Amsterdam - Excursions & Informations

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and also the largest city in this country. Amsterdam is a city without which modern Europe is unthinkable. Holland tours don't make sense without visiting Amsterdam. On the one hand, it is a typical Dutch city, on the other, it is an international center of culture, education and art. Life in Amsterdam is in full swing day and night, on any holidays. Shops and cafes are always open here.

 

 

In Amsterdam, everyone will feel like their own, everyone will find something that interests him. Choosing tours to Amsterdam, some dream of the famous red light district, others - of a visit to the Van Gogh Museum. Some will prefer a cup of coffee and the famous ice cream on Leiden Square, while others will immediately go to coffee shops to try what is available in Amsterdam and prohibited in other countries.

The city is famous throughout the world for the legality of soft drugs and prostitution. The city is located in the west of the country at the mouth of the Amstel and Ey rivers. It connects to the North Sea by the Nordze Canal.

The population of Amsterdam is about 900 thousand people, together with the suburbs - 2.3 million people. Amsterdam is divided into the following areas: Center. It is the historical part of the city, including the districts of Audzeids, Grachtengordel, De Plantage, Nievesides, Jordan and Jodenbuyurt (Jewish Quarter).

 

14 Tips for a Trip to Amsterdam

Amsterdam. Netherlands.

 

From the history of Amsterdam

The first mention of the "dam on the Amstel River" dates back to 1275. According to the chronicles, Amsterdam was a small fishing village with access to the river, but without access to the sea, which did not bode well for local fishermen. The settlement was thus located away from trade routes, and storms constantly destroyed the newly built dams and streets.

Everything changed in 1287, when a strong flood washed away the sandy isthmus between Lake Flevonian and the North Sea and Amsterdam immediately turned from a small fishing village into a real seaport on the shores of the Zuidersee Bay.

30 years later, Amsterdam became part of the County of Holland, which predetermined its further development. At the same time, the first canal belt was built, the Oude Kerk - Old Church was erected. In 1578, the provinces of North Holland got rid of Spanish rule.

 

Amsterdam. Walking in the City Center. Just video with music

Amsterdam. Netherlands.

 

Economic growth has been fueled by the politics of freedoms. Scientists, artists, writers, teachers, tired of the inquisitorial methods of the authorities of other countries, poured into Holland. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was founded, uniting local merchants into a powerful and independent union. Thoughtful but aggressive management and lack of competition (the rival port of Antwerp was destroyed by the war between Spain and South Holland) has made the East India Company a major player in the global overseas goods market.

In fact, several large regions of Southeast Asia ended up under the rule of a commercial structure, controlled from Amsterdam. The profits from the unusually lucrative expeditions, of course, settled in the metropolis.

 

Competent planning of the urban space of Amsterdam completed the image of the “city of dreams”. The "Three Canal Plan" allowed by 1658 not only to quadruple the area of ​​Amsterdam, but also to give it an attractive appearance. In 2010, the historic city center was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The end of the economic fairy tale can be considered the end of the "Golden Age of Holland" in 1672, the bankruptcy of the Dutch East India Company in 1798 and the invasion of Napoleon's troops. Amsterdam retained its importance in the world economy and trade, but the fabulous wealth of 1585-1672 was out of the question.

Modern Amsterdam is the cultural and economic capital of the Netherlands, the second seaport after Rotterdam, the main tourist center and the largest city in the country: 820,000 people of 173 nationalities live in Amsterdam.

As in the Middle Ages, Amsterdam still has the Heinekken brewery, the Coster Diamond cutting factory, and ships are built and refurbished at the docks.

More than 16,000 events are annually held at 55 concert venues, including festivals of dance, classical, jazz music; in local museums, primarily the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens and Van Gogh are exhibited. Ships with glass roofs float along the canals, the shops smell of caramel waffles, and the bells ringing from the street. Amsterdam is a vibrant metropolis with a rich historical past.

 

 

Things to do in Amsterdam handpicked by the locals

Тop 5 attractions in Amsterdam

1. Rijksmuseum Museum. Famous masterpieces of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh are collected here, and about 7,500 works of art are presented at a distance of one and a half kilometers.
2. Red light district. While many may not like it, the red light district is part of the image that made Amsterdam so popular around the world. Even if you do not plan to go to local establishments, it is still worth stopping by in the area just to feel its unique atmosphere. The red light district is located in the center of Amsterdam along the Damrak canal. Observe precautions, remain prudent and watch your belongings, because pickpockets and other dubious persons often operate here.
3. The Amsterdam Forest is a vast green strip (approximately 1000 hectares) located just 20 minutes by bike south of Vondelpark. It was planted in 1934 to provide employment during the Great Depression. Its lakes, forests and meadows are crisscrossed with winding paths that pass by numerous cafes. Here you can rent a bike, feed small goats, take a riding lesson, go boating on the water, watch an open-air theater performance and climb the treetops in a special climbing park. This is a great place for walking with children, although it is best to take a bike with you, as the park is truly huge. Sometimes, walking along it, you completely forget that you are very close to the city. Despite the fact that many locals come here, it rarely gets crowded.                       
4. Museum of Sex. The Museum of Sex is dedicated to exactly what people thought - they talk about sex, the human body and the evolution of this phenomenon, as well as how its image has developed and changed over the years. The museum displays various exhibits, statues and figures of such personalities as Mata Hari and Marilyn Monroe, as well as two giant phalluses. Different rooms in the museum are thematically decorated in accordance with the history or the person to whom they are dedicated, and skillfully edited audio accompaniment will allow you to better immerse yourself in the topic being studied. A visit to this museum is hardly comparable to a visit to the red light district, as it offers a more interesting and sophisticated perspective on the nature of sex.
5. Artis Zoo. The oldest zoo in mainland Europe is home to a wide range of wildlife and a spacious and comfortable environment. A beautiful green section of the zoo stretches along the canal overlooking the old Entrepot dock. The animals represent the African savannah and rainforests. Reptiles, lions, jaguars, elephants, giraffes and many primates await you here. For lovers of the marine environment, there is a luxurious aquarium complex with coral reefs, sharks and even a part of the Amsterdam canal, which you can see through the eyes of fish. The planetarium and the children's zoo deserve special mention.

 

 

 More information You can find on the Official site of Amsterdam.