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Amsterdam
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About Amsterdam
Legend has it that Amsterdam was founded by two fishermen
and a seasick dog. The story goes that the dog jumped ship to deposit the
contents of his stomach and the two fishermen became the founders of Amsterdam.
In reality the city’s story really began in the 13th century, when the
River Amstel was dammed and a settlement grew up on the site, which took the
name of Aemstelledamme – today tidied up to Amsterdam. Whichever version
is true, Amsterdam has become one of Europe’s great cities, a Mecca
for tourists who flock to the city, to explore its richly historic streets,
delve into its countless ghosts and legends and, of course, enjoy the hedonistic
pleasures this North Holland city is so renowned for.
The lifeblood of Amsterdam has long been its aquatic locale, close as it is
to the North Sea and built on a myriad of canals that neatly divide the city
into easily navigable districts and imbue it with a small town ambience. There
seems to be a canal around every corner in Amsterdam – not too surprising,
considering that the city is home to a staggering 165 canals. Amsterdam’s
sprawl of waterways are now used by a dizzying array of vessels, everything
from glass roofed tourist boats and pedalos, right through to speedboats and
gigantic industrial barges that testify to the role the canals and waterways
still play in the city’s economic life.
The local tourist board reckons that Amsterdam boasts more museums per square
inch than anywhere else on the planet. And, in a sense, the whole city is
one living museum – a crucial part of Amsterdam’s charm. Even
in the very heart of the city centre, real people live real lives in their
canal-side houses, just as their forefathers have been doing for centuries.
The year 2002 marks 400 years since the founding of the Dutch East India Company,
the trade body that oversaw the expansion of Dutch merchants and sailors to
all corners of the globe, bringing unprecedented wealth into the city. Trade
and transport are still key elements of Amsterdam’s development and
alongside the tourist boats are container ships and all manner of industrial
infrastructure. Amsterdam also still holds its reputation as a no-holds-barred
and extremely tolerant port city. This live and let live
attitude has not only resulted in the infamous red-light districts and the
legendary brown cafés but is also an integral part of the relaxed ambience
that most visitors enjoy when they visit the city. The downsides are some
serious drug problems and an increasing homeless population.
In the summer, all of Amsterdam’s eclectic groups come together in Vondelpark
to relax in the balmy weather. Amsterdam statistically may be one of Europe’s
wettest capitals but as soon as the clouds clear and the sun is allowed to
shine, the city’s inhabitants spill out onto the streets, to sit in
the numerous pavement cafés, take a cruise on a canal or even that most ubiquitous
of Amsterdam pastimes – ride their bicycles. Amsterdam’s winters
tend to be cold with plenty of rain but this seldom seems to deter the tourists,
who flock to the city all year round.
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