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The coat of arms of Amsterdam is composed of three St Andrew's crosses, aligned vertically, but rotated 90 degrees for the flag. Historians believe they represent the three dangers which have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The city's official motto, Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig ("Valiant, Resolute, Merciful") which is displayed on the coat of arms, was bestowed on it by Queen Wilhelmina in 1947 in recognition of the city's bravery during World War II. The lions were added in the sixteenth century.
The crown was awarded to the city in 1489 by Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, out of gratitude for services and loans. The crown was a sign of imperial protection and acted as a seal of approval for Amsterdam merchants abroad. The Westertoren also features the imperial crown.
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Demographic evolution of Amsterdam between 1300 and 1999
1300
1400
1500
1600
1650
1796
1830
1849
1879
1899
1925
1999
1,000
3,000
12,000
60,000
140,000
200,600
202,400
224,000
317,000
510,900
714,200
727,100
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Public transport in Amsterdam, operated by Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, Connexxion, and Nederlandse Spoorwegen, consists of:
national and international train connections
3 metro lines and 1 light rail line, together the Amsterdam metro
16 tram lines
An express tram line (IJtram)
55 local bus lines
regional bus lines
several ferries for pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ (free of charge)
a Fast Flying Ferry towards Velsen-Zuid on the North Sea shore
A new underground line, the North/South Line (Noord/Zuidlijn) is under construction. (See also Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, Amsterdam metro, Amsterdam Centraal).
History
During the construction of the Amsterdam metro, plans to demolish the entire Jewish neighbourhood near the Nieuwmarkt led to strong protests. The metro was still built (wall decorations at the Nieuwmarkt station are dedicated to the protests), but plans to build a highway through the neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam were abolished. In 1975 there was an incident where a planned bombing of the Venserpolder station led to a political scandal when mayor Ivo Samkalden and everyone in the city council, except for Roel van Duijn, instantly and erroneously blamed the left-wing protesters, which was exactly the objective of the right-wing bombers.
 Some of the ubiquitous cyclists in Amsterdam
Some of the ubiquitous cyclists in Amsterdam
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Schiphol, about twenty minutes by train from downtown Amsterdam, is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, and the fourth largest in Europe. It handles about 42 million passengers a year and is home base to KLM.
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Koninginnedag, Queen's day, 30 April, the former Queen's (Juliana) birthday
Uitmarkt, last weekend in August, the start of the cultural season
Amsterdam Roots, last week of June. International music festival
Amsterdam Pride, mid-August, gay pride weekend
Amsterdam Marathon, mid-October
Sail Amsterdam, a five-yearly event, when tall ships from all over the world can be visited.
Cannabis Cup, mid-November annual cannabis competition, hosted by High Times.
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The coat of arms of Amsterdam is composed of three St Andrew's crosses, aligned vertically, but rotated 90 degrees for the flag. Historians believe they represent the three dangers which have traditionally plagued the city: flood, fire, and pestilence. The city's official motto, Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig ("Valiant, Resolute, Merciful") which is displayed on the coat of arms, was bestowed on it by Queen Wilhelmina in 1947 in recognition of the city's bravery during World War II. The lions were added in the sixteenth century.
The crown was awarded to the city in 1489 by Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, out of gratitude for services and loans. The crown was a sign of imperial protection and acted as a seal of approval for Amsterdam merchants abroad. The Westertoren also features the imperial crown.
|
Demographic evolution of Amsterdam between 1300 and 1999
1300
1400
1500
1600
1650
1796
1830
1849
1879
1899
1925
1999
1,000
3,000
12,000
60,000
140,000
200,600
202,400
224,000
317,000
510,900
714,200
727,100
|
Public transport in Amsterdam, operated by Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, Connexxion, and Nederlandse Spoorwegen, consists of:
national and international train connections
3 metro lines and 1 light rail line, together the Amsterdam metro
16 tram lines
An express tram line (IJtram)
55 local bus lines
regional bus lines
several ferries for pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ (free of charge)
a Fast Flying Ferry towards Velsen-Zuid on the North Sea shore
A new underground line, the North/South Line (Noord/Zuidlijn) is under construction. (See also Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedrijf, Amsterdam metro, Amsterdam Centraal).
History
During the construction of the Amsterdam metro, plans to demolish the entire Jewish neighbourhood near the Nieuwmarkt led to strong protests. The metro was still built (wall decorations at the Nieuwmarkt station are dedicated to the protests), but plans to build a highway through the neighbourhood in the centre of Amsterdam were abolished. In 1975 there was an incident where a planned bombing of the Venserpolder station led to a political scandal when mayor Ivo Samkalden and everyone in the city council, except for Roel van Duijn, instantly and erroneously blamed the left-wing protesters, which was exactly the objective of the right-wing bombers.
Some of the ubiquitous cyclists in Amsterdam
Some of the ubiquitous cyclists in Amsterdam
|
Schiphol, about twenty minutes by train from downtown Amsterdam, is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, and the fourth largest in Europe. It handles about 42 million passengers a year and is home base to KLM.
|
Koninginnedag, Queen's day, 30 April, the former Queen's (Juliana) birthday
Uitmarkt, last weekend in August, the start of the cultural season
Amsterdam Roots, last week of June. International music festival
Amsterdam Pride, mid-August, gay pride weekend
Amsterdam Marathon, mid-October
Sail Amsterdam, a five-yearly event, when tall ships from all over the world can be visited.
Cannabis Cup, mid-November annual cannabis competition, hosted by High Times.
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Hotels in Netherlands - Amsterdam >>
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