Amsterdam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amsterdam
Capital city and municipality
Aerial view of the Canals of Amsterdam Keizersgracht Reguliersgracht Royal Concertgebouw Rijksmuseum Zuidas business district
Flag Coat of arms Brandmark
Nicknames:  The Venice of the North, Mokum, Damsko
Motto(s):  Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Steadfast, Compassionate)
Location of Amsterdam municipality
Amsterdam Location in Netherlands Show map of Netherlands Amsterdam Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Netherlands
Province	North Holland
Region	Amsterdam metropolitan area
Founded	c. 1275; 750 years ago (1275)
City Hall	Stopera
Boroughs	7 boroughs, 1 urban area Centrum Nieuw-West Noord Oost Weesp West Zuid Zuidoost
Government
• Body	Municipal council
Area
• Municipality	219.32 km2 (84.68 sq mi)
• Land	165.76 km2 (64.00 sq mi)
• Water	53.56 km2 (20.68 sq mi)
• Randstad	3,043 km2 (1,175 sq mi)
Elevation	-2 m (−6.6 ft)
Population  (July 2024)
• Municipality	933,680
• Density	4,908/km2 (12,710/sq mi)
• Urban	1,477,213
• Metro region	2,480,394
• Randstad	8,116,000
Demonym(s)	Amsterdammer
GDP
• Metro region	€201.100 billion (2022)
• Randstad	€510.181 billion (2022)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	1000–1183
Area code	020
GeoTLD	.amsterdam
Website	www.amsterdam.nl
Click on the map for a fullscreen view

Amsterdam is the official capital city of the Netherlands. It is also the most populated city in the country. About 933,000 people live in Amsterdam itself. If you include the wider metropolitan area, over 2.4 million people call it home!

Amsterdam is located in the North Holland province. It is often called the "Venice of the North" because it has so many canals. These canals are so special that they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city started as a small fishing village in the 12th century. It grew into a major world port during the Dutch Golden Age in the 1600s. Back then, the Netherlands was very powerful in business. Amsterdam became a top place for money and trade. It was also a centre for art. In the 1800s and 1900s, the city got much bigger. New neighborhoods were built. Amsterdam is known for being open-minded and welcoming. Biking is a huge part of life here. There are many bike paths all over the city.

Some of Amsterdam's most famous places are its historic canals. You can also visit the Rijksmuseum to see Dutch art, the Van Gogh Museum, and Dam Square with the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Other cool spots include the Anne Frank House, the Stedelijk Museum for modern art, and the NEMO science museum. The city is also famous for its fun nightlife and many festivals. Its beautiful canals and old canal houses attract millions of visitors every year.

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange started in 1602. It is thought to be the world's oldest "modern" stock market. Amsterdam is a very important city for business and culture in Europe. Many big companies have their main offices here. In 2022, Amsterdam was ranked as one of the best cities to live in. The Port of Amsterdam is the fifth largest in Europe. Schiphol Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe. Amsterdam is also one of the most multicultural cities in the world. People from about 180 different countries live there.

Famous people from Amsterdam's past include painters Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh. Philosophers like Baruch Spinoza also lived here. Anne Frank, who wrote a famous diary during the Holocaust, was also from Amsterdam.

History of Amsterdam

How Amsterdam Began

Amsterdam was built in a wet, marshy area. So, it started later than many other cities in the Low Countries. But farmers lived nearby about 3,000 years ago. They lived along the old IJ river and the Amstel river. This quiet area became an important settlement in the late Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman Age.

Old tools and pottery from the Neolithic and Roman times have been found under Amsterdam. These show that people lived here, maybe just for parts of the year. But the river mouth was too wet for a permanent town until the water could be controlled.

Building the Dam

The name Amsterdam comes from "Dam in the Amstel". This means a dam on the Amstel River. People started to reclaim land in this area around the late 900s. The Amstel family, who managed the land for the bishop of Utrecht, lived here.

A big change happened in 1170 with a huge flood. The shallow IJ river became a wide bay. This connected the Amstel River to the Zuiderzee and other waterways. This made the Amstel flow better and its banks became drier. So, it was a good place for people to live permanently. The river also became a hub for international trade.

A settlement was built right after the 1170 flood. It focused on trade and making things, not farming. A dam was built at the mouth of the Amstel between 1264 and 1275. The town was first mentioned in a document in 1275. It talked about a toll that the count of Holland, Floris V, gave to people "at the dam in the Amstel". This meant they could travel freely without paying tolls. By 1327, the name became Aemsterdam.

The Middle Ages in Amsterdam

Amsterdam was given city rights in 1300 or 1306. In 1345, a miracle happened in Amsterdam. This made the city an important place for pilgrimage. Many people came to visit, sometimes up to 90,000 pilgrims.

From the 1300s, Amsterdam grew thanks to trade with the Hanseatic League. In the 1400s, the city started its own trade route with the Baltic Sea for grain and wood. This meant they didn't need the Hanseatic League as middlemen anymore. Amsterdam became Europe's main market for large amounts of goods.

This was possible because of new ways to catch herring. Amsterdam became very rich from this. Herring was popular all over Europe. New inventions like on-board gibbing and the haringbuis (a type of fishing boat) in 1415 allowed Dutch fishermen to go on longer trips. This gave them a special advantage in the fishing business.

The herring business needed teamwork and big investments in ships. It also needed many skilled and unskilled workers. Raw materials were imported to make the fish ready for sale. Merchants sold the fish across Europe. This industry helped set up the global trade system and the Dutch Golden Age, with Amsterdam at its heart. People even said, "Amsterdam is built on Herring bones."

Fighting with Spain

In the early 1500s, the Low Countries were part of the Spanish kingdom. The Dutch people rebelled against Philip II of Spain. He was a strong supporter of Catholicism during the Protestant Reformation. The main reasons for the rebellion were new taxes and the unfair treatment of Protestants. This led to the Eighty Years' War, which eventually made the Netherlands independent.

The new Dutch Republic became known for being tolerant of different religions. Jews from Spain and Portugal, Protestant Huguenots from France, and rich merchants from Flanders all found safety in Amsterdam. Because many Flemish printers came to the city, and people were free to think, Amsterdam became a centre for a free press in Europe.

The Dutch Golden Age

In the 1600s, Amsterdam had its "Golden Age." It became the richest city in the Western world. Ships from Amsterdam sailed to many places around the globe. This created a huge trading network. Amsterdam's merchants were very important in the Dutch East India Company and the Dutch West India Company. These companies gained lands overseas that became Dutch colonies.

Amsterdam was Europe's most important place for shipping goods. It was also the main financial centre of the Western world. In 1602, the Amsterdam office of the Dutch East India Company became the world's first stock exchange. It traded shares in its own company. The Bank of Amsterdam started in 1609. It acted as a full bank for Dutch merchants and a reserve bank.

Decline and Modern Times

Amsterdam's wealth decreased in the 1700s and early 1800s. Wars with England and France hurt the city. During the Napoleonic Wars, Amsterdam was at its lowest point. Holland became part of the French Empire. But when the United Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815, things started to get better.

The late 1800s are sometimes called Amsterdam's second Golden Age. New museums, a railway station, and the Concertgebouw concert hall were built. The Industrial Revolution also reached the city. The Amsterdam–Rhine Canal was dug to connect Amsterdam directly to the Rhine river. The North Sea Canal was dug to give the port a shorter way to the North Sea. These projects greatly improved trade with Europe and the world.

20th Century to Today

Before First World War, the city started to grow again. New suburbs were built. Even though the Netherlands stayed neutral in the war, Amsterdam had food shortages. Heating fuel was also hard to find. These shortages caused riots, known as the Aardappeloproer (Potato rebellion). People looted stores for supplies.

On January 1, 1921, some smaller towns north of Amsterdam joined the city. Between the two World Wars, Amsterdam kept growing. New areas were built, especially to the west.

Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. They took control of the country. Some Amsterdam citizens helped hide Jews, even though it was very dangerous. More than 100,000 Dutch Jews were sent to concentration camps. About 60,000 of them lived in Amsterdam. The most famous person was Anne Frank, who died in a camp. At the end of World War II, food and fuel were very scarce. People traveled to the countryside to find food. Many trees were cut down for fuel. The city was finally freed by Canadian forces on May 5, 1945.

After World War II, many new neighborhoods were built. These included Osdorp and Bijlmermeer. They offered affordable homes with modern comforts. The new areas had lots of parks and open spaces. The buildings had bigger, brighter rooms. The metro system started in 1977. It connected the new suburbs to the city centre.

Big plans were made to rebuild parts of the city centre. Old Jewish neighborhoods were torn down. Streets were made wider. But people protested these changes. The Nieuwmarktrellen (Nieuwmarkt riots) broke out. Because of this, the demolitions stopped. The highway into the city centre was never fully built. Only the metro was finished.

Today, the city centre has been beautifully restored. It is now a protected area. Many buildings are monuments. In 2010, the Grachtengordel (the three main canals) became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In the 21st century, many tourists visit Amsterdam. Between 2012 and 2015, the number of visitors jumped from 10 million to 17 million each year. This has made real estate prices go up. Local shops are being replaced by tourist shops. This makes it hard for people who live in the city to afford to stay. Some compare it to Venice, which is also very popular with tourists.

A new metro line connecting the north and south of the city started being built in 2003. It was finished in 2018. Since 2014, the city has been focusing on improving and expanding areas near the city centre. This includes building the new IJburg neighborhood on artificial islands. These plans are part of the "Structural Vision Amsterdam 2040" project.

Geography of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is in the western part of the Netherlands. It is in the province of North Holland. The Amstel river flows into the city centre. It connects to many canals that lead to the IJ bay. Amsterdam is about 2 meters (6.5 feet) below sea level. The land around it is flat because it's made of large polders (land reclaimed from water). The Amsterdamse Bos, an artificial forest, is in the southwest. Amsterdam is connected to the North Sea by the long North Sea Canal.

Amsterdam is a very crowded city. The city itself has about 4,457 people per square kilometer. Parks and nature areas make up 12% of Amsterdam's land.

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  Topographic map of Amsterdam

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  Large map of Amsterdam's city centre.

Amsterdam's Waterways

Amsterdam has over 100 kilometers (62 miles) of canals. Most of them can be used by boats. The three main canals are the Prinsengracht, the Herengracht, and the Keizersgracht.

In the Middle Ages, Amsterdam had a moat called the Singel. This moat now forms the inner ring of canals. It gives the city centre a horseshoe shape. The city also has a seaport. Amsterdam is often compared to Venice because it has about 90 islands. These islands are connected by more than 1,200 bridges.

Amsterdam's Climate

Amsterdam has an oceanic climate. This means it has mild winters and cool summers. The weather is strongly affected by the nearby North Sea. Winds usually come from the west.

Frosts happen mostly when winds come from the east or northeast. But because Amsterdam is surrounded by water, nights rarely get colder than -5°C (23°F). Summers are usually warm. It rains often, but usually as light rain or short showers. Cloudy days are common from October to March.

People of Amsterdam

How Amsterdam's Population Grew

Estimated population, 1300–1564
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1300 1,000 —     1400 4,700 +1.56% 1514 11,000 +0.75%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1546 13,200 +0.57% 1557 22,200 +4.84% 1564 30,900 +4.84%
Source: Bureau Monumentenzorg en Archeologie (1300) (1400 and 1564) (1514, 1546 and 1557)

In 1300, only about 1,000 people lived in Amsterdam. While many towns in Holland lost people in the 1400s and 1500s, Amsterdam's population grew. This was mainly because of profitable trade in the Baltic Sea, especially for grain.

Historical population in 10-year intervals, 1590–present
Year Pop. ±% 1590 41,362 —     1600 59,551 +44.0% 1610 82,742 +38.9% 1620 106,500 +28.7% 1630 135,439 +27.2% 1640 162,388 +19.9% 1650 176,873 +8.9% 1660 192,767 +9.0% 1670 206,188 +7.0% 1680 219,098 +6.3% 1690 224,393 +2.4% 1700 235,224 +4.8% 1710 239,149 +1.7% 1720 241,447 +1.0% 1730 239,866 −0.7% 1740 237,582 −1.0% 1750 233,952 −1.5% 1760 240,862 +3.0% 1770 239,056 −0.7% 1780 228,938 −4.2% 1790 214,473 −6.3% 1800 203,485 −5.1%	Year Pop. ±% 1810 201,347 −1.1% 1820 197,831 −1.7% 1830 206,383 +4.3% 1840 214,367 +3.9% 1850 223,700 +4.4% 1860 244,050 +9.1% 1870 279,221 +14.4% 1880 323,784 +16.0% 1890 417,539 +29.0% 1900 520,602 +24.7% 1910 573,983 +10.3% 1920 647,427 +12.8% 1930 757,386 +17.0% 1940 800,594 +5.7% 1950 835,834 +4.4% 1960 869,602 +4.0% 1970 831,463 −4.4% 1980 716,967 −13.8% 1990 695,221 −3.0% 2000 731,289 +5.2% 2010 767,773 +5.0% 2020 872,380 +13.6%
Source: (1590–1670) (1680–1880) Department for Research, Information and Statistics (1890–present)

This changed during the Dutch Revolt. Many people from the Southern Netherlands moved north, especially after Antwerp fell to Spanish forces in 1585. Jews from Spain, Portugal, and Eastern Europe also settled in Amsterdam. Germans and Scandinavians came too. In just 30 years, Amsterdam's population more than doubled. By 1600, about 50,000 people lived there. In the 1660s, it reached 200,000. The population stayed around 240,000 for most of the 1700s.

In 1750, Amsterdam was the fourth largest city in Western Europe. This was amazing because it wasn't even the capital of the Netherlands. The city's population went down in the early 1800s. But then, new industries helped it grow again. Amsterdam's population reached its highest point of 872,000 in 1959. After that, it went down for a while as people moved to suburbs. But in the 2010s, it started growing again. Much of this growth was due to people moving to the city from other countries.

Different Cultures in Amsterdam

In the 1500s and 1600s, many people from other countries moved to Amsterdam. These included French Protestants, people from Flanders, and Jewish people. They came for different reasons, like escaping unfair treatment or finding better jobs. Before World War II, 10% of the city's people were Jewish. Only 20% of them survived the war.

After World War II, even more cultures and religions came to Amsterdam. Today, Amsterdam has people from about 180 different countries. This makes it one of the most diverse cities in the world. About half of the people in the city have at least one parent who was born in another country.

In the 1960s, workers from Turkey, Morocco, Italy, and Spain came to Amsterdam. After Suriname became independent in 1975, many Surinamese people moved to Amsterdam. Other immigrants came from all over the world. Many younger people and artists moved into older neighborhoods. Immigrants from non-Western countries often settled in public housing areas. Today, about one-fifth of Amsterdam's population is from non-Western backgrounds. More than 30% of the city's children are from these backgrounds.

Residents of Amsterdam with a recent migration background, by country of birth of parent (mother – or if mother is Dutch – father) (2024)

Country or territory	Population
Morocco	79,157
Suriname	62,132
Turkey	46,814
Indonesia	23,242
Germany	21,179
United Kingdom	17,028
United States	14,696
Italy	14,427
Ghana	13,857
Soviet Union (former)	12,849
Dutch Antilles and Aruba	12,201
France	11,972
India	11,022
China	9,428
Spain	9,330
Others	165,629
Total	524,963

In 2015, Christians were the largest religious group in Amsterdam. Islam was the next largest religion. Amsterdam has helped many immigrants learn the Dutch language.

Religion in Amsterdam

In 1578, Amsterdam joined the fight against Spanish rule. Catholic priests were forced out of the city. All churches became Protestant churches. It was not allowed to openly practice Roman Catholicism. This led to "hidden churches" in regular buildings. Catholics, some Jews, and other Protestants used these secret places.

Many foreigners came to Amsterdam in the 1600s. These included Jewish people from Spain and Portugal, French Protestants, and Lutherans. This led to many churches that didn't speak Dutch. In 1603, Jewish people were allowed to practice their religion. The first synagogue was built in 1639. Jews started calling Amsterdam the "Jerusalem of the West."

Later, in the 1600s, many Ashkenazi Jews came from Central and Eastern Europe. They often fled from violence. They built their own synagogues. They also influenced the local "Amsterdam dialect" with Yiddish words. Even though there was no official Jewish area, most Jews lived in the eastern part of the city.

Catholic churches have been built in Amsterdam since 1853. One of the main architects for these churches also designed the Amsterdam Centraal station.

Historically, Amsterdam was mostly Christian. In 1900, Christians made up 70% of the population. But recently, immigration has changed the religious makeup. Hinduism came from people from Suriname. Different types of Islam came from various parts of the world. Islam is now the largest non-Christian religion in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam's Buildings and Design

Amsterdam spreads out south from the Amsterdam Centraal station. The oldest part of the city is called De Wallen. It is east of the main street, Damrak. South of De Wallen is the old Jewish quarter.

The old canals of Amsterdam, called grachten, surround the city's heart. The houses along them have interesting gables (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof). Beyond the canals are older working-class areas. The Museumplein (Museum Square) has the city's main museums. The Vondelpark, a park from the 1800s, is also outside the main canal area.

Several parts of the city are polders. You can tell by the word -meer in their names, which means lake. Examples are Aalsmeer and Haarlemmermeer.

Amsterdam's Canals

Amsterdam's canal system was carefully planned. In the early 1600s, when many people were moving to the city, a big plan was made. It involved four half-circles of canals. They would connect to the IJ bay. These are known as the Grachtengordel. Three of the canals were for homes: the Herengracht (Canal of the Lords), Keizersgracht (Emperor's Canal), and Prinsengracht (Prince's Canal). The fourth, outermost canal is the Singelgracht.

The canals were used for defense, managing water, and transport. They acted as a moat with earthen walls. The original plans are lost, but historians think they were built for practical reasons, not just for looks.

Building started in 1613. It moved from west to east, like a giant windshield wiper. The canals in the southern part were finished by 1656. Building houses along them took longer. The eastern part of the canal plan was never built. That land was later used for parks and other public places. Over the years, some canals were filled in and became streets.

How Amsterdam Expanded

After the canals were built in the 1600s, Amsterdam didn't grow much for 200 years. In the 1800s, Samuel Sarphati made a plan. It was inspired by big cities like Paris and London. The plan included new houses, public buildings, and streets outside the main canal area. Its main goal was to make the city healthier.

Later, engineers designed a whole ring of neighborhoods around the city centre. Most of these became homes for working-class people.

In the early 1900s, two new plans were made to deal with overcrowding. These plans involved building new neighborhoods with housing blocks for everyone.

After World War II, large new neighborhoods were built in the west, southeast, and north of the city. These were meant to solve the housing shortage. They offered affordable homes with modern features. These areas had many large housing blocks with green spaces. They were connected by wide roads for cars.

Amsterdam's Architecture

Amsterdam has a rich history of buildings. The oldest building is the Oude Kerk (Old Church). It is in the heart of the Wallen area and was finished in 1306. The oldest wooden building is Het Houten Huys at the Begijnhof. It was built around 1425.

In the 1500s, wooden buildings were replaced with brick ones. Many buildings were built in the Renaissance style. These buildings have easily recognizable stepped gables. Amsterdam developed its own Renaissance style. The Westerkerk is a famous building designed by Hendrick de Keyser.

In the 1600s, baroque architecture became popular. This was during Amsterdam's Golden Age. The Royal Palace on Dam Square is a famous baroque building. In the 1700s, French culture influenced Amsterdam's buildings. Around 1815, architects started using different "neo-styles." Many Gothic-style buildings from that time are called neo-gothic.

At the end of the 1800s, the Art Nouveau style became popular. Many new buildings were built in this style. The houses near the Museum Square are an example. The last popular style before modern times was Art Deco. Amsterdam had its own version called the Amsterdam School. Whole areas were built in this style. Buildings in this style have highly decorated fronts with unusual windows and doors.

The old city centre has buildings from all styles before the late 1800s. Most historic buildings are houses, like the famous merchant houses along the canals.

Parks and Fun Areas

Amsterdam has many parks, open spaces, and squares. The Vondelpark is the largest park. It is named after a 17th-century Dutch writer. About 10 million people visit the park each year. It has an open-air theatre, a playground, and places to eat.

The Amsterdamse Bos ("Amsterdam Forest") is the largest recreation area. It is about three times the size of Central Park in New York. Almost 4.5 million people visit it every year. Other parks include the Sarphatipark and the Oosterpark. The city also has three beaches.

The city has many open squares called plein. Dam Square is the main city square. It has the Royal Palace and the National Monument. Museumplein has several museums, including the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Other squares include Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.

Amsterdam's Economy

Amsterdam is the financial and business capital of the Netherlands. Many large companies and banks have their main offices in Amsterdam. These include AkzoNobel, Heineken International, ING Group, and Philips.

Many companies have moved their offices outside the city centre. The Zuidas (South Axis) has become the new financial and legal hub. It has the country's largest law firms and many big consulting companies. The World Trade Centre is also there. There are also smaller business areas around other train stations. Amsterdam is working to become a "circular city" by 2050. This means it wants to reuse and recycle materials as much as possible.

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX) is the world's oldest stock exchange. It is located near Dam Square in the city centre.

Port of Amsterdam

The Port of Amsterdam is the fourth-largest port in Europe. It is the second-largest port in the Netherlands. In 2014, it handled 97.4 million tons of cargo. Most of this was bulk cargo (large amounts of goods). Amsterdam has the biggest cruise port in the Netherlands. More than 150 cruise ships visit every year. A new lock opened in 2019, allowing the port to handle even more cargo.

Tourism in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of Europe's most popular places to visit. It gets over 5.34 million international visitors each year. This doesn't even count the 16 million day-trippers! The number of visitors has been growing steadily. Most hotels are in the city centre. In 2017, 85% of hotel rooms were full. Most tourists (74%) come from Europe. The largest group from outside Europe comes from the United States.

Sometimes, Amsterdam has special themes for a year to attract more tourists. For example, 2006 was "Rembrandt 400" to celebrate the painter's 400th birthday.

In 2023, the city started a campaign to discourage young British men from visiting just to party. The ads show young men being arrested. This is part of an effort to improve the city's image.

Shopping in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has all kinds of shops. You can find large department stores like De Bijenkorf. There are also many small, special shops. High-end shops are on streets like P.C. Hooftstraat. One of the busiest shopping streets is the narrow, old Kalverstraat.

Other shopping areas include the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets). These are nine narrow streets within the canal belt. They have many unique, privately owned shops. The Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk were voted the best shopping street in the Netherlands in 2011. They also have many different kinds of shops, from candy to books.

The city also has many outdoor markets. These include the Albert Cuyp Market and the Dappermarkt. Some markets are open every day, while others are weekly.

Fashion in Amsterdam

Several fashion brands and designers are based in Amsterdam. Famous designers include Iris van Herpen and Viktor & Rolf. Fashion models like Doutzen Kroes started their careers here. Amsterdam has a garment centre called the World Fashion Center.

Culture in Amsterdam

In the late 1500s, Amsterdam's poetry and drama groups held contests. In 1637, the first theatre in Amsterdam, Schouwburg, was built. The first ballet shows in the Netherlands were held there in 1642. In the 1700s, French theatre became popular. In the 1800s, there were few Dutch opera shows. The Hollandse Opera was built in 1888 to promote Dutch opera.

The Rijksmuseum (1885) and Stedelijk Museum (1895) were built and opened. In 1888, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra was formed. In the 1900s, cinema, radio, and television became popular. Many people who work in TV live in Amsterdam.

Museums in Amsterdam

The most important museums in Amsterdam are on the Museumplein (Museum Square). This square was created in the late 1800s. The large Rijksmuseum is on one side. In front of it is a long pond that becomes an ice rink in winter. The Van Gogh Museum is also on the square.

The Rijksmuseum has the largest collection of classic Dutch art. It opened in 1885. Its collection has almost one million objects. Rembrandt is an artist strongly connected to Amsterdam. His work is shown in the Rijksmuseum. His masterpiece, The Night Watch, is one of the museum's top pieces. The museum also has paintings by Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals. Besides paintings, it has many decorative art pieces. The museum was renovated for 10 years and reopened in 2013. It is the most visited museum in Amsterdam.

Vincent van Gogh lived in Amsterdam for a short time. There is a museum dedicated to his work. It is in a modern building designed by Gerrit Rietveld. A new building was added in 1999 for temporary exhibits. Some of Van Gogh's most famous paintings, like The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers, are here. It is the second most visited museum in Amsterdam.

Next to the Van Gogh museum is the Stedelijk Museum. This is Amsterdam's most important museum for modern art. It opened in 1895. Its collection includes art from artists like Piet Mondrian. After several years of renovations, it reopened in 2012 with a new extension.

Amsterdam has many other museums. They range from small ones like the Anne Frank House to very large ones like the Tropenmuseum (Museum of the Tropics). The modern Nemo museum has science exhibits for kids.

Music in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has many songs that show love for the city. "Aan de Amsterdamse grachten" ("On the canals of Amsterdam") is a famous song. In the 1950s, Johnny Jordaan became famous with "Geef mij maar Amsterdam" ("I prefer Amsterdam"). This song praises Amsterdam above all other cities. Another famous song is "Amsterdam" by Jacques Brel.

AFAS Live (formerly Heineken Music Hall) is a concert hall near the Johan Cruyff Arena. Many famous international artists perform there. Two other popular venues, Paradiso and the Melkweg, are near the Leidseplein. They host many types of music, from indie rock to hip hop. The Bimhuis is a top place for Jazz music. In 2012, the Ziggo Dome, a modern indoor music arena, opened.

AFAS Live also hosts many electronic dance music festivals. Armin van Buuren and Tiesto, famous Trance DJs, are from the Netherlands and often perform in Amsterdam. Every October, the city hosts the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). This is one of the biggest electronic music festivals in the world. It attracts over 350,000 visitors.

Amsterdam has a world-class symphony orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. They perform at the Concertgebouw. This concert hall is known for having some of the best acoustics (sound quality) in the world. About 900 concerts happen there each year.

The opera house is next to the city hall. Together, they are often called the Stopera. This large modern building opened in 1986. It is home to the Dutch National Opera and Dutch National Ballet.

Performing Arts in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has three main theatre buildings.

The Stadsschouwburg at the Leidseplein is home to the Toneelgroep Amsterdam theatre group. The current building is from 1894. It hosts all kinds of theatre shows.

The Dutch National Opera and Ballet is the main opera house. It opened in 1986. The Royal Theatre Carré was built in 1887 as a circus theatre. Today, it is mainly used for musicals, comedy shows, and pop concerts.

The Netherlands has a tradition of cabaret or kleinkunst. This combines music, storytelling, and comedy. Famous artists like Wim Kan were pioneers of this art form. Amsterdam has a Cabaret Academy. The English comedy scene started with Boom Chicago in 1993. They have their own theatre.

Nightlife in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is famous for its lively nightlife. It has many cafés (bars). These range from large and modern to small and cozy. The typical Bruine Kroeg (brown café) has an old-fashioned feel with dim lights. Most cafés have outdoor seating in summer. The Leidseplein is often full of people enjoying outdoor terraces.

Amsterdam also has many restaurants with different types of food. They can be fancy and expensive or simple and affordable. There are also many discothèques. The two main nightlife areas for tourists are the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein. Paradiso and the Melkweg are cultural centers that become discotheques on some nights.

Festivals in Amsterdam

In 2008, Amsterdam hosted 140 festivals and events. That same year, UNESCO named Amsterdam the World Book Capital for a year.

Famous festivals include Koningsdag (King's Day). This used to be called Koninginnedag (Queen's Day) until King Willem-Alexander was crowned in 2013. On King's Day, held every year on April 27, hundreds of thousands of people come to Amsterdam. The whole city is packed with people buying things from the freemarket or going to music concerts.

The yearly Holland Festival brings international artists and visitors. The Amsterdam Gay Pride is a yearly parade of boats on Amsterdam's canals. It is held on the first Saturday in August. The annual Uitmarkt is a three-day cultural event in late August. It shows previews of many different artists.

Sports in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to the Eredivisie football (soccer) club AFC Ajax. Their stadium, Johan Cruyff Arena, is in the southeast of the city. Before 1996, Ajax played in the old De Meer Stadion or the Olympic Stadium.

In 1928, Amsterdam hosted the Summer Olympics. The Olympic Stadium was built for this event. It has been fully restored and is now used for cultural and sports events, like the Amsterdam Marathon.

The city also holds the Dam to Dam Run, a 16-kilometer (10-mile) race from Amsterdam to Zaandam. The ice hockey team Amstel Tijgers plays in the Jaap Eden ice rink. Speed skating championships have also been held there.

Amsterdam has two American football teams: the Amsterdam Crusaders and the Amsterdam Panthers. The Amsterdam Pirates baseball team plays in the Dutch Major League. There are also three field hockey teams.

Since 1999, Amsterdam has given out the Amsterdam Sports Awards to its best athletes.

Transport in Amsterdam

Metro, Tram, and Bus

Amsterdam currently has 16 tram routes and 5 metro routes. All of these are run by the city's public transport company, Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf (GVB). GVB also operates the city bus network.

Four free GVB ferries take people and bikes across the IJ lake to Amsterdam-Noord. Two other ferries charge a fee and run along the harbor. There are also private water taxis, a water bus, and canal cruises.

Regional and suburban buses are run by other companies. International bus services are also available from Amsterdam's train stations.

To make it easier to get to the city centre, Amsterdam has "P+R Locations." Here, people can park their cars cheaply and then use public transport.

Driving in Amsterdam

Amsterdam was originally planned to be the center of the Netherlands' highway system. But because of World War II and other changes, only a few main highways start from the city. The A10 ring road goes around the city. It connects Amsterdam to the national highway network.

Exits on the A10 allow cars to enter the city on one of 18 "city roads." These roads are not highways and are sometimes used by cyclists. The S100 Centrumring is a smaller ring road around the city centre.

Driving a car in the city centre is not encouraged. Parking is expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or are one-way. The local government supports carsharing programs. They are also removing parking spaces in the city, aiming for 10,000 fewer by 2025.

Trains in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has 10 train stations. Five of them are stops for intercity trains: Sloterdijk, Zuid, Amstel, Bijlmer ArenA, and Amsterdam Centraal.

Amsterdam Centraal is also an international train station. You can take trains from here to many European countries like Belgium, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Amsterdam's Airport

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is less than 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam Centraal station. It is served by both local and international trains. Schiphol is the largest airport in the Netherlands. It is the third-largest in Europe and the 14th-largest in the world for passengers. Over 68 million passengers use it each year. It is the home base for airlines like KLM. Even though it's called Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, it's actually in a nearby town called Haarlemmermeer.

Biking in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly big cities in the world. It has great facilities for cyclists, like bike paths and bike racks. There are also guarded bike parking garages.

In 2015, the 442,693 households in Amsterdam owned 847,000 bicycles. That's almost two bikes per household! Bike theft is common. In 2011, about 83,000 bikes were stolen. People from all backgrounds use bikes because it's convenient. Amsterdam is small, has 400 kilometers (250 miles) of bike paths, and is flat. Driving a car can be difficult here.

Education in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has two universities: the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). Other places for higher education include an art school and a university of applied sciences. The International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam is one of the world's largest places for studying social history. Amsterdam's Hortus Botanicus (Botanical Garden) was founded in the early 1600s. It is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.

There are over 200 primary schools in Amsterdam. Some schools use special teaching methods like Montessori. Many schools are based on religion. In the past, these were mainly Catholic or Protestant schools. But with more Muslim immigrants, there are now more Islamic schools. Jewish schools are in the southern suburbs.

Amsterdam is known for having five independent grammar schools (gymnasia). These schools teach classical subjects like Latin and classical Greek. These schools have become popular again. Most secondary schools in Amsterdam offer different levels of education in the same school. The city also has various colleges for art, design, politics, and economics. These are often open to students from other countries.

Schools for foreign students in Amsterdam include the Amsterdam International Community School and the British School of Amsterdam.

Famous People from Amsterdam

Media in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is an important centre for national and international media. Some local newspapers include Het Parool and De Telegraaf, which is the largest Dutch daily newspaper. There are also free newspapers like Metro.

Amsterdam is home to the second-largest Dutch commercial TV group, SBS Broadcasting Group. This group owns TV stations like SBS 6. However, the town of Hilversum, southeast of Amsterdam, is known as "the media city of the Netherlands." Hilversum is the main centre for radio and television broadcasting in the Netherlands.

Many movies have been filmed in Amsterdam. These include James Bond's Diamonds Are Forever and Ocean's Twelve. Amsterdam is also featured in John Green's book The Fault in Our Stars, which was also made into a movie.

Housing in Amsterdam

Since the late 1960s, many buildings in Amsterdam have been squatted (taken over by people without permission). This was done for housing and to create social centres. Some of these squats later became legal and well-known places, like OCCII and Paradiso.

Sister Cities

• Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, 2007
• Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, 2011

See also

In Spanish: Ámsterdam para niños