Amsterdam
Amsterdam ... city of freedom
Amsterdam is said to be a city of freedom, a place where the forbidden is possible. It is a city with a mix of different people. It has many faces and a lot to offer with a wide range of places of interest, historical sites, and numerous museums.
The city has a rich history. In the year 1300 Amsterdam was granted its town charter. In the middle ages its lifestyle changed from a fishing village to a city of trade. In the 16th century Amsterdam’s Protestants fled from the Catholic rulers. In time Catholicism would be prohibited. The 17th century was known as “The Golden Century” for this booming city as it became the center of the trading world. In the 18th Century France and England became a threat and would destroy the Dutch fleet.
During the period from 1890-1940 industrialization brought new growth to the Amsterdam and it expanded greatly. But the city would take another blow, this time to its population. As a result of the Second World War the city would loose ten percent of its inhabitants. Even though there was little material damage from the war, starvation plagued its people.
With peace restored, Amsterdam began to blossom once again. In the 1960’s Amsterdam became the Mecca for the Hippy movement. It would become one of the world’s most populous cities.
Amsterdam is the major city of the Netherlands, a small country that’s not even half the size of the state of Maine in the US. It is a beautiful city in one of the most densely populated nations in the world, holding 15.5 million people. The principle language here is Dutch however most of the inhabitants speak a second or third language such as English.
The landscape of the Amsterdam is mostly flat with very few hills. Amsterdam is constantly fighting a battle against the sea. Why? The county’s elevation is below sea level, thus you’ll find many canals and dykes set up to solve this problem. Windmills are also another feature of this landscape which are used to resolve the problem of flooding.
Typical weather in Amsterdam ranges from a little around freezing in the middle of winter to a pleasant 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny days in the summer. Winters usually bring little snow and spring and autumn, although nice, can be wet.
If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam there’s a lot of places you shouldn’t miss. Amsterdam is a city that has all the characteristics of a big city. Culture, food, history, entertainment, it’s all here. Its small compared to larger cities but it’s beautiful and quite thanks too canals that are a calm means of transportation.
There are many attractions and events that can’t be missed. For the children you have the Artis (the zoo), Vondelpark, the biggest central park in Amsterdam, and the newMetropolis where you can catch a great view of the city from its rooftop terrace. There are also many museums such as Anne Frankhuis, Museum Van Loon, Stedelijk Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum. For your sightseeing purposes you can visit the Nieuwmarkt, full of historical anecdotes, or the Rijksmuseum, Holland’s most famous museum.
There are scores of restaurants with many different cuisines. Everything from Caribbean to Spanish you’ll find here. There are also many café’s and bars to keep you busy at night.
As you can see Amsterdam is a superb city to visit. Whatever your idea of a good time, Amsterdam is sure to have it.
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