Although the government of the Netherlands, also knows as Holland, is seated in The Hague, Amsterdam is the
nominal capital. It is also the country's largest city, with a population of approximately 750,000, and the most visited, with over 3,5 milion foreign
visitors a year.
Amsterdam was founded on a dam on the river Amstel in the thirteenth century. During the
Reformation it rose in stature, taking trade away from Antwerp and becoming a haven for its religious refugees. Having shaken off the yoke of the Spanish,
the city went from strength to strength in the seventeenth century, becoming the centre of a vast trading empire with colonies in Southeast Asia.
Amsterdam accommodated its expansion with the cobweb of canals that gives the city its distinctive and
elegant shape today. Come the eighteenth century,
Amsterdam went into gentle decline, re-emerging as a fashionable focus for the alternative movements
of the 1960s. Despite a backlash in the 1980s, the city still takes a uniquely progressive approach to social issues and culture, with a buzz of
open-air summer events, intimate clubs and bars, and relaxed attitude to soft drugs.
is a beguiling capital and a compact mix of provincial and the cosmopolitan. It has a welcoming attitude towards visitors and a uniquely youthful orientation. For many, however, its world-class museums and galleries - notably the Rijksmuseum, with its collection of seventeenth-century Dutch paintings, and the Van Gogh Museum - are reason enough to visit.
The Netherlands is a country situated in Western Europe, bordering Belgium to the south and Germany to the east. To its north and west is the North Sea.
Although the Netherlands is the country's official name, people often call it Holland. The provinces of North Holland and South Holland form only part
of the Netherlands.
History of Amsterdam:
Amsterdam, probably the most planned city of northern Europe, has long been a well-known city. In the 17th century Amsterdam was the centre of world
economy, and nowadays the city is known for its tolerant character.
Architecture: Amsterdam is where modern architecture developed organically between facades of historical buildings. Since it is not a big city, all sites of interest are within an acceptable distance. This is why Amsterdam is so popular with lovers of architecture.
Timing your visit:
Any time can be the best time to visit Amsterdam. The peak of the tourist season is July and August, when the weather is the finest. Weather, however, is never really extreme at any time of year, and if you're one of the growing numbers who favor off-season travel, you'll find the city every bit as attractive during these months. Not only are airlines, hotels, and restaurants cheaper and less crowded during this time (with more relaxed and cheerful service), but there are also some very appealing events going on. For example, the bulb fields near Amsterdam are bursting with colour from mid-April to mid-May. The cultural season is in full swing between September and May in Amsterdam, along with The Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and other nearby towns and cities.
