Amsterdam
(; Dutch ) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. The city, which had a population of 1.36 million (with suburbs) on 1 January 2008, comprises the northern part of the Randstad, the 6th-largest metropolitan area in Europe, with a population of around 6.7 million.
Its name is derived from Amstel dam
, [1] indicative of the city's origin: a dam in the river Amstel, where the Dam Square is today. Settled as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds. [2] In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded and many new neighbourhoods and suburbs were formed.
The city is the financial and cultural [3] capital of the Netherlands. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and 7 of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city. [4] The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in the world is located in the city centre. Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam. Anne Frank House, its red-light district, and its many cannabis coffee shops, draw 4.2 million tourists annually. [5]
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History
The earliest recorded use of the name "Amsterdam" is from a certificate dated 27 October 1275, when the inhabitants, who had built a bridge with a dam across the
Amstel, were exempted from paying a
bridge toll by Count
Floris V.
[6] The certificate describes the inhabitants as
homines manentes apud Amestelledamme
(people living near
Amestelledamme
). By 1327, the name had developed into
Aemsterdam
.
A local legend has the city being founded by two fishermen, who landed on the shores of the Amstel in a small boat with their dog. Amsterdam's founding is relatively recent compared with much older Dutch cities such as
Nijmegen,
Rotterdam, and
Utrecht. In October 2008,
historical geographer Chris de Bont suggested that the land around Amsterdam was being reclaimed as early as the late
10th century. This does not necessarily mean that there was already a settlement then. The
reclamation of land may not have been for farming—it may have been for
peat, used as fuel.
[7]
thumb has not been built yet.
Amsterdam was granted
city rights in either 1300 or 1306.
[8] From the
14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely because of trade with the
Hanseatic League. In 1345, an alleged
Eucharistic miracle in the
Kalverstraat rendered the city an important place of pilgrimage until the
adoption of the Protestant faith. The
Stille Omgang
—a silent
procession in civil attire—is today a remnant of the rich pilgrimage history.
[9]
In the 16th century, the Dutch rebelled against
Philip II of Spain and his successors. The main reasons for the uprising were the imposition of new taxes, the tenth penny, and the
religious persecution of Protestantism by the
Spanish Inquisition. The revolt escalated into the
Eighty Years' War, which ultimately led to Dutch independence.
[10] Strongly pushed by
Dutch Revolt leader
William the Silent, the
Dutch Republic became known for its relative
religious tolerance.
Jews from the
Iberian Peninsula,
Huguenots from France, prosperous merchants and printers from
Flanders, and economic and religious refugees from the Spanish-controlled parts of the
Low Countries found safety in Amsterdam. The influx of Flemish printers and the city's intellectual tolerance made Amsterdam a centre for the European
free press.
[11]
thumb in the late-17th century: painting by
Gerrit Adriaenszoon Berckheyde
The
17th century is considered Amsterdam's
Golden Age
, during which it became the wealthiest city in the world.
[12] Ships sailed from Amsterdam to the
Baltic Sea, North America, and Africa, as well as present-day
Indonesia,
India,
Sri Lanka, and
Brazil, forming the basis of a worldwide trading network. Amsterdam's merchants had the largest share in both the
VOC (Dutch
East India Company) and the
WIC (
Dutch West India Company). These companies acquired overseas possessions that later became
Dutch colonies. Amsterdam was Europe's most important point for the shipment of goods and was the leading
Financial Centre of the world.
[13] In 1602, the Amsterdam office of the VOC became the world's first
stock exchange by trading in its own shares.
[14]
Amsterdam lost over 10% of its population to
plague in 1623–5, and again in 1635–6, and once more in 1655, and one more time in 1664. Nevertheless, the population of Amsterdam rose in the 17th century (largely through immigration) from 50,000 to 200,000.
[15]
Amsterdam's prosperity declined during the 18th and early-19th centuries. The
wars of the
Dutch Republic with
England and France took their toll on Amsterdam. During the
Napoleonic Wars, Amsterdam's significance reached its lowest point, with Holland being absorbed into the
French Empire. However, the later establishment of the
United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 marked a turning point. New developments, by people such as city planner
Samuel Sarphati, drew their inspiration from Paris.
thumb with the
Munttoren in the background, ca. 1900.
The end of the 19th century is sometimes called Amsterdam's second Golden Age.
[16] New museums, a train station, and the
Concertgebouw were built, while during this time, the
Industrial Revolution reached the city. The
Amsterdam-Rhine Canal
was dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the
Rhine, and the
North Sea Canal
was dug to give the port a shorter connection to the
North Sea. Both projects dramatically improved commerce with the rest of Europe and the world. In 1906,
Joseph Conrad gave a brief description of Amsterdam as seen from the seaside, in
The Mirror of the Sea
. Shortly before
World War I, the city began expanding, and new suburbs were built. Even though the Netherlands remained neutral in this war, Amsterdam suffered a
food shortage, and heating fuel became scarce. The shortages sparked riots in which several people were killed. These riots are known as the
Aardappeloproer
(Potato rebellion). People started looting stores and warehouses in order to get supplies, mainly food.
[17]
Germany invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 and took control of the country. The Germans installed a Nazi civilian government in Amsterdam that cooperated with the
persecution of Jews. Some Amsterdam citizens sheltered Jews, thereby exposing themselves and their families to the high risk of being imprisoned or sent to concentration camps. More than 100,000
Dutch Jews were deported to
concentration camps. Perhaps the most-famous deportee was the young Jewish girl
Anne Frank, who died in the
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.
[18] Only 5,000 Dutch Jews survived the war. At the end of
World War II, communication with the rest of the country broke down, and food and fuel became scarce. Many citizens traveled to the countryside to forage. Dogs, cats,
raw sugar beets, and
Tulip bulbs—cooked to a pulp—were consumed to stay alive.
[19] Most of the trees in Amsterdam were cut down for fuel, and all the wood was taken from the apartments of deported Jews. After the war, approximately 120,000 Dutch were prosecuted for their collaboration with the Nazis.
thumb
Many new suburbs, such as
Osdorp,
Slotervaart,
Slotermeer
, and
Geuzenveld
, were built in the years after World War II.
[20] These suburbs contained many public parks and wide, open spaces, and the new buildings provided improved housing conditions with larger and brighter rooms, gardens, and balconies. Because of the war and other incidents of the 20th century, almost the entire city centre had fallen into disrepair. As society was changing, politicians and other influential figures made plans to redesign large parts of it. There was an increasing demand for office buildings and new roads as the
automobile became available to most common people.
[21] A
metro started operating in 1977 between the new suburb of Bijlmer and the centre of Amsterdam. Further plans were to build a new highway above the metro to connect the
Central Station and city centre with other parts of the city.
The incorporated large-scale demolitions began in Amsterdam's formerly Jewish neighbourhood. Smaller streets, such as the
Jodenbreestraat
, were widened and saw almost all of their houses demolished. During the destruction's peak, the
Nieuwmarktrellen
(Nieuwmarkt riots) broke out,
[22] where people expressed their fury about the demolition caused by the restructuring of the city. As a result, the demolition was stopped, and the highway was never built, with only the metro being finished. Only a few streets remained widened. The destroyed buildings were replaced by new ones corresponding to the historical street plan of the neighbourhood. The new city hall was built on the almost completely demolished
Waterlooplein
. Meanwhile, large private organisations, such as
Stadsherstel Amsterdam
, were founded with the aim of restoring the entire city centre. Although the success of this struggle is visible today, efforts for further restoration are still ongoing.
The entire city centre has reattained its former splendor and, as a whole, is now a
protected area. Many of its buildings have become monuments, and plans exist to make the
Grachtengordel
(
Herengracht,
Keizersgracht, and
Prinsengracht) a
Unesco World Heritage site.
[23]
Geography
thumb of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is part of the province of
North-Holland and is located in the northwest of the Netherlands next to the provinces of
Utrecht and
Flevoland. The river
Amstel terminates in the city center and connects to a large number of canals that eventually terminate in the
IJ. Amsterdam is situated 2 meters
above sea level.
The surrounding land is flat as it is formed of large
polders. To the southwest of the city lies a man-made forest called
het Amsterdamse Bos
. Amsterdam is connected to the
North Sea through the long
North Sea Canal.
Amsterdam is intensely
urbanized, as is the
Amsterdam metropolitan area surrounding the city. Comprising 219.4 square kilometers of land, the
city proper has 4457 inhabitants per km
2 and 2275 houses per km
2.
[24] Parks and
nature reserves make up 12% of Amsterdam's land area.
[25]
Climate
Amsterdam enjoys a cool
oceanic climate (
Köppen climate classification Cfb
), strongly influenced by its proximity to the
North Sea to the west, with prevailing north-western winds and gales. Winter temperatures are mild, seldom below 0°C. Amsterdam, as well as most of North-Holland province, lies in
USDA Hardiness zone 9, the northernmost such occurrence in
continental Europe.
Frosts mainly occur during spells of easterly or northeasterly winds from the inner
European continent, from Scandinavia, Russia, or even Siberia. Even then, because Amsterdam is surrounded on three sides by large
bodies of water, as well as enjoying a significant
heat island effect, nights rarely fall below -5°C, while it could easily be -12°C in Hilversum, 25 kilometres southeast. Summers are moderately warm but rarely hot. The average daily high in August is 22°C, and 30°C or higher is only measured on average on 3 days, placing Amsterdam in
AHS Heat zone 2. Days with measurable
precipitation are common, on average 175 days a year. Nevertheless, Amsterdam's average annual precipitation is less than 760 mm. Most of this precipitation is in the form of protracted drizzle or light rain, making cloudy and damp days common during the cooler months, October through March. Only the occasional
European windstorm brings significant rain in a short period of time, requiring it to be pumped out to higher ground or to the seas around the city.
Cityscape and architecture
thumb
Amsterdam fans out south from the
Amsterdam Centraal railway station. The
Damrak is the
main street and leads into the street
Rokin. The oldest area of the town is known as
de Wallen
(the quays, this does not refer to the old city walls ). It lies to the east of Damrak and contains the city's famous red light district. To the south of de Wallen is the old Jewish quarter of Waterlooplein. The 17th century girdle of concentric canals, known as the
Grachtengordel
, embraces the heart of the city where homes have interesting gables. Beyond the Grachtengordel are the formerly working class areas of
Jordaan and de Pijp. The
Museumplein with the city's major museums, the
Vondelpark, a 19th century park named after the Dutch writer
Joost van den Vondel, and the Plantage neighborhood, with the
zoo, are also located outside the Grachtengordel.
Several parts of the city and the surrounding
urban area are
polders. This can be recognized by the
suffix -meer
which means
lake
, as in
Aalsmeer,
Bijlmermeer,
Haarlemmermeer, and
Watergraafsmeer.
Canals
thumb in 2006
The Amsterdam canal system is the result of conscious
city planning.
[27] In the early 17th century, when
immigration was at a peak, a comprehensive plan was developed that was based on four concentric half-circles of canals with their ends emerging at the
IJ bay. Known as the
Grachtengordel
, three of the canals were mostly for residential development: the
Herengracht
(Gentlemen's or more accurately Patricians' Canal),
Keizersgracht
(Emperor's Canal), and
Prinsengracht
(Prince's Canal). The fourth and outermost canal, the
Singelgracht
(not to be confused with the older
Singel
), served the purposes of defense and
water management. The defenses took the form of a moat and
earthen dikes, with gates at transit points, but otherwise no masonry
superstructures.
[28] Furthermore, the plan envisaged: (1) Interconnecting canals along radii; (2) the creation of a set of parallel canals in the
Jordaan quarter, primarily for transport purposes; (3) conversion of the
Singel
from a defense structure to a residential and commercial area; (4) the construction of more than one hundred bridges.
thumb (1885) of the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, a
canal that is now filled in
Construction started in 1613 and proceeded from west to east, across the breadth of the lay–out, like a gigantic
windshield wiper as the historian
Geert Mak calls it — and
not
from the centre outwards, as a popular myth has it. The canal construction in the southern sector was completed by 1656. Subsequently, the construction of residential buildings proceeded slowly. The eastern part of the concentric canal plan, covering the area between the
Amstel river and the IJ bay, has never been implemented. In the following centuries, the land was used for parks, senior citizens' homes, theaters, other public facilities, and waterways without much planning.
[29]
Over the years, several canals have been filled in, becoming streets or squares, such as the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and the
Spui.
[30]
Expansion of Amsterdam
After the development of Amsterdam's canals in the 17th century, the city did not grow beyond its borders for two centuries. During the 19th century, a number of plans were developed to expand Amsterdam, the first of which was initiated by
Samuel Sarphati. He devised a plan based on the grandeur of
Paris and
London at that time. The plan envisaged the construction of new houses, public buildings and streets just outside the
grachtengordel
. The main aim of the plan, however, was to improve
public health. Although the plan did not expand the city, it did produce some of the largest
public buildings to date, like the
Paleis voor Volksvlijt
.
[31] [32] [33]
Following Sarphati,
Van Niftrik
and
Kalff
designed an entire ring of 19th century neighbourhoods surrounding the city’s centre. Most of these neighbourhoods became home to the
working class.
[34]
By the beginning of the 20th century, Amsterdam had become overpopulated and there was a shortage of living space. In response to this, two plans were designed which were very different from anything Amsterdam had ever seen before:
Plan Zuid
, designed by the architect
Berlage, and
West
. These plans involved the development of new neighborhoods consisting of
housing blocks
for all
social classes.
[35] [36]
After
World War II, large new neighborhoods were built in the western, southeastern, and northern parts of the city. These new neighbourhoods were built to relieve the city's shortage of living space and give people affordable houses with modern day conveniences. The neighbourhoods consisted mainly of large housing blocks situated among green spaces, connected to wide roads, making the neighbourhoods easily accessible by
automobile. The western suburbs which were built in that period are collectively called the
Westelijke Tuinsteden
. The area to the southeast of the city built during the same period is known as the
Bijlmer
.
[37] [38]
Architecture
thumb
Amsterdam has a rich
architectural history. The oldest building in Amsterdam is the
Oude Kerk (Old Church), at the heart of the Wallen, consecrated in 1306.
[39] The oldest
wooden building is
het Houten Huys
[40] at the
Begijnhof.
It was constructed around 1425 and is one of only two existing wooden buildings. It is also one of the few rare examples of
Gothic architecture in Amsterdam.
In the 16th century, wooden buildings were pulled down and replaced with
brick ones. During this period, many buildings were constructed in the
architectural style of the
Renaissance. Buildings of this period are very recognizable, since they have a façade which ends at the top in the shape of a
stairway. This is, however, the common Dutch Renaissance style. Amsterdam quickly developed its own
Renaissance architecture. These buildings were built according to the principles of the architect
Hendrick de Keyser.
[41] One of the most striking buildings designed by Hendrick de Keyer is the
Westerkerk. In the 17th century
baroque architecture became very popular, as it was elsewhere in Europe. This roughly coincided with Amsterdam’s
Golden Age. The leading architects of this style in Amsterdam were
Jacob van Campen,
Philip Vingboons and
Daniel Stalpaert.
[42] thumb
Philip Vingboons designed splendid merchants' houses throughout the city. A famous building in
baroque style in Amsterdam is the
Royal Palace on
Dam Square. Throughout the 18th century, Amsterdam was heavily influenced by
French culture.This is reflected in the architecture of that period. Around 1815, architects broke with the baroque style and started building in different neo-styles.
[43] Most Gothic style buildings date from that era and are therefore said to be built in a
neo-gothic style. At the end of the 19th century, the
Jugendstil or
Art Nouveau style became popular and many new buildings were constructed in this architectural style. Since Amsterdam expanded rapidly during this period, new buildings adjacent to the city center were also built in this style. The houses in the vicinity of the
Museum Square in Amsterdam Oud-Zuid are an example of Jugendstil. The last style that was popular in Amsterdam before the
modern era was
Art Deco. Amsterdam had its own version of the style, which was called the
Amsterdamse School. Whole districts were built this style, such as the
Rivierenbuurt
.
[44] A notable feature of the façades of buildings designed in Amsterdamse School is that they are highly decorated and ornate, with oddly shaped windows and doors.
The old city center is the focal point of all the architectural styles before the end of the 19th century. Jugendstil and Art Deco are mostly found outside the city’s center in the neighbourhoods built in the early 20th century, although there are also some striking examples of these styles in the city center. Most historic buildings in the city center and nearby are houses, such as the famous merchant’s houses lining the canals.
Government
The administration of the municipality of Amsterdam is divided into 15 boroughs or
stadsdelen
; the central one, Centrum, being circled by Westerpark, Bos en Lommer, De Baarsjes,
Oud-West,
Oud-Zuid,
Oost/Watergraafsmeer,
Zeeburg and
Amsterdam-Noord, with the six outer boroughs creating a further encirclement.
[45] From May 1 2010 the number of boroughs will be reduced to 7 (Centrum, Noord, Oost, Zuid, West, Nieuw-West and Zuidoost).
Definitions
thumb
"Amsterdam" is usually understood to refer to the municipality of Amsterdam. Colloquially, some areas within the municipality, such as the village of
Durgerdam, may not be considered part of Amsterdam.
Statistics Netherlands uses three other definitions of Amsterdam: metropolitan agglomeration Amsterdam (
Grootstedelijke Agglomeratie Amsterdam
, not to be confused with
Grootstedelijk Gebied Amsterdam
, a synonym of
Groot Amsterdam
), Greater Amsterdam (
Groot Amsterdam
, a
COROP region) and the urban region Amsterdam (
Stadsgewest Amsterdam
).
These definitions are not synonymous with the terms
urban area and
metropolitan area, which are commonly used in
English speaking countries for the purpose of defining large conurbations. The Amsterdam Department for Research and Statistics uses a fourth conurbation, namely the
City region Amsterdam. This region is similar to Greater Amsterdam, but includes the municipalities
Zaanstad and
Wormerland. It excludes
Graft-De Rijp.
The smallest of these areas is the municipality, with a population of 742,981 in 2006.
[46] The metropolitan agglomeration had a population of 1,021,870 in 2006.
It includes the municipalities of Zaanstad, Wormerland, Oostzaan, Diemen and Amstelveen only, as well as the municipality of Amsterdam. Greater Amsterdam includes 15 municipalities,
[47] and had a population of 1,211,503 in 2006.
Though much larger in area, the population of this area is only slightly larger, because the definition excludes the relatively populous municipality of
Zaanstad. The largest area by population, the
Amsterdam Metropolitan Area (Dutch: Metropoolregio Amsterdam), has a population of 2,22 million.
It includes for instance Zaanstad, Wormerveer, Muiden, Abcoude, Haarlem, Almere and Lelystad but excludes Graft
De Rijp. Amsterdam is also part of the conglomerate metropolitan area
Randstad, with a total population of 6,659,300 inhabitants.
City government
As with all Dutch municipalities, Amsterdam is governed by a
mayor,
aldermen, and the
municipal council. However, unlike most other Dutch municipalities, Amsterdam is subdivided into fifteen
stadsdelen
(boroughs), a system that was implemented in the 1980s to improve local governance. The
stadsdelen
are responsible for many activities that had previously been run by the central city. Fourteen of these have their own council, chosen by a popular election. The fifteenth,
Westpoort, covers the harbour of Amsterdam, has very few residents, and is governed by the central municipal council. Local decisions are made at borough level, and only affairs pertaining to the whole city, such as major infrastructure projects, are handled by the central city council.
The borough system is currently being revised, and the number of boroughs will most probably be reduced to seven in the following years.
National government
The present version of the
Dutch constitution mentions "Amsterdam" and "capital" only in one place, chapter 2, article 32: The king's confirmation by oath and his coronation take place in "the capital Amsterdam" ("
de hoofdstad Amsterdam
"). spoke of "the city of Amsterdam" ("
de stad Amsterdam
"), without mention of capital. In any case, the seat of the
government,
parliament and
supreme court of the Netherlands is (and always has been, with the exception of a brief period between 1808 and 1810) located at
The Hague. Foreign embassies too are in The Hague. Although capital of the country, Amsterdam is
not
the capital of the province in which it is located,
North Holland, whose capital is located at
Haarlem.
Symbols
thumb of Amsterdam
The
coat of arms of Amsterdam is composed of several historical elements. First and centre are three
St Andrew's crosses, aligned in a vertical band on the city's shield (although Amsterdam's
patron saint was
Saint Nicholas). These St Andrew's crosses can also be found on the cityshields of neighbours
Amstelveen and
Ouder-Amstel. This part of the coat of arms is the basis of the
flag of Amsterdam, flown by the
city government, but also as
civil ensign for ships registered in Amsterdam. Second is the
Imperial Crown of Austria. In 1489, out of gratitude for services and loans,
Maximilian I awarded Amsterdam the right to adorn its coat of arms with the
king's crown. Then, in 1508, this was replaced with Maximilian's
imperial crown when he was crowned
Holy Roman Emperor. In the early years of the 17th century, Maximilian's crown in Amsterdam's coat of arms was again replaced, this time with the crown of
Emperor Rudolph II, a crown that also would become the Imperial
Crown of Austria. The lions date from the late 16th century, when city and province became part of the
Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. Last came the city's official motto:
Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig
("Valiant, Determined, Compassionate"), bestowed on the city in 1947 by
Queen Wilhelmina, in recognition of the city's bravery during
World War II. ..
Economy
thumb district is the main
business district of Amsterdam and is still largely under construction. Many Dutch
multinationals have their headquarters here, like
ABN Amro and
Akzo Nobel.
Amsterdam is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands.
[48]
Amsterdam is currently one of the best European cities in which to locate an
International Business. It is ranked fifth in this category and is only surpassed by
London,
Paris,
Frankfurt and
Barcelona.
[49] Many large Dutch corporations and banks have their headquarters in Amsterdam, including
ABN AMRO,
Akzo Nobel,
Heineken International,
ING Group,
Ahold,
TomTom,
Delta Lloyd Group
and
Philips.
KPMG International's global headquarters is located in nearby Amstelveen.
Though many small offices are still located on the old canals, companies are increasingly relocating outside the city centre. The
Zuidas (English: South Axis) has become the new financial and legal hub.
[50] The five largest law firms of the Netherlands, a number of Dutch subsidiaries of large consulting firms like
Boston Consulting Group and
Accenture, and the
World Trade Center Amsterdam are also located in Zuidas.
There are three other smaller financial districts in Amsterdam. The first is the area surrounding
Amsterdam Sloterdijk railway station, where several newspapers like
De Telegraaf have their offices. Also, the municipal
public transport company (
Gemeentelijk Vervoersbedrijf
) and the Dutch tax offices (
Belastingdienst
) are located there. The second
Financial District is the area surrounding
Amsterdam Arena. The third is the area surrounding
Amsterdam Amstel railway station. The
tallest building in Amsterdam, the
Rembrandt Tower, is situated there, as is the headquarters of
Philips.
[51] [52]
The
Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX), nowadays part of
Euronext, is the world's oldest stock exchange and is one of Europe's largest bourses. It is situated near
Dam Square in the city's centre.
Tourism
See also travel guide from
thumb
Amsterdam is the 5th busiest
tourist destination in Europe, receiving more than 4.2 million international visitors annually.
The number of visitors has been growing steadily over the past decade. This can be attributed to an increasing number of European visitors. 41,743 beds were located in 19,400 rooms in 351 hotels as of 2007. Two thirds of these hotels are located in the city's center. Hotels with 4 or 5 stars contribute 42% of the total beds available and 41% of the overnight stays in Amsterdam. The room occupation rate was 78% in 2006, up from 70% in 2005.
[53] The majority of tourists (74%), originate from Europe. The largest group of non-European visitors come from the United States, accounting for 14% of the total.
Certain years have a theme in Amsterdam to attract extra tourists. For example, the year 2006 was designated "Rembrandt 400", to celebrate the 400th birthday of
Rembrandt van Rijn. Some hotels offer special arrangements or activities due to these years. The average number of guests per year staying at the four campsites around the city, range from 12,000 to 65,000.
Retail
Shops in Amsterdam range from large
department stores such as
De Bijenkorf founded in 1870 and
Maison de Bonneterie a Parisian style store founded in 1889, to small
specialty shops. Amsterdam's
high-end shops are found in the streets
Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat
and
Cornelis Schuytstraat
, which are located in the vicinity of the
Vondelpark. One of Amsterdam's busiest high streets is the narrow, medieval
Kalverstraat
in the heart of the city. Another shopping area is the
Negen Straatjes
: nine narrow streets within the
Grachtengordel
, the concentric canal system of Amsterdam. The Negen Straatjes differ from other shopping districts with the presence of a large diversity of privately owned shops. The city also features a large number of open-air markets such as the
Albert Cuypmarkt,
Westermarkt
,
Ten Katemarkt
, and
Dappermarkt
.
Fashion
Fashion brands like
G-star, Gsus, BlueBlood,
10 feet and
Warmenhoven & Venderbos, and
fashion designers like
Mart Visser,
Viktor & Rolf,
Marlies Dekkers and
Frans Molenaar are based in Amsterdam.
Modelling agencies Elite Models, Touche models and Tony Jones have opened branches in Amsterdam. Supermodels
Yfke Sturm,
Doutzen Kroes and
Kim Noorda started their careers in Amsterdam. Amsterdam has its garment center in the World Fashion Center. Buildings which were formerly housing brothels in the red light district, have been converted to ateliers for young, up-and-coming fashion designers.
Demography
In the 16th and 17th century non-Dutch immigrants to Amsterdam were mostly
Huguenots,
Flemings,
Sephardi Jews and
Westphalians. Huguenots came after 1685's
Edict of Fontainebleau, while the Flemish Protestants came during the
Eighty Years' War. The Westphalians came to Amsterdam mostly for economic reasons – their influx continued through the 18th and 19th centuries. Before
World War II, 10% of the Amsterdam population was
Jewish.
The first mass immigration in the 20th century were by people from
Indonesia, who came to Amsterdam after the independence of the
Dutch East Indies in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1960s
guest workers from
Turkey,
Morocco, Italy and Spain emigrated to Amsterdam. After the independence of
Suriname in 1975, a large wave of
Surinamese settled in Amsterdam, mostly in the
Bijlmer area. Other immigrants, including
asylum seekers and
illegal immigrants, came from Europe,
America, Asia, and Africa. In the seventies and eighties, many 'old' Amsterdammers moved to 'new' cities like
Almere and
Purmerend, prompted by the third
planological bill of the Dutch government. This bill promoted
suburbanization and arranged for new developments in so called "groeikernen", literally "cores of growth". Young professionals and artists moved into neighbourhoods de Pijp and the
Jordaan abandoned by these Amsterdammers. The non-Western immigrants settled mostly in the
social housing projects in Amsterdam-West and the Bijlmer. Today, non-Western immigrants make up approximately one in three residents of Amsterdam and more than 50% of the children in Amsterdam have
a non-western background.
[54] [55] [56]
thumb (
Sint Nicolaaskerk
)
thumb
Amsterdam's largest
religious group are the
Christians followed by
Islam, mainly
Sunni Islam.
[57]
In 1578 the previously
Roman Catholic city of Amsterdam joined the revolt against Spanish rule, late in comparison to other major northern Dutch cities. In line with
Protestant procedure of that time, all churches were "reformed" to the Protestant worship.
Calvinism became the dominant
religion, and although
Catholicism was not forbidden and priests allowed to serve, the
Catholic hierarchy was prohibited. This led to the establishment of
schuilkerken
, covert churches, behind seemingly ordinary canal side house fronts. One example is the current debate centre
de Rode Hoed.
A large influx of foreigners of many religions came to 17th-century Amsterdam, in particular
Sefardic Jews from Spain and Portugal,
Huguenots from France, and Protestants from the
Southern Netherlands. This led to the establishment of many non-
Dutch-speaking religious churches. In 1603, the first notification was made of
Jewish religious service. In 1639, the first
Jewish synagogue was consecrated.
As they became established in the city, other
Christian denominations used converted Catholic chapels to conduct their own services. The oldest English-language church congregation in the world outside
the United Kingdom is found at the
Begijnhof. Regular services there are still offered in English under the auspices of the Church of Scotland.
[58] The Huguenots accounted for nearly 20% of Amsterdam's inhabitants in 1700. Being Calvinists, they soon integrated into the
Dutch Reformed Church, though often retaining their own congregations. Some, commonly referred by the moniker 'Walloon', are recognizable today as they offer occasional services in French.
In the second half of the 17th century, Amsterdam experienced an influx of
Ashkenazim, Jews from
Central and Eastern Europe, which continued into the 19th century. Jews often fled the
pogroms in those areas. The first Ashkenazi who arrived in Amsterdam were
refugees from the
Chmielnicki Uprising in Poland and the
Thirty Years War. They not only founded their own synagogues, but had a strong influence on the 'Amsterdam dialect' adding a large
Yiddish local vocabulary. Amsterdam's nickname of
Mokum
, the Yiddish word for the
Hebrew makom
("town"), stems from this immigration.
Despite an absence of an official Jewish
ghetto, most Jews preferred to live in the eastern part of the old medieval heart of the city. The main street of this Jewish neighborhood was the
Jodenbreestraat
. The neighborhood comprised the
Waterlooplein
and the
Nieuwmarkt.
[59] Buildings in this neighborhood fell into disrepair after World War II and a large section of the neighbourhood was demolished during the construction of the new subway. This led to
riots, and as a result, a small part of the old neighbourhood was saved.
Catholic Churches in Amsterdam have been constructed since the restoration of the bishopric hierarchy in 1853. One of the principal architects behind the city's Catholic churches, Cuypers, was also responsible for the Amsterdam Central Station and the
Rijksmuseum, which led to a refusal of Protestant King
William III to open 'that monastery'.
In 1924,
the Roman Catholic Church of the Netherlands hosted the
International Eucharistic Congress in Amsterdam, and numerous Catholic
prelates visited the city, where festivities were held in churches and
stadiums. Catholic processions on the public streets, however, were still forbidden under law at the time. Only in the twentieth century was Amsterdam's relation to Catholicism normalized, but despite its far larger
population size, the
Catholic clergy chose to place its bishopric seat of the city in the nearby provincial town of
Haarlem.
[60]
The most recent religious changes in Amsterdam are due to large-scale immigration from former colonies. Immigrants from Suriname have introduced
Evangelical Protestantism and
Lutheranism, from the Hernhutter variety,
Hinduism, from
South Asia and several distinct branches of
Islam from various parts of the world. Turks, Kurds, and Moroccans have introduced other Islamic sects. Islam is now the largest non-Christian religion in Amsterdam. The large community of
Ghanaian and
Nigerian immigrants have established
African churches, often in parking garages in the
Bijlmer area, where many have settled. In addition, a broad array of other religious movements have established congregations, including
Buddhism,
Confucianism and
Hinduism. Although the saying "Leven en laten leven" or "Live and let live" summarises the Dutch and especially the Amsterdam open and tolerant society, the increased influx of many races, religions, and cultures after the second world war, has on a number of occasions, strained
social relations.
With 176 different nationalities, Amsterdam is home to a wider variety of nationalities than any other city in the world.
[61]
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Transport
right crossing a
bridge over the
Leidsegracht
.
thumb are ubiquitous in Amsterdam. This one is parked on a
bridge over a
canal.
Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world and is a centre of
bicycle culture with good facilities for cyclists such as bike paths and
bike racks, which pervade the city. In 2006, there were about 465,000 bicycles in Amsterdam.
[68] Theft is widespread - in 2005, about 54,000 bicycles were stolen in Amsterdam.
[69] Bicycles are used by all
socio-economic groups due to their convenience, Amsterdam's small size, the large number of bike paths, the flat terrain, and the arguable inconvenience of driving an automobile. A wide variety of bicycles are used, such as road bicycles,
mountain bikes, racing bikes and even
recumbent bikes, but the vast majority of bicycles are
second-hand, older-model, heavy bikes with one gear and back-pedal
coaster brakes. Bicycle traffic, and traffic in general, is relatively safe - in 2007, Amsterdam had a total of 18 traffic deaths, compared with 26 people murdered.
[70] [71]
In the city centre, driving a car is discouraged.
Parking fees are expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or are
one-way.
[72] The local government sponsors
carsharing and
carpooling initiatives such as
Autodelen
and
Meerijden.nu
.
[73]
Public transport in Amsterdam mainly consists of bus and tram lines, operated by
Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf,
Connexxion and
Arriva. Currently, there are 16 different tramlines and a freight tram operation is being developed. There are currently four
metro lines, with a fifth line, the
North/South line, under construction. Three free
ferries carry pedestrians and cyclists across the
IJ to
Amsterdam-Noord, and two-fare charging ferries run east and west along the harbour. There are also water taxis, a water bus, a
boat sharing operation, electric rental boats (Boaty) and canal cruises, that transport people along Amsterdam's waterways. Approximately 35% of all people travelling in Amsterdam uses public transport.
The A10
Ringroad surrounding the city connects Amsterdam with the Dutch national network of freeways.
Interchanges on the A10 allow cars to enter the city by transferring to one of the eighteen
city roads
, numbered S101 through to S118. These city roads are regional roads without
grade separation, and sometimes without a
central reservation. Most are accessible by
cyclists. The S100
Centrumring
is a smaller ringroad circumnavigating the city's centre.
right
Amsterdam was intended in 1932 to be the hub, a kind of
Kilometre Zero, of the
highway system of the Netherlands,
[74] with
freeways numbered one through eight planned to originate from the city.
The outbreak of the
Second World War and shifting priorities led to the current situation, where only roads
A1,
A2, and
A4 originate from Amsterdam according to the original plan. The A3 road to
Rotterdam was cancelled in 1970 in order to conserve the
Groene Hart. Road
A8, leading north to
Zaandam and the
A10 Ringroad were opened between 1968 and 1974.
[75] Besides the A1, A2, A4 and A8, several freeways, such as the
A7 and
A6, carry traffic mainly bound for Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is served by nine
stations of the
Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways).
[76] Five are intercity stops:
Sloterdijk,
Zuid,
Amstel,
Bijlmer ArenA and
Amsterdam Centraal. The stations for local services are:
Lelylaan,
RAI,
Holendrecht and
Muiderpoort.
Amsterdam Centraal is also an international
train station. From the station there are regular services to destinations such as
Austria,
Belarus,
Belgium, the
Czech Republic,
Denmark,
France,
Germany,
Hungary,
Poland,
Russia and
Switzerland. Among these trains are international trains of the
Nederlandse Spoorwegen and the
Thalys(Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris-Cologne),
CityNightLine, and
InterCityExpress.
[77]
Eurolines has
coaches from Amsterdam to destinations all over Europe.
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is less than 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station. It is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, the fifth largest in Europe, and the twelfth largest in the world in terms of passengers. It handles about 46 million passengers a year and is the home base of three airlines,
KLM,
transavia.com and
Martinair. Schiphol was, in 2006, the third
busiest airport in the world measured by international passengers.
[78] [79]
Education
Amsterdam has two universities: the
University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam), and the VU University Amsterdam (
Vrije Universiteit or "VU" - often referred to, in English, as "The Free"). Other institutions for
higher education include an
art school –
Gerrit Rietveld Academie, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, and the
Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. Amsterdam's
International Institute of Social History is one of the world's largest documentary and research institutions concerning
social history, and especially the
history of the labour movement. Amsterdam's
Hortus Botanicus, founded in the early 1600s, is one of the oldest
botanical gardens in the world,
[80] with many old and rare specimens, among them the
coffee plant that served as the parent for the entire coffee culture in Central and South America.
[81]
Some of Amsterdam's
primary schools base their teachings on particular pedagogic theories like the various
Montessori schools. The biggest Montessori High School in Amsterdam is the
Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam. This school counts almost 1700 pupils. Many schools, however, are based on religion. This used to be primarily Roman Catholicism and various Protestant denominations, but with the influx of Muslim immigrants there has been a rise in the number of Islamic schools. Jewish schools can be found in the southern suburbs of Amsterdam. In addition to schools based on distinct beliefs, there are public schools.
Amsterdam is noted for having three independent grammar schools (Dutch: gymnasia), the
Vossius Gymnasium,
Barlaeus Gymnasium, and St.
Ignatius Gymnasium, where a classical curriculum including Latin and
classical Greek is taught. Though believed until recently by many to be an anachronistic and elitist concept that would soon die out, the gymnasia have recently experienced a revival, leading to the formation of a fourth grammar school in which the three aforementioned schools participate. Most secondary schools in Amsterdam offer a variety of different levels of education in the same school.
Housing
Rental properties make up an unusually large share (73%) of the city's housing supply, with semi-private housing associations owning three-quarters of these properties.
[82].
Rent controls have caused serious problems in the
housing market. The city government has been successful in its efforts to increase the percentage of owner-occupied dwellings. This figure has risen by 125% over the last 15 years.
Squat properties are common throughout Amsterdam. Any property left unused for more than one year may be subject to squatting. The property is usually obtained by
forcible entry. A number of these squats have become well known, such as
OT301, Vrankrijk, and the Binnenpret, and several are now businesses, such as
health clubs and licensed restaurants.
Culture and entertainment
thumb
During the later part of the 16th century Amsterdam's Rederijkerskamer (
Chamber of Rhetoric) organized contests between different Chambers in the reading of
poetry and
drama. In 1638, Amsterdam opened its first
theatre.
Ballet performances were given in this theatre as early as 1642. In the 18th century, French theatre became popular.
Opera could be seen in Amsterdam from 1677, first only
Italian and French operas, but in the 18th century, German operas. In the 19th century,
popular culture was centred around the
Nes area in Amsterdam (mainly
vaudeville and
music-hall). The
metronome, one of the most important advances in
European classical music, was invented here in 1812 by
Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel. At the end of this century, the
Rijksmuseum and were built. In 1888, the
Concertgebouworkest was established. With the 20th century came
cinema,
radio and
television. Though most studios are located in
Hilversum and
Aalsmeer, Amsterdam's influence on programming is very strong. Many people who work in the television industry live in Amsterdam. Also, the headquarters of
SBS 6 is located in Amsterdam.
[83]
Museums
The most important museums of Amsterdam are located on
het Museumplein
(Museum Square), located at the southern side of the Rijksmuseum. It was created in the last quarter of the 19th century on the grounds of the former
World Exposition. The northern part of the square is bordered by the very large Rijksmuseum. In front of the Rijksmuseum on the square itself is a long, rectangular, pond. This is transformed in winter time into an ice rink.
[84] The western part of the square is bordered by the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience and Coster Diamonds. The southern border of the Museum Square is the Van Baerlestraat, which is a major thoroughfare in this part of Amsterdam. The Concertgebouw is situated across this street from the square. To the east of the square are situated a number of large houses, one of which contains the American consulate. A
parking garage can be found underneath the square, as well as a supermarket.
Het Museumplein
is covered almost entirely with a lawn, except for the northern part of the square which is covered with gravel. The current appearance of the square was realized in 1999, when the square was remodeled. The square itself is the most prominent site in Amsterdam for festivals and outdoor concerts, especially in the summer. Plans were made in 2008 to remodel the square again, because many inhabitants of Amsterdam are not happy with its current appearance.
[85]
thumb
, by
Rembrandt
The
Rijksmuseum possesses the largest and most important collection of classical
Dutch art.
[86]
It opened in 1885. Its collection consists of nearly one million objects.
[87] The artist most associated with Amsterdam is
Rembrandt, whose work, and the work of his pupils, is displayed in the Rijksmuseum. Rembrandt's masterpiece the
Nightwatch is one of top pieces of art of the museum. It also houses paintings from artists like
Van der Helst,
Vermeer,
Frans Hals,
Ferdinand Bol, Albert Cuijp, Van Ruysdael and
Paulus Potter. Aside from paintings, the collection consists of a large variety of
decorative art. This ranges from
Delftware to giant
dollhouses from the 17th century. The architect of the
gothic revival building was P.J.H. Cuypers. At present, the museum is being expanded, renovated, and a new main entrance for the museum created. Only one wing of the Rijksmuseum is currently open to the public, with a selection of master pieces on display. The full museum will re-open in 2012 or 2013.
[88]
Van Gogh lived in Amsterdam for a short while, so there is a dedicated to his early work. The museum is housed in one of the few modern buildings in this area of Amsterdam. The building was designed by
Gerrit Rietveld. This building is where the permanent collection is displayed. A new building was added to the museum in 1999. This building, known as the performance wing, was designed by Japanese architect
Kisho Kurokawa. Its purpose is to house temporary exhibitions of the museum. Some of Van Gogh's most famous paintings, like the
Aardappeleters (
The Potato Eaters
) and
Zonnenbloemen
, are present in the collection. The Van Gogh museum is the most visited museum in Amsterdam.
[89] [90] [91]
Next to the Van Gogh museum stands the
Stedelijk Museum. This is Amsterdam's largest museum concerning
modern art. The museum opened its doors at around the same time the Museum Square was created. The permanent collection consists of works of art from artists like
Piet Mondriaan,
Karel Appel, and
Kazimir Malevich. This museum is also currently being renovated and expanded. The main entrance will be relocated from the Paulus Potterstraat to the Museum Square itself. It will be open again to public in 2009. The current exhibition of this museum is housed in a former
post office near the central station.
[92]
Amsterdam contains many other museums throughout the city. They range from small museums such as the
Verzetsmuseum
, the
Anne Frank House, and the
Rembrandthuis, to the very large, like the
Tropenmuseum,
Amsterdams Historisch Museum, and
Joods Historisch Museum.
Performing arts
Pop Music
The
Heineken Music Hall is a concert hall located near the
Amsterdam ArenA. Its main purpose is to serve as a podium for pop concerts for big audiences. Many famous international
artists have performed there. Two other notable venues,
Paradiso and the
Melkweg are located near the Leidse Plein. Both focus on broad programming, ranging from
indie rock to
hip hop,
R&B, and other popular genres. Other more
subculturally-focused
music venues are
OCCII,
OT301, Winston Kingdom.
Classical music
thumb
Amsterdam has a world-class symphony orchestra, the
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Their home is the
Concertgebouw, which is across the Van Baerlestraat from the Museum Square. It is considered by critics to be a
concert hall with some of the best
acoustics in the world. The building contains three
halls, Grote Zaal, Kleine Zaal, and Spiegelzaal. 800 concerts a year are performed there for approximately 850,000 patrons.
[93]
The opera house of Amsterdam is situated adjacent to the city hall. Therefore, the two buildings combined are often called the
Stopera. This word is derived from the Dutch words
stadhuis
(city hall) and opera. This huge modern complex, officially opened in 1986, lies in the former Jewish neighborhood at
Waterlooplein
next to the river
Amstel. The
Stopera
is the homebase of
De Nederlandse Opera,
Het Nationale Ballet and the
Holland Symfonia
.
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ is a
concert hall, which is situated in the
IJ near the central station. Its
concerts perform mostly
modern classical music. Located adjacent to it, is the
Bimhuis
, a concert hall for improvised and
Jazz music.
Theatre
The main theatre building of Amsterdam is the
Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam at the
Leidseplein. It is the home base of the
Toneelgroep Amsterdam
. The current building dates from 1894. Most plays are performed in the Grote Zaal (Great Hall). The normal programm of events encompasses all sorts of theatrical forms. The Stadsschouwburg is currently being renovated and expanded. The third theater space, to be operated jointly with next door
Melkweg, will open in late 2009 or early 2010.
Comedy
The Netherlands has a tradition of cabaret which combines music, storytelling, commentary and comedy. Cabaret dates back to the 1930s and artists like Wim Kan and Wim Sonnevelt were pioneers of this form of art in the Netherlands.
In 1993, the contemporary comedy scene was established with the founding of Comedytrain and
Boom Chicago in Amsterdam. Comedytrain was a collective of Dutch stand up comedians, who began performing in what is now the Comedy Cafe, and later set up their own stage Toomler. Many big names in Dutch
stand up comedy can be traced back to this organization.
Boom Chicago began in that same year with a theater in the
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat
. After four years in what is now the Sugar Factory, they moved to their current location at the Leidseplein Theater in 1998. They are known for their live English-language sketches and improvisation comedy.
Other leading comedy locations include Comedy Cafe, Comedy Theater on the Nes.
Nightlife
Amsterdam is famous for its vibrant and diverse nightlife. The two main nightlife areas are the
Leidseplein and the
Rembrandtplein.
Amsterdam has many
cafes. They range from large and modern to small and cozy. The typical
bruine kroeg
(brown cafe) breathe a more old fashioned atmosphere with dimmed lights, candles, and somewhat older clientele. Most cafes have terraces in summertime. A common sight on the Leidseplein during summer is a square full of terraces packed with people drinking beer or wine.
Many restaurants can be found in Amsterdam as well. Since Amsterdam is a multicultural city, a lot of different ethnic restaurants can be found. Restaurants range from being rather luxurious and expensive to being ordinary and affordable. Some of the best restaurants in the Netherlands are located in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam also possesses many
discothèques. Most of these 'clubs' are situated near the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. The Paradiso,
Melkweg and Sugar Factory are cultural centers, which turn into discothèques on some nights. Examples of discothèques near the Rembrandtplein are the Escape and Club Home. Also noteworthy are Panama, Hotel Arena (East) and The Powerzone.
The Reguliersdwarsstraat is the main street for the GLBT community and nightlife.
thumb 2009 in Amsterdam
Hollywood films are primarily featured at cinemas owned by
Pathe.
Tuschinski is a heritage
art deco building with a beautiful lobby and six screens. Theater One is an architectural treasure with comfortable seats, two balconies and recently restored ceilings. The Pathe cinema is modern and is located at
De Munt. Pathe Arena is located a short metro ride from the center and is Amsterdam's most technically advanced and modern cinema. Pathe City is scheduled to reopen in October 2009.
Art films can be found at Tuschinski, and the independent The Movies, Cinecenter, Kriterion, Ketelhuis, Uitkijk, and the
Filmmuseum.
Festivals
In the 2008 there were 140 festivals and events in Amsterdam.
[94]
Famous festivals and events in Amsterdam include
Koninginnedag (Queen's Day), the
Holland Festival for the performing arts, the yearly Prinsengrachtconcert (classical concerto on the Prinsen canal) in August, the 'Stille Omgang' (a silent catholic procession at night every March), Amsterdam
Gay Pride, The Cannabis Cup, and the
Uitmarkt. On Koninginnedag, hundreds of thousands of people travel to Amsterdam to join the residents of the city to celebrate. The entire city becomes overcrowded with people buying products from the
freemarket
or visiting one of the many music concerts. It is held each year on the 30th of April. The yearly Holland Festival attracts international artists and visitors from all over Europe. Gay Pride is a yearly parade of boats with homosexuals in Amsterdam's canals, that is constantly criticized and praised. It is held each year on the first Saturday in August.
[95] Finally the Uitmarkt is a yearly cultural event which lasts for three days at the start of the cultural season, offering previews. It consists of many
podia with a lot of different artist on them, such as
musicians and
poets. It is held in late August.
[96]
Sports
thumb's
Amsterdam Arena
Amsterdam is the hometown of the
Eredivisie
football club
Ajax Amsterdam. The stadium
Amsterdam ArenA is the home of Ajax. It is located in the
south-east of the city next to the new
Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA railway station. Before it moved to its current location in 1996, Ajax played their regular matches in
De Meer Stadion.
[97]
In 1928, Amsterdam hosted the
Games of the IXth Olympiad. The
Olympic Stadium built for the occasion has been completely restored and is now used for cultural and sporting events, such as the
Amsterdam Marathon.
[98]
The ice hockey team
Amstel Tijgers play in the
Jaap Eden ice rink. The team competes in the Dutch
ice hockey premier league.
Speed skating championships have been held on the lane of this ice rink.
The
Amsterdam Admirals were a defunct American Football club who competed in the
EFL and also played their home games in the Amsterdam Arena.
The
baseball team the
Amsterdam Pirates competes in the
Dutch Major League. There are three
field hockey teams, Amsterdam, Pinoké and Hurley, who play their matches around the
Wagener Stadium in the nearby city of
Amstelveen. The
basketball team
MyGuide Amsterdam competes in the Dutch premier division and play their games in the Sporthallen Zuid, near the Olympic Stadium.
[99]
Since 1999 the city of Amsterdam honours the best sportsmen and -women at the
Amsterdam Sports Awards. Boxer
Raymond Joval and field hockey midfielder
Carole Thate were the first to receive the awards in 1999.
thumb
Miscellaneous
Red light district
De Wallen
, also known as
Walletjes
or
Rosse Buurt
, is a designated area for
legalized prostitution and is Amsterdam's largest and most well known
red-light district. It consists of a network of roads and alleys containing several hundred small, one-room apartments rented by female
sex workers who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of
sex shops,
sex theatres,
peep shows, a
sex museum, a
cannabis museum, and a number of
coffee shops offering various cannabis products. While 26 percent of the tourists come to the district to have a "look", the number of brothels is decreasing sufficiently for the
Chamber of commerce to sound the alarm.
[100]
References
- Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, Vol 1, p896-898.
- [1] Capitals of Capital -A History of International Financial Centres - 1780–2005, Youssef Cassis, ISBN 978-0521845359
- After Athens in 1985 and Florence in 1986, Amsterdam was in 1986 chosen as the European Capital of Culture, confirming its eminent position in Europe and the Netherlands. See here [1] for an overview of the European cities and capitals of culture over the years.
- [1] Forbes Global 2000 Largest Companies - Dutch rankings.
- Amsterdam - Economische Zaken
- Hij zeit wat: de Amsterdamse volkstaal
- Amsterdam 200 jaar ouder dan aangenomen
- De geschiedenis van Amsterdam
- Mirakel van Amsterdam
- Eighty Years' War
- Case in point: After his trial and sentencing in Rome in 1633, Galileo chose Lodewijk Elzevir in Amsterdam to publish one of his finest works, ''Two New Sciences''. See Wade Rowland (2003), ''Galileo's Mistake, A new look at the epic confrontation between Galileo and the Church'', New York: Arcade Publishing, ISBN 1559706848, p. 260.
- E. Haverkamp-Bergmann, Rembrandt; The Night Watch (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1982), p. 57
- Amsterdam in the 17th Century, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke
- The oldest share
- Geography, climate, population, economy, society. J.P.Sommerville.
- Amsterdam through the ages -A medieval village becomes a global city
- Aardappeloproer
- Deportation to camps
- Kou en strijd in een barre winter
- Stadsdeel Slotervaart - Geschiedenis
- Stadsherstel Missie/Historie
- Typisch Metrostad
- Unesco World Heritage Site
- Kerncijfers Amsterdam 2007
- Openbare ruimte en groen: Inleiding
- Weather Information for Amsterdam
- Amsterdamse Grachten
- In ‘t land van belofte, in de nieuwe stadt: ideaal en werkelijkheid van de stadsuitleg in de Republiek, 1580-1680 (In the land of promise, in the new city: ideal and reality of the city lay-out in the [Dutch] Republic, 1580-1680)
- Een kleine geschiedenis van Amsterdam
- Dempingen en Aanplempingen
- Samuel Sarphati
- Uitbreidingsplan Sarphati
- Samuel Sarphati
- Amsterdam Oud-Zuid
- Uitbreidingsplan Berlage
- Plan-Berlage
- Westelijke Tuinsteden
- Ontwerp Westelijke Tuinsteden
- Oude Kerk official website
- Houten Huys
- Amsterdamse renaissance in de stijl van Hendrick de Keyser
- Hollands Classicisme
- Neo-stijlen
- Amsterdamse School
- Stadsdeel Amsterdam-Noord: Who governs Amsterdam-Noord?
- Gemiddelde bevolking per regio naar leeftijd en geslacht
- Indeling van Nederland in 40 COROP-gebieden
- Amsterdam - Economische Zaken
- European Cities Monitor 2007
- Zuidas
- Rembrandt Tower
- Philips
- Toerisme in Amsterdam 2006/2007
- Half of young big-city dwellers have non-western background
- Bevolking naar herkomstgroepering, 1 januari 2001-2006
- Most foreign babies born in big cities
- Religie Amsterdam
- English Reformed Church Amsterdam
- Amsterdamse wijken
- Diocese of Haarlem
- Quest, issue of march 2009
- History of Amsterdam, The Early History
- La Population des villes Europeennes. Banque de donnees et analyse sommaire des resultats
- History of Amsterdam, The Golden Age
- History of Amsterdam, Recovery and Expansion
- The 19th century Urban Expansions
- Gemiddelde bevolking per regio naar leeftijd en geslacht
- Introduction
- Core Numbers in Graphics: Fewer Bicycle Thefts
- Core Numbers in Graphics: Fewer Traffic Deaths
- Record low murder rate once again
- Amsterdam Fietst
- Amsterdam.nl - Auto
- Autosnelweg.nl - Geschiedenis Autosnelwegen in Nederland
- Autosnelweg.nl - Geschiedenis Autosnelwegen in Nederland
- Stationsweb-Noord Holland
- Bestemmingen
- Busiest Airports
- Busiest Airports by International Passengers
- Hortus Botanicus official website
- Higher Education in Amsterdam
- Amsterdamse Woningmarkt
- Contact SBS 6
- Ijsbaan Museumplein
- Museumplein krijgt facelift
- Home Page
- Rijksmuseum
- The New Rijksmuseum
- Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
- Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
- Architectuur Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
- April 11, 1888: Concertgebouw, Home of Nearly Perfect Acoustics, Opens
- Amsterdam kans op 'evenementenstad'
- Gay Pride in Amsterdam
- Uitmarkt in Amsterdam
- De Meer
- Athletics
- Over Sporthallen Zuid: Referenties
- Wallen moeten erotisch blijven (Wallen should stay erotic)