History Amsterdam
Amsterdam City
AMSTERDAM is an ideal location for a weekend break, with literally everything on offer, from artistic and cultural diversity during the day, to out and out debauchery at night.
A city of tolerance and diversity, its population of about 750,000 people is from a myriad of ethnic groups and nationalities, which is reflected in the shops, restaurants and galleries on every street.
The city is built around four main canals, the Prinsengracht, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Singel. Their horseshoe shapes and '1000 bridges' confuse many visitors. It is possible to walk in what you think is a relatively straight line for half an hour, only to find that you end up barely a hundred metres from where you began your journey!
Expatriates living in Amsteram sometimes joke that the city would be better served if the canals were concreted over into dual carriageways - getting around would be so much easier and less confusing. I should know because I passed my driving test there, and it takes time - some time - to distinguish between one bridge and another. So take a map.
Highlights of Amsterdam are Dam Square, the Leidesplein, Rembrandtplein, the Red Light District, the Coffee shops and the doughnuts.
Each draws its own crowd and one area or activity should not be confused with the other. The activities that take place in the areas around Dam Square and the Red Light district, are very different from those on the Leidesplein.
Irronically, the Milkyway - the Hipppy center of Europe - is just off the Leidesplein.
Amsterdam became prominent thanks to trade with Asia during the 17th century. The canal-side gabled warehouses, many now converted into stylish apartments, were where tall ships once unloaded cocoa, coffee and spices.
This is a multicultural city, home to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the world-class art collections of the Rijksmuseum, Stedejlik and Van Gogh museums.
Amsterdam cannot be recommended highly enough - its worth a visit even for the apple flavoured doughnuts.