Introduction to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a top global tourism destination, with beautiful architecture, romantic canals, trendy shopping, and is full of interesting people who almost all speak English. There is something for everyone: culture, history, nightlife, arts, and a relaxing charm. It is a huge, safe, modern, and very cosmopolitan city. Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands, its biggest city and the cultural and creative centre of the country. It is part of a large urban area with over a million inhabitants, however, the city center that most tourists visit is a dense, walkable, and culturally diverse mixed use urban core. There are plenty of green spaces, and the city exhibits an elegant beauty and sophisticated charm like no other on Earth. Amsterdam can often feel more like Venice or Cambridge than a major European capital, and is often described as a “global village”. Many people visit the city because of its reputation for drugs and prostitution, and while you can experience these things in certain areas, it does not mean that you can get away with anything, or that you cannot have a pleasant trip if you are not interested in “adult activities”. Public attitudes and official policy toward drugs and prostitution have hardened in recent years and police have zero tolerance for violence or hard drugs (basically anything besides cannabis). For the most part, Amsterdam is a clean, safe, efficient, modern, and well run city.
Location & History
Amsterdam is located in the north-west of The Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It has a population (including the suburbs) of about 1.4 million, and comprises the northern part of the Randstad, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Europe, with a population of around 6.7 million and is comprised of the Amsterdam-Utrecht-Hauge-Rotterdam megalopolis. Amsterdam’s name is derived from Amstellerdam, and is indicative of the city’s origin: a dam in the river Amstel, probably under present day De Bijenkorf department store Dam Square. With origins as a small fishing village settled 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 and finance. During that time, the city was Europe’s leading centre for banking and diamonds.
Economy
Amsterdam is the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Many large Dutch institutions have their headquarters here, and 7 of the Global 500 corporations, including Philips and ING, are headquartered in the city. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest stock exchange in the world, and is located near Dam Square. Attractions include its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, its red-light district, and its many coffeeshops draw more than 3.6 million international visitors annually. While tourism is a large segment of the economy, the city is a major financial and trade hub. Many service sector industries that serve all of Europe are based in or originate from Amsterdam.
Tourism
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 3.66 million international visitors annually. The number of visitors has been growing steadily over the past decade. This can be attributed to an increasing number of European visitors. Two thirds of these hotels are located in the city’s centre. Hotels with 4 or 5 stars contribute 42% of the total beds available and 41% of the overnight stays in Amsterdam. The room occupation rate was 78% in 2006, up from 70% in 2005. The majority of tourists (74%) originate from Europe. The largest group of non-European visitors come from the United States, accounting for 14% of the total. Certain years have a theme in Amsterdam to attract extra tourists. For example, the year 2006 was designated “Rembrandt 400″, to celebrate the 400th birthday of Rembrandt van Rijn. Some hotels offer special arrangements or activities during these years. The average number of guests per year staying at the four campsites around the city range from 12,000 to 65,000. List of Tourist Attractions in Amsterdam | Map
