wild
hairdos with women favoring unique braided styles. In general anything goes!
Offbeat shopping can be found in the Jordaan district where small antique shops, art
galleries and bric-a-brac stores abound. The Jordaan is also home to a thriving art
community and many interesting cafes and restaurants await the curious.
Amsterdam is Cannabis Central: Baba's, a comfortable retreat in the middle of the Red
Light district becons the more adventurous. Along with their fine selection of beer on
tap, the ubiquitous hash menu make this a cozy place to hang out.
Amsterdam facts and figures:
Inhabitants: 738.763 Inhabitants Greater Amsterdam: 1.498.205 Nationalities: 173
Mayor: 1 Bicycles: 600.000 Trees: 220.000 Bulbflowers in parks and public gardens: 600.000
Parks: 28 City trams: 232 Ferryboats: 9 Markets: 21 Flower Market: 1 Shops: 10.334 Antique
shops: 165 Diamond polishing factories: 24 Canals: 165 Bridges: 1.281 Wooden drawbridges:
8 Skinny Bridge: 1 Glass-topped canal boats and saloonboats: 110 Houseboats: 2.500 16th,
17th and 18th century buildings: 6.800 Gablestones: 654 Royal Palace: 1 Statues and
sculptures: 302 Windmills: 6 Museums: 51 Art galeries: 141 Paintings of Rembrandt: 22
Nightwatch: 1 Civic Guard Gallery: 1 Paintings of Van Gogh: 206 Wax statues at Madame
Tussaud's: 140 Animals at the Artis Zoo: 6.100 Barrel organs: 4 Carillons: 9 Historical
church organs: 42 Concerts and theatrical performances per year: 16.000 Concerts and
theatrical performances per day: 40 Theaters and concert halls: 55 Royal Concertgebouw
Orchestra: 1 Muziektheater: 1 Cinemas: 61 Cafés and bars: 1.402 Discotheques: 36
Restaurants: 755 Hotelbeds: 38.200 Camping sites: 5 Bednights by visitors from abroad per
year: 8.332.600 Day visitors per year: 15.854.000 |
