Eerie Travel Secrets

The city

Amsterdam is not only the largest city in the Netherland, it is the capital city and the cultural and financial capital as well, located in the the west of the country in the province of North Holland. Together with the suburbs, the city has a population of about 1 million people. Its name is derived from Amstel dam, indicative of the city’s origin: a dam in the river Amstel where the Dam Square is today. The city settled as a small fishing village in the 12th century, but as a result of its innovative developments in trade, became an important port during the Dutch Golden Age. The city was the leading center for finance and diamonds during that time. Amsterdam expanded and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were formed in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The attractions

The city attracts more than 4 million tourist annually with its main attractions being the historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, its red-light district and its many cannabis coffee shops and many others.

Amsterdam’s Climate

The city enjoys a cool temperate climate due to its proximity to the North Sea to the west and mild winter temperatures, seldom below 0°C. Amsterdam is surrounded on three sides by large bodies of water, as well as enjoying a significant heat island effect, with nights rarely falling below -5°C. Summers are moderately warm but rarely hot. The average daily high in August is 22°C, and 30°C or higher is only measured on average on 3 days.Amsterdam has an average annual precipitation  of less than 760mm. October through March are the cooler months in Amsterdam, with cloudy and damp days due to the protracted drizzle and light rain. Significant rain only comes for a short period of time when European windstorms bring it on, requiring it to be pumped out to higher ground or to the seas surrounding the city.

The Architecture of Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a rich architectural history. The oldest building was consecrated in 1306, the Oude Kerk (meaning old church) and is situated at the heart of the Wallen. A variety of architectural styles influenced Amsterdam’s buildings. The old city center is the focal point of all the architectural styles before the end of the 19th century. The historic buildings in the city center are mostly houses, such as the famous merchant’s houses lining the canals.

Tourism in Amsterdam

Shopping
Shops in Amsterdam range from large department stores such as De Bijenkorf founded and Maison de Bonneterie ,a Parisian style store, to small specialty shops. Amsterdam’s high-end shops are found in the streets Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat and Cornelis Schuytstraat, which are located in the vicinity of the Vondelpark.The Negen Straatjes is another shopping area and it differs from the other shopping areas in the district because of the presence of a large diversity of privately owned shops. Open-air markets are also widely spread throughout the city, icluding the Albert Cuypmarkt, Westermarkt, Ten Katemarkt, and Dappermarkt.

Getting to Amsterdam

South African visitors can book their flights to Amsterdam online at local flights website, bestflights.co.za

Transportation in Amsterdam

Bicycles
Amsterdam is a bicycle-friendly city and is the center of bicycle culture with many good facilities for cyclists such bike paths and bike racks pervading the city. Bicycle traffic, and traffic in general, is relatively safe – in 2007, Amsterdam had a total of 18 traffic deaths.

Cars
Driving a car in the city center is discouraged. Many streets are closed to cars or are one-way and parking fees are very expensive.

Public Transport
Public transport in Amsterdam mainly consists of bus and tram lines. Three free ferries carry pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ to Amsterdam-Noord, and two-fare charging ferries run east and west along the harbor.You can also be transported along Amsterdam’s waterways by means of water taxis, a water bus, a boat sharing operation, electric rental boats and canal cruises.

Amsterdam’s Culture and Entertainment

Museums

Located at the southern side of the Rijksmuseum is the Museumplein (Museum Square),where most important museums in Amsterdam are situated.
The largest and most important collection of classical Dutch art is possessed by the Rijksmuseum.With a collection of nearly one million objects.
In front of the Rijksmuseum on the square itself is a long, rectangular, pond that is transformed into an ice rink in winter time. The Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience and Coster Diamonds can also be found at the Museumplein. The square is almost entirely covered by a lawn, making it the most prominent site in Amsterdam for festivals and outdoor concerts, especially in the summer. The city contains many other museums. They range from small museums such as the Verzetsmuseum, the Anne Frank House, and the Rembrandthuis, to the very large, like the Tropenmuseum, Amsterdams Historisch Museum, and Joods Historisch Museum.

Festivals

In 2008 alone there where 140 festivals held in Amsterdam. Famous festivals in Amsterdam include Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day), Amsterdam Gay Pride and the Uitmarkt. Hundreds of thousands of people travel to Amsterdam on Koninginnedag to celebrate with the residents of the city. The entire city becomes overcrowded with people buying products from the freemarket or visiting one of the many music concerts. This festival takes place on the 30th of April each year. During Gay Pride, there is a long parade of boats with floating down Amsterdam’s canals, and curious events taking place throughout the city.The Gay Pride annually takes place on the first Saturday in August. The Uitmarkt lasts for three days and it’s a cultural event. It is also held in late August and consists of many podia with various artists on them, such as musicians and poets.

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