Amsterdam overview |
Amsterdam is a city that started out as a small fishing village in the latter years of the 12th century. During its golden age its arts, trade and science received the highest accolades world over which led it to becoming an important port for business a state it has maintained up to date. During the 17th century, it was a leader in finance and diamonds. Its name was derived from the dam that had been created on the river Amsteel. During its second golden age in the 19th century, canals were dug to give it a direct connection to the Rhine River, the longest and most important river in Europe and to the North Sea increasing its importance as a port of trade and commerce.
Amsterdam is located to the west of the Netherlands and is its capital city. It borders Germany to the east and Belgium to the South and the center of government is The Hague. It is a major part of the Kingdom of Netherlands, a country in Western Europe. Here is where the King is crowned as per the country's constitution. The city had a population of 1.36 million as of January 2008. It encompasses several major suburbs many of which were built after World War 2 to provide good and affordable housing to the working class community. They have wide roads for easy accessibility and green areas for beautification purposes. The country is low lying and in the capital itself, it is only 2 meters above sea level. Most of the land has been reclaimed from the sea by the use of dikes. These are artificial walls that are made parallel to the waters edge to regulate the water levels in and around the city. Amsterdam also has a man made forest in it. Some streets and squares within the city have been created by filling in a number of the numerous canals. The climate in this city is maritime climate. This is the type of climate that is found in middle latitude countries around the globe. Winter temperatures rarely go below zero degrees. As a cultural, financial, and business capital, the city has many world class companies located within it. Examples are Phillips, Tom Tom, KPMG, Heineken International, and ABN AMRO. Amsterdam receives 3.66 Million tourists a year as of 2009 and certain years are themed to attract more visitors. It has a designated area for legalized prostitution. |