Amsterdam (The Netherlands)

I

Introduction

Amsterdam (The Netherlands), seaport and largest city of The Netherlands. Amsterdam is located in Noord-Holland (North Holland) Province, on the IJ (an arm of the IJsselmeer), near The Hague. It is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of The Netherlands, as well as the country's official capital; however, the real center of national government is in The Hague.

Amsterdam is a remarkably flat city. Most of the metropolis rests on a foundation of piles driven through peat and sand to a firm substratum of clay. More than 160 canals divide the city into about 90 islands, which are joined by more than 1,000 bridges. The many canals are a famed attraction for visitors, as are the city’s thousands of historic buildings and homes, world-class museums, and tolerant social attitudes.

II

Commerce and Transportation

Located in a central position within the European Union (EU), Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most important commercial centers. A number of international corporations have their European headquarters in the city. Amsterdam’s leading industries include shipbuilding, sugar refining, publishing, brewing, and the manufacture of heavy machinery, paper products, textiles and clothing, porcelain and glass, aircraft, automobiles, and chemicals. The city is also famous as a center for polishing and cutting diamonds.

The service sector employs the great majority of Amsterdam’s workers. It includes business services, such as consulting, telecommunications, and information technology; banking, insurance, and real estate services; trade and transportation services; and cultural, health, education, and social services. Amsterdam is the chief financial center of The Netherlands, and the Dutch branch of the multinational Euronext securities exchange is located in the city. Amsterdam is also home to the headquarters of the Bank of The Netherlands and several large insurance firms. Tourism is important to the local economy.

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Amsterdam is The Netherlands’ second largest port, after Rotterdam, and it is linked to the North Sea and to other European countries by a network of railways, highways, and canals. The North Sea Canal, opened in 1876, is navigable by oceangoing vessels. The North Holland Canal, opened in 1824, also reaches the North Sea. The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, opened in 1952, connects Amsterdam to the Rhine, a major shipping artery of Europe. The Schiphol Airport outside Amsterdam is one of Europe's busiest, and it continues to be expanded.

Electric trams provide public transportation within the city, and a modern commuter train and tram system connects to the greater metropolitan area. Work officially began in 2003 on a subway portion of this system that runs north and south under the city. Bicycles are a widely used form of transportation and private automobiles are restricted in the city center.

III

Population

In 2004 Amsterdam had a population of 739,300. The greater metropolitan area is home to about 1.30 million people. Most citizens speak Dutch, the national language, and several other languages are also widely spoken, especially English and German. About 38 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, the largest religious group, followed by Protestants, who make up about 30 percent of the population.

IV

Cultural Life

A vibrant, cosmopolitan city, Amsterdam has been an important center of European cultural life since the 17th century. Among the influential figures who lived or worked in the city are the painters Rembrandt and Jacob van Ruisdael, the writers Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, Gerbrand Bredero, and Joost van den Vondel, the composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck (nicknamed the Orpheus of Amsterdam), and the philosophers Baruch Spinoza and René Descartes, whose major works were often first published in Amsterdam. The German scientist Gabriel Fahrenheit also invented and manufactured scientific instruments in the city. In the 20th century the art movements De Stijl and Cobra were centered in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam’s world-famous cultural institutions include the National Academy of Art and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences. Its Rijksmuseum contains one of the largest collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings in the world, and its Stedelijk Museum has an extensive collection of modern works. The Van Gogh Museum includes about 800 works by 19th-century painter Vincent van Gogh. The Amsterdam home of Rembrandt is now a popular museum. The Concertgebouw, completed in 1883, is the home of Amsterdam's renowned orchestra.

Amsterdam has numerous examples of 16th- and 17th-century architecture, including many colorful gabled homes lining the canals. Within the city are two historic churches: Oude Kerk (Old Church), built about 1300, and Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), built in the 15th century. The royal palace, originally built in the 17th century as the town hall, stands on a large square in the center of the city. Other points of interest include the Amsterdam Historical Museum, the Museum of the Tropics, the Anne Frank House, and NEMO, an interactive science and technology museum oriented toward young people.

Many students live in Amsterdam and attend one of its two universities. The Universiteit van Amsterdam (University of Amsterdam), founded in 1632, is the largest center of learning in The Netherlands. The Vrije Universiteit (Free University), founded as a Calvinist school in 1880, is also in the city.

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