Travel Facts - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. The name stems from a dam that was built in the river 'The Amstel' that runs through the city. Although Amsterdam was only a small fishervillage in the 12th century, it developed into one of the most important ports and cities in the world during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century.

Amsterdam is sometimes refered to as Venice of the North because of its canals that are frequent in the city, its amazing architecture and 1,500 bridges. There is something for everyone's taste; history and culture, partying or the relaxing charm of an old European city.

Amsterdam's main attractions, including its historic canals, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, the Amsterdam Museum, the red-light district and all it's coffee shops draw more than 5 million international visitors per year. Also the tolerant atmosphere is a reason to visit.

The best way to go around in Amsterdam is by bike. There are more bikes in Amsterdam than there are people and the city is very bike-friendly.

Also notice the 'crooked' houses. Unlike popular believe, they haven't sunk into the soft dutch ground. They are actually made like this on purpose. In earlier years, houses were taxed on the amount of space they occupied measured on the ground. This led to people building V-shaped houses, to pay less tax and gain a couple of square meters of livable space.