Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, a small country located in the north-west of Europe between Germany and Belgium. The name Amsterdam comes from Amstrelredam, the name given to the city initially, as it was built around a dam on the Amstel River. Home to many known names, Amsterdam is a must-see if you enjoy indulging in rich history. Known for its colourful buildings, biking streets and numerous canals, Amsterdam is a hot spot for tourists.
Beams
It is interesting to note that this city is built on 11 million wooden poles or beams. You must be wondering WHY? Well, there are two prominent reasons for this. Firstly, this city lies almost two meters below sea level and the second thing is that it has clay soil which is very soft and shifts easily. So, if the city was not supported by these beams, it would be submerged by water and buildings would not remain steady due to the frisky soil underneath. The Central Railway station has a foundation of 8687 wooden poles, while the Royal Palace at Dam Square is raised on an incredible base of 13,659 poles. A dramatic feat of engineering, isn’t it?
Bridges
Well, looking further I found that more than 160 canals run for a stretch of almost 100 km in this small city. And if there are canals, how can the bridges be far behind? With a total of approximately 1300 bridges adorning this fairy tale town, it is among the top 10 cities of the world with the maximum number of bridges. From bridges as old as 1648 to the ones built in the 21st century, from the ones that can open for water traffic to pass to the ones that are dismantled for some crazy sailing competition, from the widest to the narrowest ones, Amsterdam has bridges of all shapes, sizes and colors fitting seamlessly into the cityscape.
Bikes
Another intriguing fact is that Amsterdam is known as the bicycle capital of the world. The city boasts of almost four times more bicycles than cars. Almost every individual in Amsterdam owns a bicycle bringing its human and bicycle numbers at par with each other. Bicycles are easy in this city of canals and bridges. Be it small children or old people, almost everyone uses bicycles as the fastest and safest means of transport here. Racks or stalling stations are used to park bikes at various locations. But a startling fact is that almost 15000 irreparable bikes are dumped into the canals of Amsterdam every year. With so many bikes in the canals here, bike fishing is actually becoming a fast-evolving profession in Amsterdam.
Museums
A rich history of well-known people is another facet that has been captured in the more than 90 museums of this vibrantly laid-back town. The House of Anne Frank, the Van Gough Museum, the H’ART Museum and the Rijksmuseum are a few amongst the popular ones. Be it maritime history, photographs, art work, cultures, you name it and you have a museum for it in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam dates back to 740 years of history, cultures and traditions. During the 13th century, Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village. Unfortunately, Amsterdam was burnt down in 1452 as a result of “The Great Fire”. The destruction was massive as all houses were built of wood and were right next to each other. Many of the buildings built in the 15th century after The Great Fire can still be seen in the city.
For a Western European capital, Amsterdam is relatively small and snug. Most of the places are easily approachable. A large and busy port, pleasant weather and a booming economy make it a perfect choice for immigrants to settle here forever. Home to more than 800,000 people, this capital city is one of the best cities to live in the world.
Writer : Vinny Singh
Grade : 10 (Year 2024)
Place : Calgary, Canada
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