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1524024 05 / 2017
AMSTERDAM - FASCINATING CULTURAL MELTING POT The capital of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is one of Europe ' s most exciting and multi - faceted destinations . Contrasts abound in a city that can boast such a rich historical and cultural heritage , while embracing the most weird and wonderful aspects of contemporary lifestyle . The main problem facing any visitor in Amsterdam is to know where to be gin . . . and when to stop . After all , the ' Venice of the North ' has no less that 7000 classified buildings on its 90 islands linked by 1200 bridges spanning the lovely canals converging on the River Amstel . Not to mention its dozens of excellent museums . But that ' s only half the story , because the key to making the most of Amsterdam is reserving time to savor its vibrant yet laidback atmosphere . You ' ll definitely want to explore at leisure the city ' s countless interesting eateries , cafés and bars , its amazing spectrum of fashion and specialty stores , and the sheer prettiness of its lanes flanked by canals and mansions . Last but by no means least , Amsterdam ' s night life remains an inexhaustible source of astonishment for even the most broad - minded visitor .
2 . Van Gogh Museum : The city ' s most - visited museum has about 700 works covering the short and explosively creative career of this great exponent of Expressionism . 3 . Stedelijk Museum : This recently renovated establishment picks up the story of art from the mid - 19th century and has stunning works by artists like Mondrian , Cézanne , Chagall , Braque and Kandinsky . It is also strong on modern movements . 4 . Singel Flower Market : The market lining this canal is a great place to stock up on ' tulips of Amsterdam ' as well as other bulbs . Lovely mansions flank the canal , and the nearby Begijnhof and the Amster dam Museum are worth seeking out . 5 . Inner Canal Ring : Enjoy strolling at leisure along the concentric ring of canals between the Rijksmuseum and Singel . Perhaps sit down for a drink in one of the tempting cafés along Brouwersgracht . 6 . Dam Square : Facing the impressive War Memorial , the Royal Palace ( 1648 ) has several monumental interiors . The nearby Nieuwe Kerk ( c . 1400 ) is used for the coronations of Dutch kings and queens . De Bijenkorf is a classic - style department store , while Madame Tussauds is a popular address . 7 . Anne Frank House : The Frank family moved into the concealed rear section of Prinsengracht 263 on July 6 . 1942 . Anne Frank wrote most of her classic diary here before the family was arrested on August 4 , 1944 . The nearby Westerkerk contains Rembrandt ' s tomb . 8 . Red Light District : This area east of the Oude Kerk comes to life around twilight , but a daytime walk by the ' New Market ' with the his toric Scales Building ( Waag ) is also recommended .
AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS Geographical position : 52° 22 ' N / 04° 53 ' E Av . alt . : O feet ( O m ) Area of the city : 84 . 6 square - miles ( 219 . 1 km ) Population : 743 , 000 Region : North Holland River : Amstel ( IJsselmeer ) Economy : Computer companies , international banks , electronics , high tech , research , brewing , harbor , transport , culture , administration , higher education , congresses , tourism
THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT IN A NUTSHELL The origins of a first settlement on Amsterdam ' s marshy site at the point where the River Amstel joins the Zuiderzee can be traced back to about 1170 / 80 . The community of fishermen , farmers and cloth - mak ers soon flourished , being granted tax privileges in 1275 and civic rights in 1300 . Amsterdam ' s breakthrough as a center of trade came after it joined the Hanseatic League in 1369 . After terrible fires de stroyed sections of the city in 1421 and 1452 , the erection of wooden houses was strictly forbidden . To stabilize the foundations of stone buildings , massive wooden piles had to be driven into the earth . While Amsterdam initially welcomed the rise of Habsburg power in the Low Countries , 1578 saw the Protestant population driving the soldiers of Philip II of Spain out of the city . The 17th century was Amsterdam ' s ' golden age , ' when it became one of Europe ' s main commercial cen ters . Amsterdam ' s prosperity was secured in 1876 with the opening of the North Sea Canal linking the metropolis with the coast to the west .
ENJOYING THE LOCAL CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE If you can ' t find it in Amsterdam , it probably doesn ' t exist ! This is certainly true of antiques , with the quarter around Nieuwe Spiegel straat offering about 70 such shops . Jewelry is tops here , too . More of the same can be found in the Jordaan area , where many bookshops have lovely old prints and maps , and a number of sec ond - hand shops offer curios at fair prices . In the so - called Muse umkwartier and in Beethovenstraat , you can expect to find haute couture in exclusive boutiques , but more cutting - edge fashion is tucked away in Herenstraat and Prinsenstraat . For window - shop ping , the small streets linking Prinzen - , Keizers - and Herengracht have lots of specialty shops . The Albert Cuip Market is a tourist magnet . If you fancy a break from the bustle , the former Jewish Quarter is located by the peaceful Botanical Garden
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MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST 1 . Rijksmuseum : This vast collection of art along with departments devoted to porcelain , silverware , glass , furniture and tapestries needs to be approached selectively . It ' s best to focus on a few highlights like landscapes of the Dutch ' Golden Age and masterpieces by Jan Ver meer and Rembrandt ( including the latter ' s ' Night Watch ' ) .
CRYSTAL RIVER CRUISEST