At this crisis the inhabitants of Amsterdam opened the sluices and laid the country under water. There are three field hockey teams: Amsterdam, Pinok and Hurley, who play their matches around the Wagener Stadium in the nearby city of Amstelveen. Other shopping areas include the Negen Straatjes and Haarlemmerdijk and Haarlemmerstraat. [214] In 1920, Amsterdam assisted in hosting some of the sailing events for the Summer Olympics held in neighbouring Antwerp, Belgium by hosting events at Buiten IJ. The A10 ringroad surrounding the city connects Amsterdam with the Dutch national network of freeways. The basketball team MyGuide Amsterdam competes in the Dutch premier division and play their games in the Sporthallen Zuid.[215]. [244], Amsterdam has two universities: the University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam, UvA), and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). 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. By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Hooftstraat[182] and Cornelis Schuytstraat, which are located in the vicinity of the Vondelpark. Other more subcultural music venues are OCCII, OT301, De Nieuwe Anita, Winston Kingdom, and Zaal 100. The Singelgracht should not be confused with the oldest and innermost canal, the Singel. [83] In thirty years, Amsterdam's population more than doubled between 1585 and 1610. The Dam on the River Amstel) is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands; with a population of 907,976[11] within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban area[6] and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Its concerts perform mostly modern classical music. [187] The first ballet performances in the Netherlands were given in Schouwburg in 1642 with the Ballet of the Five Senses. (Ep. [146], Amsterdam has been one of the municipalities in the Netherlands which provided immigrants with extensive and free Dutch-language courses, which have benefited many immigrants.[147]. [242] Bicycles are used by all socio-economic groups because of their convenience, Amsterdam's small size, the 400 kilometres (249 miles) of bike paths,[243] the flat terrain, and the inconvenience of driving an automobile. Cloudy and damp days are common during the cooler months of October through March. Amsterdam has many parks, open spaces, and squares throughout the city. Speed skating championships have been held on the 400-meter lane of this ice rink. Amsterdam Gay Pride is a yearly local LGBT parade of boats in Amsterdam's canals, held on the first Saturday in August. The namesake of the city as the site of the original dam, Dam Square, is the main city square and has the Royal Palace and National Monument. a city in and the official capital of the Netherlands. The theatre often has English programming. Amsterdam is also featured in John Green's book The Fault in Our Stars, which has been made into a film as well that partly takes place in Amsterdam. In rhyming slang, "ram" (e.g. In an extremely short period of time, the shallow river IJ turned into a wide estuary, which from then on offered the Amstel an open connection to the Zuiderzee, IJssel and waterways further afield. The main aim of the plan, however, was to improve public health. [54] At the end of the Second World War, communication with the rest of the country broke down, and food and fuel became scarce. ", https://www.etymonline.com/word/amsterdam, Etymology of amsterdam by etymonline, Harper, D. (n.d.). [23] The city was ranked 4th place globally as top tech hub in the Savills Tech Cities 2019 report (2nd in Europe),[24] and 3rd in innovation by Australian innovation agency 2thinknow in their Innovation Cities Index 2009. Fourteen of those had their own district council (deelraad), elected by a popular vote. These streets have as the Negen Straatjes a large diversity of privately owned shops. It also houses paintings from artists like Bartholomeus van der Helst, Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals, Ferdinand Bol, Albert Cuyp, Jacob van Ruisdael and Paulus Potter. The English spoken comedy scene was established with the founding of Boom Chicago in 1993. Some Amsterdam citizens sheltered Jews, thereby exposing themselves and their families to a high risk of being imprisoned or sent to concentration camps. Yes! In 1489, out of gratitude for services and loans, Maximilian I awarded Amsterdam the right to adorn its coat of arms with the king's crown. Last came the city's official motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig ("Heroic, Determined, Merciful"), bestowed on the city in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina, in recognition of the city's bravery during the Second World War. Royal Theatre Carr was built as a permanent circus theatre in 1887 and is currently mainly used for musicals, cabaret performances, and pop concerts. Amestelle was inhabited by farmers, who lived more inland and more upstream, where the land was not as wet as at the banks of the downstream river mouth. [112] Following the Dutch takeover, all churches were converted to Protestant worship. [21] In 2022, Amsterdam was ranked the ninth best city in the world to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)[22] and 12th globally on quality of living for environment and infrastructure by Mercer. These new neighbourhoods were built to relieve the city's shortage of living space and give people affordable houses with modern conveniences. Amsterdam holds two American football franchises: the Amsterdam Crusaders and the Amsterdam Panthers. [196] The northwestern part of the square is bordered by the Van Gogh Museum, House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience and Coster Diamonds. The constitutional capital and largest city of the Netherlands, in the western part of the country. The modern-styled Nemo is dedicated to child-friendly science exhibitions. [208] The opera house of Amsterdam is located adjacent to the city hall. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is considered the oldest "modern" securities market stock exchange in the world. The leading architects of this style in Amsterdam were Jacob van Campen, Philips Vingboons and Daniel Stalpaert.[166]. This urban renewal and expansion of the traditional centre of the citywith the construction on artificial islands of the new eastern IJburg neighbourhoodis part of the Structural Vision Amsterdam 2040 initiative.[68][69]. [168] A notable feature of the faades of buildings designed in Amsterdamse School is that they are highly decorated and ornate, with oddly shaped windows and doors. Negen Straatjes are nine narrow streets within the Grachtengordel, the concentric canal system of Amsterdam. The Port of Amsterdam is the fourth-largest port in Europe, the 38th largest port in the world and the second-largest port in the Netherlands by metric tons of cargo. [140] Islam is now the largest non-Christian religion in Amsterdam. These suburbs contained many public parks and wide-open spaces, and the new buildings provided improved housing conditions with larger and brighter rooms, gardens, and balconies. Banks grew up far from the trailer parkup on 152nd St. and Amsterdam in Harlem. Both focus on broad programming, ranging from indie rock to hip hop, R&B, and other popular genres. The next largest religion was Islam (8%), most of whose followers were Sunni. Pop: 737000 (2003 est), Undermyfork scores $400K seed for its diabetes tracking app and US launch, Is Economic Growth the Wrong Goal? Amsterdam hosted the World Gymnaestrada in 1991 and will do so again in 2023. [177] The number of visitors has been growing steadily over the past decade. [42] The Stille Omganga silent walk or procession in civil attireis the expression of the pilgrimage within the Protestant Netherlands since the late 19th century. In the 1970s and 1980s, many 'old' Amsterdammers moved to 'new' cities like Almere and Purmerend, prompted by the third planological bill of the Dutch Government. Capital of The Netherlands, located in the west-central region of the country. Boxer Raymond Joval and field hockey midfielder Carole Thate were the first to receive the awards, in 1999. [37] This allowed the inhabitants of the village to travel freely through the County of Holland, paying no tolls at bridges, locks and dams. Museumplein hosts various museums, including the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum. Since Amsterdam expanded rapidly during this period, new buildings adjacent to the city centre were also built in this style. [185][186] In 1637, Schouwburg, the first theatre in Amsterdam was built, opening on 3 January 1638. This huge modern complex, opened in 1986, lies in the former Jewish neighbourhood at Waterlooplein next to the river Amstel. In 1345, an alleged Eucharistic miracle in Kalverstraat rendered the city an important place of pilgrimage until the adoption of the Protestant faith. Aside from paintings, the collection consists of a large variety of decorative art. In 2012, Ziggo Dome was opened, also near Amsterdam Arena, a state-of-the-art indoor music arena. Amsterdam has its garment centre in the World Fashion Center. [180] Certain years have a theme in Amsterdam to attract extra tourists. Rembrandt's masterpiece The Night Watch is one of the top pieces of art of the museum. [127][128] The neighbourhood was rebuilt with smaller-scale residence buildings on the basis of its original layout. Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly large cities in the world and is a centre of bicycle culture with good facilities for cyclists such as bike paths and bike racks, and several guarded bike storage garages (fietsenstalling) which can be used. It excludes Graft-De Rijp. [64], Construction of a new metro line connecting the part of the city north of the IJ to its southern part was started in 2003. [238] As of 2014[update], Schiphol was the fifth busiest airport in the world measured by international passenger numbers. Famous festivals and events in Amsterdam include: Koningsdag (which was named Koninginnedag until the crowning of King Willem-Alexander in 2013) (King's Day Queen's Day); the Holland Festival for the performing arts; the yearly Prinsengrachtconcert (classical concerto on the Prinsen canal) in August; the 'Stille Omgang' (a silent Roman Catholic evening procession held every March); Amsterdam Gay Pride; The Cannabis Cup; and the Uitmarkt. The fifteenth, Westpoort, covers the harbour of Amsterdam and had very few residents. In the 21st century, this has reduced to about 5,000. A substantial number of large corporations and banks' headquarters are located in the Amsterdam area, including: AkzoNobel, Heineken International, ING Group, ABN AMRO, TomTom, Delta Lloyd Group, Booking.com and Philips. De Wallen, also known as Walletjes or Rosse Buurt, is a designated area for legalised prostitution and is Amsterdam's largest and best-known red-light district. Since 1999, the city of Amsterdam honours the best sportsmen and women at the Amsterdam Sports Awards. In the following centuries, the land was used for parks, senior citizens' homes, theatres, other public facilities, and waterways without much planning. The record extremes range from 19.7C (3.5F) to 36.3C (97.3F). [41] From the 14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely from trade with the Hanseatic League. Fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin were born in Amsterdam. Frosts mainly occur during spells of easterly or northeasterly winds from the inner European continent. Under a municipal ordinance, the new district committees were granted responsibilities through delegation of regulatory and executive powers by the central municipal council. [226] Previous versions of the constitution only mentioned "the city of Amsterdam" ("de stad Amsterdam"). The next largest religion was Islam (7.1%), most of whose followers were Sunni. [137], Historically, Amsterdam has been predominantly Christian, in 1900 Christians formed the largest religious group in the city (70% of the population), Dutch Reformed Church formed 45% of the city population, while the Catholic Church formed 25% of the city population. Thanks to Marieke van Doorninck for speaking with us from Amsterdam. The town of Hilversum, 30 kilometres (19 miles) south-east of Amsterdam, has been crowned with this unofficial title. Schools for foreign nationals in Amsterdam include the Amsterdam International Community School, British School of Amsterdam, Albert Einstein International School Amsterdam, Lyce Vincent van Gogh La Haye-Amsterdam primary campus (French school), International School of Amsterdam, and the Japanese School of Amsterdam. 20th century, although there are also some striking examples of these styles in the city centre. "barrier across a stream of water to obstruct its flow and raise its level," c. 1400 (early 13c. Next to the Van Gogh museum stands the Stedelijk Museum. Online Etymology Dictionary. [138] This led to riots, and as a result the original plans for large-scale reconstruction were abandoned by the government. [148] In the early 17th century, when immigration was at a peak, a comprehensive plan was developed that was based on four concentric half-circles of canals with their ends emerging at the IJ bay. [179][180] The majority of tourists (74%) originate from Europe. The museum is as old as the square it borders and was opened in 1895. The main reasons for the uprising were the imposition of new taxes, the tenth penny, and the religious persecution of Protestants by the newly introduced Inquisition. [63] These developments have evoked comparisons with Venice, a city thought to be overwhelmed by the tourist influx. The river name is said to be from Germanic elements ama "current" and stelle "place." The building was designed by Gerrit Rietveld. [195], The most important museums of Amsterdam are located on the Museumplein (Museum Square), located at the southwestern side of the Rijksmuseum. for one who "butts in" a queue). The AmsterdamRhine Canal was dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the Rhine, and the North Sea Canal was dug to give the port a shorter connection to the North Sea. The canals served for defense, water management and transport. Amsterdam had its own version of the style, which was called the Amsterdamse School. Plans were made in 2008 to remodel the square again because many inhabitants of Amsterdam are not happy with its current appearance. [105] Segregation along ethnic lines is clearly visible, with people of non-Western origin, considered a separate group by Statistics Netherlands, concentrating in specific neighbourhoods especially in Nieuw-West, Zeeburg, Bijlmer and in certain areas of Amsterdam-Noord. Amsterdam fans out south from the Amsterdam Centraal station and Damrak, the main street off the station. an industrial center and the nominal capital of the Netherlands. in surnames), probably from Old Norse dammr or Middle Dutch dam, both from Proto-Germanic *dammaz (source also of Old Frisian damm, German Damm), which is of unknown origin. Also in the 2010s, much of Amsterdam's population growth was due to immigration to the city. The current appearance of the square was realised in 1999, when the square was remodelled. [66] The new metro line was completed in 2018. A permanent settlement would not have been possible, since the river mouth and the banks of the Amstel in this period in time were too wet for permanent habitation.[31][32]. Jugendstil and Georgian are mostly found outside the city's centre in the neighbourhoods built in the early With drier banks, the downstream Amstel mouth became attractive for permanent habitation. [citation needed] Though most studios are located in Hilversum and Aalsmeer, Amsterdam's influence on programming is very strong. The oldest stone building of the Netherlands, The Moriaan is built in 's-Hertogenbosch. Perhaps the most famous deportee was the young Jewish girl Anne Frank, who died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Its responsibilities include regional spatial planning and the metropolitan public transport concessions.[225]. [108], In 1578, the largely Catholic city of Amsterdam joined the revolt against Spanish rule,[112] late in comparison to other major northern Dutch cities. and Annually, almost 4.5million people visit the park, which has a size of 1.000 hectares and is approximately three times the size of Central Park. The full collection was reopened to the public on 13 April 2013 and the Rijksmuseum has remained the most visited museum in Amsterdam with 2.2million visitors in 2016 and 2.16million in 2017.[200]. This part of the coat of arms is the basis of the flag of Amsterdam, flown by the city government, but also as civil ensign for ships registered in Amsterdam. The main street of this Jewish neighbourhood was Jodenbreestraat. Amsterdam also possesses many discothques. Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 5.34million international visitors annually, this is excluding the 16million day-trippers visiting the city every year. The smallest of these areas is the municipality of Amsterdam with a population of 802,938 in 2013. The neighbourhoods consisted mainly of large housing blocks located among green spaces, connected to wide roads, making the neighbourhoods easily accessible by motor car. Two other notable venues, Paradiso and the Melkweg are located near the Leidseplein. This building is where the permanent collection is displayed. [113] Catholic priests were driven out of the city. This is Amsterdam's most important museum of modern art. The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 1920th century Defence Line of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Therefore, it was governed by the central municipal council. The stations for local services are: Lelylaan, RAI, Holendrecht, Muiderpoort and Science Park. [130] One of the principal architects behind the city's Catholic churches, Cuypers, was also responsible for the Amsterdam Centraal station and the Rijksmuseum. In the 16th century, the Dutch rebelled against Philip II of Spain and his successors. It lies to the east of Damrak and contains the city's famous red-light district. Buildings of this period are very recognisable with their stepped gable faades, which is the common Dutch Renaissance style. Amsterdam is connected to the North Sea through the long North Sea Canal. It offers previews of many different artists, such as musicians and poets, who perform on podia.[212]. [124] Despite an absence of an official Jewish ghetto, most Jews preferred to live in the eastern part, which used to be the center of medieval Amsterdam. [153], After the development of Amsterdam's canals in the 17th century, the city did not grow beyond its borders for two centuries. Amsterdam is famous for its vibrant and diverse nightlife. Also perhaps in part from or reinforced by Old English verb fordemman "to stop up, block. The influx of Flemish printers and the city's intellectual tolerance made Amsterdam a centre for the European free press.[45]. The city has three beaches: Nemo Beach, Citybeach "Het stenen hoofd" (Silodam) and Blijburg, all located in the Centrum borough. Statistics Netherlands uses three other definitions of Amsterdam: metropolitan agglomeration Amsterdam (Grootstedelijke Agglomeratie Amsterdam, not to be confused with Grootstedelijk Gebied Amsterdam, a synonym of Groot Amsterdam), Greater Amsterdam (Groot Amsterdam, a COROP region) and the urban region Amsterdam (Stadsgewest Amsterdam). Second is the Imperial Crown of Austria. The family later served also under the count of Holland. [49] The Bank of Amsterdam started operations in 1609, acting as a full-service bank for Dutch merchant bankers and as a reserve bank. Examples of discothques near the Rembrandtplein are the Escape, Air, John Doe and Club Abe. The room occupation rate was 85% in 2017, up from 78% in 2006. [92] By the second half of the 19th century, industrialisation spurred renewed growth. [34] Amestelle was located along a side arm of the IJ. The recently re-opened DeLaMar Theater houses more commercial plays and musicals. Jews often fled the pogroms in those areas. Colloquially, some areas within the municipality, such as the town of Durgerdam, may not be considered part of Amsterdam. To the south of De Wallen is the old Jewish quarter of Waterlooplein. Consequently, the Zuidas (English: South Axis) has become the new financial and legal hub of Amsterdam,[172] with the country's five largest law firms and several subsidiaries of large consulting firms, such as Boston Consulting Group and Accenture, as well as the World Trade Centre (Amsterdam) located in the Zuidas district. In the Middle Ages, Amsterdam was surrounded by a moat, called the Singel, which now forms the innermost ring in the city, and gives the city centre a horseshoe shape. Some nine hundred concerts and other events per year take place in the Concertgebouw, for a public of over 700,000, making it one of the most-visited concert halls in the world. Privacy Policy. The largest group of non-European visitors come from the United States, accounting for 14% of the total. The area to the southeast of the city built during the same period is known as the Bijlmer.[161][162]. The southwestern border of the Museum Square is the Van Baerlestraat, which is a major thoroughfare in this part of Amsterdam. On Koningsdagthat is held each year on 27 Aprilhundreds of thousands of people travel to Amsterdam to celebrate with the city's residents. [44] Strongly pushed by Dutch Revolt leader William the Silent, the Dutch Republic became known for its relative religious tolerance. [227] For a royal investiture, therefore, the States General of the Netherlands (the Dutch Parliament) meets for a ceremonial joint session in Amsterdam. On the east side of town, there is a small theatre in a converted bathhouse, the Badhuistheater. These characteristics are arguably responsible for attracting millions of Amsterdam's visitors annually. [100] Amsterdam's population failed to beat the expectations of 873,000 in 2019. They range from large and modern to small and cosy. [188][189] In the 18th century, French theatre became popular. Moreover, the river had grown from an insignificant peat stream into a junction of international waterways. Although many small offices remain along the historic canals, centrally based companies have increasingly relocated outside Amsterdam's city centre. In recent times, religious demographics in Amsterdam have been changed by immigration from former colonies. [115] A large influx of foreigners of many religions came to 17th-century Amsterdam, in particular Sefardic Jews from Spain and Portugal,[116][117] Huguenots from France,[118] Lutherans, Mennonites, as well as Protestants from across the Netherlands. [16] Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, and became the leading centre for the finance and trade sectors. The Museumplein is covered almost entirely with a lawn, except for the northeastern part of the square which is covered with gravel. [159][160], After the Second World War, large new neighbourhoods were built in the western, southeastern, and northern parts of the city. Most cafs have terraces in summertime. These farmers were starting the reclamation around upstream Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, and later at the other side of the river at Amstelveen. Under the borough system, municipal decisions are made at borough level, except for those affairs pertaining to the whole city such as major infrastructure projects, which are the jurisdiction of the central municipal authorities. We have a challenge that will make you blush: do you know the many words and ways to describe the opposite of red? Its purpose is to house temporary exhibitions of the museum. [217], As with all Dutch municipalities, Amsterdam is governed by a directly elected municipal council, a municipal executive board and a government appointed[218] mayor (burgemeester). However, the later establishment of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815 marked a turning point. In 2009, the new hall of the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Toneelgroep Amsterdam and Melkweg opened, and the renovation of the front end of the theatre was ready. Sign up to make the most of YourDictionary. [29][30] But the location of these artefacts around the river banks of the Amstel probably point to a presence of a modest semi-permanent or seasonal settlement of the previous mentioned local farmers.