Dictionary
an industrial center and the nominal capital of the Netherlands center of the diamond-cutting industry seat of an important stock exchange known for its canals and art museum
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Wikipedia
Alternate meanings: See Amsterdam (disambiguation) Amsterdam'' Amsterdam Location ;Country:Netherlands The Netherlands;Province:North Holland;Population:739,295 (1 January 2005);Coordinates:4°54'E - 52°22'N;Website:amsterdam.nl - www.amsterdam.nl;Mayor:Job Cohen Amsterdam, (PronunciationNl-Amsterdam.ogg ) the capital of the Netherlands, lies on the banks of two rivers, the IJ (bay)IJ and the Amstel. Founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village on the banks of the Amstel, it is now the largest city in the country and its financial and cultural centre. As of 2005, the population of the city proper is 742,209; the population of the greater Amsterdam area is approximately one and a half million.Amsterdam has one of the largest historic city centres in Europe, dating largely from the 17th century, the Golden Age of the Netherlands, of which it was the focal point. At this time, a series of concentric, semi-circular canals was built around the older city centre, which still define its layout and appearance today. Many fine houses and mansions are situated along the canals; most are lived in, others are now offices, and some are public buildings. Some of the narrow brick houses are gradually sinking because they are built on pilepiles to cope with the marshy subsoil.The city is noted for many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, Rembrandt House Museum, the Anne Frank House, and its world-class symphony orchestra, the Concertgebouworkest, whose home base is the Concertgebouw. Notable are also its red-light district, ''de Wallen'', and its numerous "coffee shops" selling cannabis (drug)cannabis.Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, it is neither the capital of the province in which it is located, North Holland (which is Haarlem), nor the seat of government (which is The Hague).
History - ''Main article: History of Amsterdam''Legend has it that Amsterdam was founded by two Frisian fisherman, who landed on the shores of the Amstel in a small boat with their dog. Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village in the 13th century. The damming of the river Amstel gave it its name. It was given City rights in the Netherlandscity rights in 1300 or 1301. From the 14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely on the basis of trade with the cities of the Hanseatic league. The 16th century brought a rebellion by the Dutch against Philip II of Spain and his successors, escalating into the Eighty Years' War which ultimately led to Dutch independence. The Dutch Republic became known for its relative religious tolerance and Jews from Spain and Portugal, prosperous merchants from Antwerp (city)Antwerp (economic and religious refugees from the part of the Low Countries still controlled by Spain), Huguenots from France (persecuted for their religion) sought safety in Amsterdam. It was the rich, refined migrants from Flanders who set the tone (their Brabant dialects became the basis of standard written Dutch) and made Holland a mercantile power.The 17th century is considered Amsterdam's "Golden Age". In the early 17th century Amsterdam was the richest city in Europe. Ships sailed from Amsterdam to North America, Africa and present-day Indonesia and Brazil and formed the basis of a worldwide trading network. Amsterdam's merchants had the biggest share in the Dutch East India CompanyVOC and Dutch West India CompanyWIC. These companies acquired the overseas possessions which formed the seeds of the later Dutch colonies. Amsterdam was the most important point for the trans-shipment of goods in Europe and it was the leading financial center of the world. Amsterdam's stock exchange was the first to trade continuously. The population grew from slightly over 10,000 around 1500 to 30,000 around 1570, 60,000 around 1600, 105,000 in 1622 and almost 200,000 around 1700 (a twentyfold increase in 200 years). Thereafter, the population did not change much for another century and a half. During the century before WW II it almost quadrupled, but then remained fairly constant again to this day. with the Waag in the background
Photograph by !User:DirkvdM/Photographs Dirk van der Made]] The 18th and early 19th centuries saw a decline in Amsterdam's prosperity. The wars of the Dutch Republic with the United Kingdom and France took their toll on Amsterdam. During the Napoleonic wars Amsterdam's fortunes reached their lowest point. However, with the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, things slowly began to improve. In Amsterdam new developments were started by people like Sarphati who found their inspiration in Paris. At the end of the 19th century the Industrial Revolution reached Amsterdam. The ''Amsterdam-Rhine Canal'' was dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the Rhine and the ''North Sea Canal'' to give the port a connection with the North Sea. Both projects improved communication with the rest of Europe and the world dramatically. They gave the economy a big boost.Between 1850 and 1900 population doubled to about 500.000.The end of the 19th century is sometimes called Amsterdam's second Golden Age. New museums, a train station, and the Concertgebouw were built. Amsterdam's population grew significantly during this period. Shortly before the First World War the city began expanding and new suburbs were built. During World War I, the Netherlands remained neutral. Amsterdam suffered a food shortage and heating fuel became scarce. In riots caused by the shortages several people where killed.Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940, taking control of the country after five days of fighting. The Germans installed a Nazi civilian government in Amsterdam that cooperated in the persecution of Jews. More than 80,000 Jews were deported to concentration camps, of whom perhaps the most famous was a young German girl, Anne Frank. Only 5,000 Jews survived the war. In the last months of the war communication with the rest of the country broke down and food and fuel became scarce. Many Amsterdammers had to travel to the countryside to collect food. Most of the trees in Amsterdam were cut down for fuel.
Coat of arms - The coat of arms of Amsterdam is composed of three Saint AndrewSt Andrew's crosses, aligned vertically, but rotated 90° for the flag. Historians believe they represent the three dangers which have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The city's official motto, ''Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig'' ("Valiant, Resolute, and Merciful") which is displayed on the coat of arms, was bestowed on it by Queen Wilhelmina in 1947 in recognition of the city's bravery during the World War II.
City government - ''Main article: Amsterdam (municipality)'' As all Dutch municipalities, Amsterdam is governed by a mayor, his ''wethouders'' (aldermen), and the municipal council. However, unlike most other Dutch municipalities, Amsterdam is subdivided into fifteen ''stadsdelen'' (boroughs), a system that was implemented in the 1980s to improve local governance. The ''stadsdelen'' are responsible for many activities that previously had been run by the central city. Fourteen of these have their own council, chosen by a popular election. The fifteenth, Westerpoort, covers the harbour of Amsterdam, has very few inhabitants and is governed by the central municipal council. Local decisions are made at borough level and only affairs pertaining the whole city (like major infrastructural projects), are handled by the central city council.
Academia - Amsterdam has two universities: the University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam), and the Vrije Universiteit. Other institutions for higher education include an art school, De Rietveldacademie, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, the Hogeschool voor Economische Studies Amsterdam and the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, which includes the Sweelinck Conservatorium. Amsterdam's International Institute of Social History is one of the world's largest documentary and research institutions concerning social history, and especially the history of the labour movement. Amsterdam's Hortus Botanicus (Amsterdam)Hortus Botanicus, founded in the early 1600s, is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, with many old and rare specimens, amongst which the coffee plant that served as the parent for the entire coffee culture in Central and South America. , is known for its modern architecture.]]
Public transportation - Public transport in Amsterdam consists of: national and international train connections 3 metro lines and 1 Light Raillightrail line, together the Amsterdam metro 16 tram lines An express tram line (IJtram) 55 bus lines (not included regional and national lines) several ferries for pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ (free of charge) a Fast Flying Ferry towards Velsen-Zuid on the North sea shoreA new underground line, the North/South Line (''Noord/Zuidlijn'') is under construction. (See also Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, Amsterdam metro.)Many people in Amsterdam use a bicycle to get around. Most main streets have bike paths and bike racks are ubiquitous throughout the city. In the city centre, driving a car is complicated by constant traffic jams and limited and expensive parking space.
Airport - Schiphol AirportSchiphol, about twenty minutes by train from downtown Amsterdam, is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, and the fourth largest in Europe. It handles about 40 million passengers a year and is homebase to KLM.
Sports - Amsterdam is the home town of Ajax AmsterdamAjax, a team in the Dutch Football League. Its home base is the modern stadium Amsterdam ArenA, located in the south-east of the city. The team shares that facility with the Amsterdam Admirals, an American football team, which won the NFL Europe's World Bowl in 2005 for the first time. In 1928, Amsterdam hosted the IX Olympic Games. The Olympic stadium built for the occasion has been completely restored and is now used for cultural and sporting events.
Periodic events - Koninginnedag, ''Queen's day'', 30 April, the former Queen's (Juliana) birthday Uitmarkt, last weekend in August, the start of the cultural season ''Amsterdam Roots'', last week of June. International music festival ''Amsterdam Pride'', mid-August, gay pride weekend ''Amsterdam Marathon'', mid-October Sail Amsterdam, a five-yearly event, when tall ships from all over the world can be visited. Cannabis Cup, mid-November annual cannabis competition, hosted by High Times.
Famous Amsterdammers -
External links - commonsAmsterdam wikitravel.org - Guide to Amsterdam from wikitravel.org - Wikitravel amsterdam.nl - Official website of the city of Amsterdam (iamsterdam.com - English Version)Province North Holland !Category:AmsterdamCategory:Cap itals? in EuropeCategory:Cities in the NetherlandsCategory:Host cities of the Summer Olympic GamesCategory:North Hollandaf:Amsterdam !(Nederland)ar:أمستردام bg:Амстердамbs:Amster damca:Amsterdamcs:Amsterdamda: Amsterdamde:Amsterdamet:Amster damel:Άμστερνταμes:A msterdameo:Amsterdamofr:Amster damfy:Amsterdamgl:Ámsterdam? - !Amsterdamko:암스테르담hr: Amsterdamio:Amsterdamid:Amster damit:Amsterdamhe:אמסטרד םcsb:Amsterdamla:Amstelodamum lt:Amsterdamasli:Amsterdamnl:A msterdamja:アムステルダ no:Amsterdamnn:Amsterdampl:A msterdampt:Amsterdãoro:Amster damru:Амстердамscn:Am sterdamsk:Amsterdamsl:Amsterda msr:Амстердамfi:Amste rdamsv:Amsterdamtr:Amsterdamuk :Амстердамzh:阿姆 特丹
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Websites
Emergency waterbed service
24 uurs service op lek bedden. Landelijk service. 06 53 13 58 12
http://www.waterbed-emergency.nl/
KlassiekeGeuren.nl
Online classic fragrances.. Online KlassiekeGeuren
http://www.klassiekegeuren.nl/
Hotel Rokin Amsterdam
Hotel Rokin Amsterdam is a 3-star hotel in the very centre of Amsterdam. We have parking garage for your car.
http://www.rokinhotel.com/
Laurent & Lewis
Beautiful House music from Amsterdam
http://www.laurentetlewis.com/
COVERinvent
COVERinvent heeft jarenlange ervaring met de implementatie van middelgrote en grootschalige relatiemanagement CRM oplossingen. 11.000 Europese ondernemingen die enthousiast en met veel effect gebruik maken van onze software bewijzen dagelijks het succes van onze benaderingswijze.
http://www.coverinvent.nl
The Amsterdam Stetsons
Amsterdam's first Country & Western dance club for gays and lesbians
http://www.stetsons.nl/
Martijn Hesseling (Artist)
portfolio of Martijn Hesseling. His work consists of newspaper collages that are completely transparent and layered duraclear photo's.
http://www.martijnhesseling.nl/
Chinese School Nederland
Chinees leren? Volg een cursus Chinees bij Chinese School Nederland in Amsterdam, Rotterdam of Den Haag.
http://www.chineseschoolnederland.nl/
Moritz Tuning
For all racing en tuning
http://www.moritztuning.nl/
Stichting Prof. dr. J. Jongbloedfonds
Bevorderen, verdiepen en verbreiden van de wetenschappelijke kennis van de luchtvaartgeneeskunde.
http://www.jongbloedfonds.nl/
Top Deals on Cheap Hotel Rooms
Top Hotel Rooms is the leader in providing cheap Hotel Room Deals around the world including cheap booking rates for luxury, discount and budget hotels
http://www.tophotelrooms.com/
Reel
Homepage for REEL An industrial dance metal band from Amsterdam Holland
http://www.reel.nl
KoninginnedagAmsterdam.nl
KoninginnedagAmsterdam.nl is the main source for information about Queens day in the Netherlands.
http://www.koninginnedagamsterdam.nl/
Tayoko Art Gallery
The works of Maristela Tayoko are a refreshing mix of Japanese and Brazilian influences. Like her latin blood mixes with japanese blood, her artwork does the same. Her work is sold in galleries in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Galerie Buuf) and Graz, Austria (Jonathan de Zwart Gallery). Upon request her art is sold throughout the world and paid by PayPal on your credit card.
http://www.tayoko.net/
Architectural Specialties - Budwell International,Ltd.
Handcrafted individual designs Mediterranean,vintage european,asian,oriental, and natural country style contructions
http://www.budwell.com/
Artist Strange Work Artstudio the Netherlands owner DutchArtistJelke
twenty century spiritual oilpaintings show by DutchArtistJelke Creator only owner in the world from this new unique art style Spacingart
http://www.artist-strange-work.com/
Stichting Ondernemende Kunstenaars
We are a Dutch society of artists, who want to bring art nearer to the people by inviting them to become a 'Friend'of the society. We will bring Friends'in touch with the development of the work of the artists who are joining the society by organising yearly exhibitions.
http://www.okunst.nl/
aartcore / aart muis : interactive multimedia concepts and design
Aartcore / Aart Muis graduated from the Willem de Kooning academy in Rotterdam in 2003. With his final assignment he won the 'Drempelprijs' in collaboration with Pieter Bas Lugthart under the name d00p. He also worked with Eboman in the Sample Paradise, in which Aart Muis developed new interfaces for controlling audio and video in real-time. The project is SUWU3, a visual live drum & bass collective which performs all over Holland and abroad. He has also performed, and held workshops and lectures in places such as New York, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam with different projects and collaborations. Aartcore / Aart Muis is afgestudeerd aan de Willem de Kooning academie in Rotterdam in 2003. Met zijn eindexamenwerk heeft hij onder de naam d00p (i.s.m. in Pieter Bas Lugthart) de 'Drempelprijs' gewonnen. Hij heeft ook samengewerkt met Eboman in het Sample Paradijs, hier ontwikkelde Aart Muis nieuwe interfaces om audio en video in real-time te controleren. Het project SUWU3 is een visueel live drum & bass collectief dat optreed in heel Nederland en daar buiten. Verder geeft hij performances, workshops en lezingen in plaatsen als New York, Parijs, Londen, Amsterdam, Utrecht en Rotterdam met verschillende projecten en samenwerkingen.
http://www.aartcore.com/
Orange County Resort Hotel - Amsterdam in Kemer
Orange County Resort Hotel - Amsterdam in Kemer
http://www.orangecounty.com.tr/
Event Amsterdam Culinair
Culinair evenement in het centrum van Amsterdam waar restaurateurs uit de omgeving van Amsterdam hun keuken promoten. Een ware proeverij van de verschillende culinaire hoogstandjes die Amsterdam te bieden heeft.
http://www.amsterdam-culinair.nl/
Christian City Church Amsterdam
Contemporary International church serving the region surrounding Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Bi-lingual services for both English and Dutch speakers.
http://www.christiancitychurch.nl
Webers Holland
Site about avant-garde fashion designer Désirée Webers. Webshop with her designs. Photo galleries. Info on her shop in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Views on communication, sex and fashion design.
http://www.webersholland.nl/
Youth Hostel Ministry Amsterdam
Missions in Amsterdam: reaching Europe and the world. 30,000 travelers - 30,000 chances for the Gospel
http://www.youthhostelministry.org
FRESH
Website of thh Foundation for Real Estate Students from Holland (FRESH).
http://www.getfresh.org/
Sudus Internet
Sudus Internet is an internet service providr based in the Netherlands. We provide domainname registration, website hosting, colocated and dedicated hosting.
http://www.sudus.nl/
Geelblauw
One of the best places for graffiti links these days
http://www.geelblauw.nl/
zicht architecten
ZICHT architecten, interieur en architectuur
http://www.zichtarchitecten.nl/
La Cadena - tangotijdschrift
Nederlands tijdschrift over Argentijnse Tango
http://www.lacadena.nl/
Hotelgigant
book your hotel in holland, visit amsterdam, den heag, scheveningen or the buitifull veluwe.
http://www.hotelgigant.nl/
3* Amsterdam hotel : Borgmann Villa Hotel
Borgmann Villa is located right on the border of the Vondelpark, the hotel is a walking distance from the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Concertgebow.
http://www.hotel-borgmann.nl/
Sailing Trips Worldwide
A La Carte Cruises offers sailing trips on classic sailing ships worldwide. No experience required.
http://www.alacartecruises.nl/
Forzando
informatie over de Amsterdamse accordeon vereniging Forzando, accordeonles, concerten
http://www.forzando.org/
Nederlandse Vereniging voor Luchtvaartgeneeskunde (NVvLG)
Beoefening en bevordering van de luchtvaartgeneeskundige wetenschap door het leggen en onderhouden van kontakten met allen die op lucht- en ruimtevaartgeneeskundig terrein werkzaam zijn.
http://www.nvvlg.org
Greenpeace International
Information and resources on Greenpeace world wide. Links to global web sites. Current campaigns on climate, toxics, nuclear, oceans, genetic engineering, ocean dumping and forests.
http://www.greenpeace.org
Euronext Amsterdam - Netherlands
Exchange in the Netherlands, and the home marke for Dutch shares, bonds, warrants, options and futures.
http://www.aex.nl
Amsterdam Hotspots
Guide to Amsterdam's favorite spots. With reviews from other visitors, accurate maps, up-to-date agenda, travel tips and chat and forum section.
http://www.amsterdamhotspots.nl/
University of Amsterdam
Official site of the University of Amsterdam, offering information about the educational programmes, research, faculties, facilities and libraries.
http://www.english.uva.nl/
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