Amsterdam snapshot
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Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands in the province of North Holland. It was founded in the 12th century as a small fishing village.
It is a relatively compact city noted for its concentric ring of canals mainly built in the 17th century - the city's 'Golden Age' when it was the trading capital of the western world. Today there are about 750,000 living in the city centre and another 1m making up the urban population.
There are three main canals and a river forming rings radiating from the port. Lesser canals intersect these radially, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel, effectively dividing the city into a number of islands.
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In the 17th century it was one of the wealthiest cities in the world, the result of extensive trade links through its port and a number of overseas colonies. Ships sailed from Amsterdam to the Baltic, North America, Africa, Indonesia and to Brazil, forming the basis of a world-wide trading network.
It was also a leading financial centre. It enjoyed further huge growth in the 19th century when many of its most important buildings were erected.
The city is noted for its red light district where prostitution is legalised and for its coffee shops where cannabis can be bought and smoked in small quantities. It is renowned for its traffic free streets and the extensive use of bicycles for transport. It is estimated there are more than 700,000 bicycles in the city.
In the city centre, driving a car is discouraged. Parking fees are steep and a great number of streets are closed to cars or are one-way only. Public transport is good with an extensive bus and tram network across the city.
Amsterdam is noted for many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rembrandt House Museum. The Anne Frank House is a sombre yet popular tourist attraction. The city boasts a world-class symphony orchestra housed at the Concertgebouw.
For Amsterdam city breaks directline-citybreaks combines Eurostar and cheap flights with hand-picked hotels in more than 50 cities to offer cheap city breaks, short breaks and unforgettable weekend breaks.
Amsterdam had good road and rail links, with the main railway station sited in the centre of the city. Nearby is Schiphol airport, the fourth largest in Europe. Amsterdam has a temperate climate. Winters are generally mild and summers not uncomfortably hot.
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Every month our travel writers comb the web for city break deals to Amsterdam. Visit our Amsterdam holiday shop to browse through the latest offers. For an in-depth tourist guide visit TravelSavvy Amsterdam.
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