History
Amsterdam’s name is derived from Amstelredamme,[9] indicative of the city’s origin: a dam in the river Amstel. Settled 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, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds.[10] In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded, and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were formed.
The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam (in Dutch: ‘Grachtengordel’), located in the heart of Amsterdam, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2010. Next to the old buildings in the center of the town, you can visit a lot of museums.
our favorite places in Amsterdam:
Museums
Modern art: Stedelijk Museum
Famous dutch paintings: Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh museum
Photography: Foam
Anne Frank Huis
Large list and more information about museums
Shopping
Boutique shopping: De 9 straatjes
High scale designer labels: PC Hooftstraat
Art and antiques: Amsterdam’s Spiegelkwartier (Mirror Quarter) is an absolute must for lovers of art, antiques and curiosities.