Amsterdam

History of Amsterdam

It appears that towards the end of the 12th century a dam was built in the Amstel river, not far from the spot where it empties into the IJ. It is this dam which gave Amsterdam its name. Around the dam, than called Plaetse (Square), a quickly expanding settlement emerged. The first record of Amsterdam dates from 1275, when Floris V, Count of Holland, exempted 'those who reside near the Amstel dam' from paying duty. Hence 1275 is taken as the official founding year of the city.

The trade with the Far East and the Americas made the city one of the richest in the world. Products like pepper, netmeg, and mace where sold against enormous profits. The Dutch East India Company has by some been called 'the first multinational in the world', and justifiably so. Next to the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) a splendid East Indian is moored, while the Prins Hendrikkade is lined with the warehouses in which the valuable goods were stored. Another important factor in the development of Amsterdam was the arrival of large numbers often highly skilled refugees from abroad, like Jews from Portugal and Central Europe and Protestant French.

Apart from the days of the French occupation, the city enjoyed a period of quiet prosperity until the mid-19th century. Around 1840 Amsterdam began to spread beyond its 17th-centruy boundaries. New neighborhoods like De Pijp and the Kinkerbuurt emerged, the Rijksmuseum and Concertgebouw enriched cultural life and the new Central Station catered for the fast railway connections with the rest of the country. At the start of the 12th century the city was extended even further, especially towards the west and the south (Berlage's famous Pan Zuid: Extension Plan South).

Amsterdam developed, thanks to its tolerant social climate, into the magical heart of Europe in the sixties. Young people flocked towards the city form far and wide and boosted the tourist trade. Likewise, museums like the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's house, the canals, and the red-light distict drew increasing numbers of people who were setting out to discover the world. Fascinating and vibrant Amsterdam has always been, and continues to be.

Places of interests

Amsterdam is endowed with many place of interest. Its art museums are world-famous, the historical and thematic ones maintain very high standards, the entire historical city centre with its canals, churches, grand buildings, alleys and squares is in fact one large monument. And that is not all: you will find dozens of other fascinating, funny or moving attractions. A complete overview can be obtained form the Amsterdam Tourist Office.

On the revamped Museumplein, which reopend in 1999, are the three most famous museums of Amsterdam: the Rijksmuseum with its collection of Dutch masters, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk Museum with modern art by Picasso, Malevich, and Chagall, but also contemporary visual artists.

Or try the museum The rembrandt house, which houses many great works from this Dutch master. All canals are really worth a visit. To mention but a few: the rather more lively is the Prinsengracht and the Singel, with the famous floating flower market at its far end, where you can buy tulip bulbs to plant in your garden back home, or a nice bunch of flowers. Other interesting canals are the Reguliergracht with its seven bridges in a row (picture perfect), the Bloemgracht in de Jordaan (Jordan area), the Brouwersgracht and the Leidsegracht. The most magnificent building in Amsterdam is the Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace) on the Dam, King Louis Napolean (Napoleon's brother) turned it into his royal palace, a function it serves to this day. During the summer the palace can be viewed, an opportunity neither visitors to the city nor locals should miss. Amsterdam has many more museums worth visiting, such has:

Red-light district

In the heart of the red-light district, with its scantly dressed women posing seductively in the windows, the Oude Kerk (Old Church) takes pride of place. Officially called the Sint-Nicolaaskerk (Saint Nicolas Church), it is the oldest church in Amsterdam.

Everything about the history of Amsterdam can be learned in the Historic Museum in the Kalverstreet, which resides in a former orphanage. The building itself and its courtyards are worth viewing as well. The Jewish Historical Museum is housed in the New and Grand Synagogue on the Jonas Daniel Meijersquare in the old Jewish quarter. Most of the inhabitants of this once so lively neighborhood were transported to the concentration camps during World War II, and never returned. A large section of the museum is devoted to the Holocaust.

Anne Frank

Equally impressive is Anne Frank's House on the Prinsengracht, in another part of the city centre. Here the Jewish Frank family hid from the Nazis in the "achterhuis", the annex at the back of the main house, and here Anne wrote her memorable diary. It is now a museum about the oppression and persecution of not only the Jews, but of minorities in general, in the past as well as the present.

Zoo Atis

Of a different nature are Artis, one of the oldest zoos in the world, and the Hortus Botanicus with its great collection of plants.

Briges

Amsterdam has more than a thousand bridges, which all tell their own story. One of the most striking is the Magere Brug across the Amstel. Which is probably the most famous emblem of the city. Another one is the Torensluis with its statue of the writer Maltatuli.

Sights around Amsterdam

If you are visiting Amsterdam for the first time, a guided tour of the city is a good idea. If you want to explore the surrounding area, there are numerous options. The Waterland north of Amsterdam, the bulb fields in the south west, the historical ciy of Haarlem makes a great day trip or even The Hague (the city where the Government seats), Rotterdam with its largest harbor of Europe or a beach stroll on the boulevard of Scheveningen is not that far.

Canal Trip

A canal trip is something no visitor to Amsterdam should miss. There are lots of companies touring the canals that you can choose from; many located in the front of the Central Train Station, but you will find them elsewhere in the centre as well.

Cycling

What could be more Dutch than cycling. The best way to move around the city, apart from walking, is by bike, which you can rent almost everywhere. You could opt for a tour of the Waterland area north of the city and visit windmills and the a clog factory on your way.

Bike rental

More information on this later...

Tram

Another typically Amsterdam way to explore the city is by tram. Hop onto the Circle Tram (line 20), which stops at all the main attraction, including the big museums, on its tour of the city. The tram runs from 9 am until 7ish pm. You can buy your ticket at the Amsterdam Tourist Office, tobacconist's, large hotels and at the back of the tram itself.

North of Amsterdam are the wellknown villages of Voendam, Edam and Marken. Many companies offer day trips to these lovely old fishing ports. Visit the cheese market in Edam, where the famous round cheeses wrapped in red foil are sold, go and have a look at the fishing boats in the harbor of Volendam, famous for its smoked eel, and have your picture taken in traditional costume on the former Isle of Marken.

Close to Amsterdam are various historical Dutch cities which make excellent day trips. The train will take you into Harlem in 15 minutes. Not surprisingly the city of Frans Hals harbors vey interesting Frans Halsmuseum.

Near Haarlem are the bulb fields, with the Keukenhof at their centre. Between March and May more than 7 million bulbs flower in this park near Lisse.

Special Events

All year round, and especially in summer, festivals, funfairs, and other special events take place in Amsterdam. The most important events, which are generally held annuyally, are listed below. Late in March until late Mai the Keukenhof in Lisse opens to display its tulips.

An important event on the festival calendar is "Koninginnedag" (Queensday) on 30 April. The Queen's birthday is celebrated. On this day in the year anybody who feels like it can sell their ware on the street and the place is teeming with stalls selling foot. There is music and theatre on the streets and everybody is having fun.

Liberation day celebrates the end of the German occupation on 5 Mai. This national holiday is marked by lots of activities in the open air and special concerts. On the evening before, at 8pm, 2 minutes of silence are observed in Amsterdam as well as the rest of the country, to remember those who died during World War II. In a special ceremony Queen Beatrix lays a wreath on the nation war monument on the Dam.

The summer is the time of the festivals which are part of the Amsterdam Arts Adventure. The June Holland Festival is a cultural event in various venues in Amsterdam, lasting several weeks. National and international orchestras and theater companies of world fame perform, and special exhibitions are held. From June until the end of August there is always something to see or hear on the open-air stage in the Voldelpark, music in particular. The Amsterdam Roots Festival in June offers world music and cultural events on various locations. You can try out food from all over the world and buy crafts. The very varied Robeco Summer concerts in the Concert building are a must for lovers of classical music. Julidance is a annual festival of contemporary innovative dance, taking place in various venues on and near the Leidseplein.

The parade at the beginning of August in the Martin Luther Kingpark just outside the city centre is a circus-like festival with theatre, dance, music, and other performances.

Gay

Amsterdam has long shown a tolerant attitude towards homosexuality. The annual Gay Pride festival early in August attract thousands of gays and lesbians form all over the world. Part of the festival is the Canal Parade in the Prinsengracht, a colorful procession of boats with outrageously rigged-out crews.

At the end of August the new cultural season is ushered in with the Prinsengrachtconcert, during which world-famous classical musicians perform on a floating stage in the Prinsengracht near the Westerkerk, and one week after the "Uitmarkt". All weekend Dutch cultural institutions and companies present their plans for the new season. The second Saturday of September is Open Monument-day. All kinds of listed buildings normally closed to the public can be visited on this one day of the year.

The 2nd and 3rd week of September are reserved for the Jordaanfestival. Pubs resound with the characteristic music of this neighborhood, artists perform in the streets, and beer flows liberally. Feel free to mix with the locals and join the fun.

Mid October is the time of the Amsterdam Marathon. On Sunday athletes of international fame as well as thousands of amateur runners complete the 42km course in and around Amsterdam. Usually on the 3rd Saterday of November Sinterklaas (Saint Nicolas) arrives in Amsterdam. Assisted by his Zwarte Pieten he distributes sweets among the children welcoming him with great enthusiasm. On the Dam the Lord Mayor of Amsterdam hands the keys of the city to Sinterklaas. On the 5th eve of December all children receive gifts, as well as the adults which is called Boxing-day.

On 25 December the traditional X-mas concert is performed in the Concert building and broadcasted live in several countries. At midnight on New Years Eve, the new year is ushered in with fireworks, which are especially spectacular in the Chinese quarter around the Nieuwmarkt. People celebrate on the streets, drnking champagne and eating a Dutch Donut.

Shopping

If you like shopping, Amsterdam is the place to be. The city is packed with surprising boutiques, secondhand shops, antiquarian bookshops, markets and jewelers. Of course you will also find department stores and shopping malls, and lovers of luxury goods and the latest fashion will certainly be satisfied.

Amsterdam's busiest shopping street is the Kalverstraat, between the Dam and Muntplein in the heart of the city. Here and on the Nieuwendijk you will find hundreds of boutiques selling clothes ofr young people. There are also numerous souvenir shops, snackbars, and newsagents. Once the Kalverstraat has passed the Spui and approaches the Muntplein, the shops tend to be somewhat more exclusive. This is certainly tury for the Rokin, which runs parallel to the Kalverstraat and is the location of expensive jewelers.

If you like shops with such unusual themes as 'dental care' or 'beads and strings' head for the so-called Negen Straatjes (Nine alleys) running between the main canals: Wijde Heisteeg, Huidenstraat, Runstraat, OUde spiekgelstraat, Wolvestraat, Berenstraat, Gasthuismolensteeg, Hartenstraat, Reestraat, The main canals themselves are dotted with art galleries, as is the Jordaan, the neighborhood beyond the Prinsengracht, and especially the streets north of the Rozengracht, like the Tuindwarsstraat and Anjeliersdwarstraat. South of the Rozengracht is the Elandsgracht, another good spot for lovers of charming, unusual shops.

Just north of the Jordaan you will find the recently renovated Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk, which has been transformed into a very pleasant neighborhood with numerous small-scale shops, art galleries, pubs, and restaurants.

Amsterdam's upmarket shops are mostly located in the neighborhoods of the Museumkwartier and Spiegelkwartier. The Van Baerlestraat and P.C. Hooftstraat, near the large art museums and the Concertgebouw, are sometimes called the Fashionable Haert of the city. Here you will find the top fashion desigeners of the Netherlands, outlets of Armani and Versace and on Saturdays in particular, hordes of people who want to see and be seen.

De Bijenkorf on the Dam is the most famous department store in the city. Anything from apple pie to video equipment is old in this beautiful building dating from 1913. The modern shopping mall has also found its way to Amsterdam; the bestknown ones are the Magna Plaza on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, behind de Dam.

Markets

Amsterdam prides itself on its lively open-air markets. The Albert Cuypmarkt, in the Albert Cuypstraat in the working-class neighborhood De Pijp, is the most famous one. Fish, veggies, exotic fruits, clothes, flowers, plants, cheese etc. etc.

Similar, but smaller markets are the Dappermarkt in Amsterdam-Oost and the Ten Kate-markt in Amsterdam-West. These markets set up stall every day of the week. Different again is the flea market on the Waterlooplein. Do you need a TV set, a keyboard for you PC, a floor lamp? Looking for a leather jacket, a pair of trainers or an old record that nobody ahs in stock? Seize the day!

Highly specialized and very charming are the farmers' markets that sell organic produce. You will find them on Saturdays on the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan and on the Nieuwmarkt. An increasing number people come here to buy vegetables, fruit, dairy products, bread, olive oil, and such. If you want to buy a book the best place to go to is the neighborhood of the university the Spui, with a bookmarket every Friday, the Koningsplein and Leidsestraat, and also the Oudemanhuispoort, where the bouquinistes daily put out there wares in the shimmering dark.

Souvenirs

The usual souvenirs can be obtained from many shops on the Damrak and in the Kalverstraat, Damstraat and Leidsestraat.

Nightlife

Life in Amsterdam does not grind to a halt when evening falls. The city has over one 1000 pubs, where locals and visitors alike converge at the end of the afternoon to exchange stories over a drink. Another traditional drink is jevener (Dutch gin): jonge jenever is clear and straightforward, oude jenever yellowish and aromatic. Dutch gin has lost terrain to drinks like whiskey and brandy, however. Red and white wine is served everywhere and is generally of a good quality.

After this it is time for a real meal. The choice is overwhelming. The Indonesian cuisine is a 'Dutch' specialty. If you want to sample the best of Indonesian cooking, why not order a 'rijsttafel'... This meal consists of boiled rice with a host of spicy side dishes. A rijsttafel is not only very tasty, but also perfect for a special occasion. When you are visiting from abroad, you might want to try some traditional Dutch food as well. Go for 'erwtensoep' (pea soup), 'stamppot' (mashed potatoes and vegetables), fried plaice, and sweet or savoury 'pannenkoeken' (pancakes). For genuine Chinese restaurants, which you can often recognize by the Peking ducks hanging in the window, head for the Chinese quarter around the Nieuwmarkt: Zeedijk, Gelderse Kade, Binnen Bantammerstraat.

A special phenomenon is the 'eet cafe': ordinary, lively pubs serving food in a relaxed atmosphere. Meals are cheap and often surprisingly good. You will find these cafes all over Amsterdam. Similarly chap and good are the 'eethuisjes', small-scale eating places which do not trouble as pubs.

Over the past years the Utrechtsestraat has developed as a top-class restaurant area with a very diverse choice of cuisines. It will not be difficult to find something to your liking there.

The Jordaan is another neighborhood with a large number of restaurants, especially in and off the Westerstraat and Lindengracht.

The multicultural neighborhood De Pijp around the Alber Cuypmarkt is packed with more exotic eating places: Turkish, Kurdish, Lebanese, Cambodian, anything you could think of. Inexpensive, excellent food in very convivial surroundings.

Amsterdam offers plenty of opportunities for an evening out. The cinemas show the latest releases. Foreign-language films are not dubbed, but subtitled and most of them are in English.

Amsterdam is a real theatre city. Boom Chicago in the historical Leidseplein theatre on the same square successfully presents comedy in English. The Tropenmuseum has its own theatre, which puts on drama and especially music form Third World countries. The monumental Carre on the banks of the Amstel stages large-scale musicals.

The temple of classical music is of course, the Concert building where the famous Concert Orchestra is based. Book ahead if you want to attend a concert here. The Music theatre is where the National Ballet is based.

The Bim-house on the Oude Schans has long been the main venue for live jazz, both avant-garde and other styles. Live jazz can also be enjoyed in several pubs near the Leidseplein. Many Irish pubs feature performances by folk musicians.

Amsterdam's fame as a sanctuary of pop music has spread, thanks to such venues as Paradiso and the Melkweg, both situated near the Leidseplein. Top acts like the Rolling Stones and David Bowie sometimes prefer to play there because these places are relatively small and offer a closer contact with the audience. In the Arena in the 's-Gravesandestraat you can listen to good rock music played by less well-know bands. This venue should not be confused with the Amsterdam Arena, homebase for the soccer club Ajax, which puts on mega acts. Dance-crazy tourists have plenty of choices. Younger people usually head for nightclubs like Escape on the Rembrandtplein and for ...

One of the hubs of nightlife is the Reguliersdwarsstraat, between the Vijzelstraat and the Rembrandtplein. It is lined with pubs, restaurants, and nightclubs of a more classical type are located on the and around the Leidseplein for instance in the casino, and in the Hilton Hotel.

Climate

Netherlands has a maritime climate, ie an environment in which the sea plays a major role. The presence of large bodies of water (North Sea and the IJsselmeer), plays a major role in the temperature gradient in our country. Close to the water, the temperature differences smaller than country deeper inland. The water has a retarding effect on temperature. The water does have the capacity to hold the temperature longer than a country. The greater the delay the more there is a climate or maritimiteit. In summer it will take longer for the hottest day there. In the fall it takes longer to sea, it gets colder. The Dutch climate you can safely describe as very fickle, so you read the graphs must have the necessary reserves.

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