Guide of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the most fascinating capital cities in Europe, it is bursting artistic and cultural beauty and it manages to be both historic and avant-garde. Amsterdam is connected to the North Sea via the North Sea Canal and there are also many canals and bridges around the city, giving it lots of character. 

A brief history of Amsterdam

The birth of Amsterdam dates back to the 13th century when it began as a fishing village near a dam along the Amstel river. The city grew to become an important commercial hub and in the following century, Amsterdam developed trading relations with some German cities to become prosperous. Amsterdam, like the rest of the Netherlands, was occupied by the Spaniards until the sixteenth century, but their domination finally ended with a war of Independence, which among other things, brought religious freedom to the city. The seventeenth century was then a golden century for Amsterdam, which saw its ships set sail to conquer North America, Africa and Brazil. After the colonial period, the city began to lose its prestige but it always remained at the centre of some type of commercial activity, such as the diamond trade during the Second World War.

Places to visit 

There are so many wonderful places in Amsterdam, for example, the famous Dam Square, that was built on the first dam in the city. In this square, there are two historic buildings, the Royal Palace or Koninklijk Paleis, that was built in Baroque style in the mid-1600s. It served as a city hall and later became a royal residence. There is also the New Church, which dates back to the 1400s and is also in Baroque style. This building hosts the coronations for the Dutch royal family.

A walk along the canals is a must during any trip to Amsterdam, the three main canals are Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht and they form a belt around the city. The oldest canal is Singel, near the flower market. Among the religious buildings, the Portuguese Synagogue is worth visiting, it was built in the 1600s.

The museums in Amsterdam are famous all over the world, the Rijksmuseum has an excellent collection of Flemish and Asian art. The Van Gogh Museum is a must visit and then there are the anthropological and nautical museums, along with Rembrandt's house. One important stop is Anne Frank's House Museum.

Beaches around Amsterdam 

Whilst not being a traditional seaside resort, it is possible to find beaches for water sports and fun around Amsterdam. There are some nice stretches of sand where you can relax and read a book, for example, Strand Blijburg is an expanse of soft sand with some bars and cafes. In the city centre, there are also some artificial urban beaches during the summer when the banks of the canals are filled with sand and set up with umbrellas and deck chairs, such as Strand Zuid and Pllek Amsterdam.