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Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
Amsterdam articles and products to help you on your way
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Background to Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital city of the
Netherlands. It is known throughout the world as one of
the greatest small cities in the world. It lies on the
banks of two rivers, the Amstel and IJ, and from its
canals to the world famous museums and historical
sights, Amsterdam has long been considered as one of the
most romantic and wonderful cities in the whole
continent of Europe.
Established in the later 12th
century as a small fishing village on the banks of the
Amstel River, Amsterdam has one of the largest historic
city centers in Europe. One of the focal point of
interest in this city is the Golden Age of Netherlands
that dates largely from the 17th century. It
was noted that at this time, a row of concentric,
semi-circular canals were built around the older city
center, but this establishment still defines the city’s
layout and appearance today. Amsterdam now has fine
houses and mansions that are situated along the canals.
Most of these houses and mansions are lived in, while
others are now offices and public buildings.
The City Government
Amsterdam, as all Dutch
municipalities, is governed by a mayor, his wethouders
(aldermen), and the municipal council. Nevertheless,
the city is subdivided into fifteen stadsdelen
(boroughs), which is a system implemented in the 1980s
to improve local governance. The establishment of this
system is what sets Amsterdam unique from other Dutch
municipalities. The stadsdelen are said to be
responsible for a number of activities that previously
had been governed and managed by the central city.
Fourteen of these have their respective council, which
is chosen by a popular election. Westerpoort, the
fifteenth, covers the harbour of the city and has very
few inhabitants. It is also governed by the central
municipal council.
The Language
When it comes to language, many of
the people in Amsterdam are proud of the fact that just
about everyone speaks English. Although many also
speak German and French, it is worth noting that in this
capital city of Netherlands, it is a tradition that if
you are English speaking, then speak English, unless you
speak Dutch too because you are more likely to offend
than do anyone a favor by trying out your French or
German.
There is a common misconception in
the language of Amsterdam; one of those is that Dutch is
very close to German. The truth is, they are not
mutually intelligible: Dutch people have to learn German
at school, and in general they speak better English than
German. However, Dutch and German are similar in the
same sort of way that French and Italian are similar.
The Weather
In Amsterdam, the typical weather
ranges from a little around freezing in the depths of
winter to typically pleasant sunny days of 20 to 25
degrees Celsius in the summer. There is also a little
snow during the winter season. Furthermore, the spring
and autumn are pleasant in Amsterdam; however these
seasons can be wet, with 100+ mm of rain per month.
Safety and Health
Amsterdam is a safe city, thus there is nothing really
to fear from walking in any part of the city. It has
been noted that even in the red-light district around
the Oude Kerk, tourists are always spotted wandering
around. However, as in any large cities in other parts
of the world, you should beware of pick pockets. And,
don’t try to photograph the women in the red-light
district for that would be risky. In terms of water,
the water from taps is perfectly drinkable. |
