Top 20 Interesting Facts About The City Of Amsterdam

Top 20 Interesting Facts About The City Of Amsterdam

The Venice of the North, as it is referred to due to its many canals, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this very reason. The City of Amsterdam is the most populous city in the Netherlands, with little artistic surprises at every corner.

Slight chance that you might hear the people of the City of Amsterdam called Mokumers, but commonly called Amsterdammers. The cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam is quite liberal, boasting world-renowned art museums, a mind-blowing vibrant nightlife, important historical monuments and unique architecture.

Should you decide to up and move to the City of Amsterdam, you will have moved to the second-best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) standards, and according to Mercer, in the 12^th globally highest quality of living for environment and infrastructure standards.

Here’s a list of top 20 facts about the City of Amsterdam that make it a unique and beautiful place to live or visit; facts that you may or may not know, or have misconstrued.

The City of Amsterdam sits on support poles

Canal Ring in Amsterdam- by Lies Thru a Lens- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Amsterdam is built on a swampy area- the soil underneath the city is extremely swampy. This immediately sounds like risky business, but Amsterdam found a solution. Every building sits on support poles which have to be dug deep into the ground to prevent the buildings from sinking!

The poles are made out of concrete, though they used to be wooden. Approximately 11 million support poles hold the City of Amsterdam up!

The City of Amsterdam is a melting pot of nationalities

At least 170 nationalities are found in the City of Amsterdam. There isn’t another city in the world with as many nationalities as the City of Amsterdam. This makes the city rich in culture. You could enjoy Thai, American, Indian, Italian, French, Ethiopian, Chinese, Korean or Israeli cuisine in the same week!

The City of Amsterdam is multilingual

As expected, the different nationalities found in Amsterdam speak different languages. Over 85% of Amsterdam residents can speak at least two languages.

Dutch, English has dominated the languages spoken, and sometimes German. You should be comfortable in Amsterdam if you speak English.

Amsterdammers are the tallest people in the world

Simple Dutch meal- by Takeaway- Wikimedia Commons

You might feel dwarfed in the City of Amsterdam if you are below 160 cm. An average Dutch man and woman in the City is 184 cm and 170 cm respectively.

Scientists have attributed this to a meat and dairy-rich diet. But before you go on a similar diet to gain height, be aware this has been ruled out as the only reason! Genetics has a lot to do with it as well.

Amsterdam was the first capital city in the world to allow gay marriage

Gay wedding- by Alf van Beem- Wikimedia Commons

The 1^st of April 2001 marked a break through for gay couples and the gay community in the City of Amsterdam. The City of Amsterdam’s mayor wedded four same-sex couples on this day immediately after the legalization of gay marriage. Only Dutch nationals are allowed to tie the knot.

While the legalization of gay marriages was an addition to the other ways through which Dutch gay couples legalized their unions, by registered partnerships or cohabitation agreement, the gay community seemed to have been waiting in earnest for the legalization of same-sex marriages; 15,000 same-sex couples were legally married within 10 years.

Gin was invented in the city of Amsterdam

Amsterdam gin- by Paul Hermans – Wikimedia Commons

Spain and Belgium are rated as the countries that drink the most gin in the world. These two countries have the City of Amsterdam to thank, as gin was invented there.

Gin gets its name from the Dutch word for juniper, which is genever- an evergreen shrub, which produces berries that are tart and sharp, with resinous, piney flavor and hints of citrus. This is the main flavor in gin.

In the 16^th century, gin was used for medicinal purposes- A Dutch scientist formulated juniper berry oil as a medicine. This oil was mixed with distilled spirit and botanicals, making it palatable.

Following this, the number of feigned illnesses rose, as the people tried to acquire the ‘medicine’ only available in pharmacies. This demand resulted in numerous small distilleries, for mass production of non- medicinal gin.

The City of Amsterdam is one of the top 25 safest cities in the world

The Economist ranks the City of Amsterdam as the 6^th major safest City in the world.

Tourists are however asked to beware of petty crime and avoid certain areas of the City at night, something that will be similar if you visit any city in the world.

The Red Light District, for instance, is famed for among other things, hard drugs peddling, theft and violence during nighttime.

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the oldest in the World

Euronext building- by Zandcee- Wikimedia Commons

Now known as Euronext Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange was founded in 1602 by the Dutch East India Company. Euronext Amsterdam was the first to begin dealing in securities. It is the oldest modern securities market in the whole world.

In 2002, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange merged with Brussels and Paris Stock Exchanges to form Euronext. Remarkable, for a platform that began with only the exchange of commodities.

The second-largest consumers of coffee in the world are found in Amsterdam

Dutch Caffe Latte- by Takeaway- Wikimedia Commons

Coffee lovers will be right at home and with their tribe should they visit the City of Amsterdam. Approximately 3.2 cups of coffee per person per day is consumed in the city.

Speciality coffee has settled quite well into the coffee culture of the City of Amsterdam. You will find many coffee bars across the city.

The City of Amsterdam cares for its stray cats

Cat boathouse- by Oxyman- Wikimedia Commons

Poezenboot is the name of a houseboat full of stray cats in Amsterdam! This is rather quirky; understandably, you will not find a similar boat in the world.

Stray and abandoned cats are taken care of in this boat by volunteers in the canal west of Central station. Should you wish to see this for yourself, it should be rather easy as the houseboat is a tourist attraction.

The City of Amsterdam offers solo cinemas experience

Cinema Hall in Amsterdam- by Fabio Bruna- Wikimedia Commons

If you are not into crowds and movie interruptions from noisy moviegoers who explain the movie to their company or talk to the movie cast on screen, the City of Amsterdam’s Indie Cinemas might be for you.

Indie cinemas seat 1 person. This very personal experience will set you back only 3 euros, inclusive of popcorn!

The City of Amsterdam has a booming Red Light District

Red light district- by Massimo Catarinella- Wikimedia Commons

The red light district in the City of Amsterdam has quite the reputation in the world. De Wallen as it is otherwise called has sex workers beckoning from its red-lit windows. This alone makes people what to venture there and see what it looks like.

The Red Light District boasts the first speciality condom shop in the world as well as other stores.

The city of Amsterdam’s red-light district though overshadowed by its sex work industry contains museums, restaurants, and boutiques, as well as Amsterdam’s oldest parish church. It also is a residential area!

Should you be in the red light district and no stranger to the red lights, blue lights might throw you off- when the lights go blue in the red light district, this is code for the presence of a transgender woman in the room.

The City of Amsterdam boasts a floating flower market

Floating flower market- by zak mc- Wikimedia Commons

One of the most famous flower markets in the Netherlands is the floating flower market, found in the City of Amsterdam. It is known as Bloemenmarkt and is the only one in the world.

The floating flower market has existed from 1862 and its stalls are all located on boats, just like they did when the flowers were entirely delivered daily by boat. Today they are delivered by other means such as via the airport.

The flower scents and the vibrant colors of the various flowers on sale are quite refreshing. Dutch souvenirs, including clogs, cheese and Amsterdam Christmas baubles will tickle your fancy should you visit the market.

The fragrant smells from the market may be etched in your memory as well, hence a souvenir in its own right.

Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is located a few meters below sea level

Schiphol airport entrance- by Cjh1452000- Wikimedia Commons

The Schiphol airport is the City of Amsterdam’s main international airport, out of the five airports found in Amsterdam. With six runways and one main terminal building, the airport serves at least 319 destinations, through approximately 104 airlines, making it the world’s fifth busiest international airport.

As already established, most of the City of Amsterdam sits on the water- now imagine 27.87 square Kilometres of Schipol Airport in a similar situation. Not literally! The City of Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport Schiphol lies at the bottom of a one- time lake that was drained in 1852.

The City of Amsterdam boasts over 100 Kilometers of canals

Herengracht canal- by dronepicr- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Amsterdam’s number of canals can only be compared to those in Venice, although Amsterdam takes the cup.

The 17^th century Dutch Golden Age saw the construction of the City of Amsterdam’s most important canals- the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht.

Like adornments, more than 1550 monumental buildings sit alongside the canals which are a means of transport around the City and host events such as the City of Amsterdam’s annual city swim.

Artists have been inspired and painted canals over the years.

The City of Amsterdam has an insane number of bridges

The Magere Brug- by Roman Schmitz- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Amsterdam boats at least 1,281 bridges! 80 of these bridges are found within the canal ring. The bridges form quite the backdrop for a picture or evening and morning view.

The bridges open to let commercial and tall vessels through, for commercial purposes.

The most famous bridge is the Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge. If accurately angled, standing at Canal Reguliersgracht and Herengracht will give you a view of 15 bridges at the same time!

Tourists love the City of Amsterdam

Tourists ain front of the Rijksmuseum- by Mariordo- Wikimedia Commons

In 2018, about 19 million tourists visited the City of Amsterdam! With its beautiful historic buildings, canals, bridges, the red light district and the popping but casual nightlife, it is bound to have visitors looking to explore the city at every opportunity, especially with affordable tickets and ease of booking through technology.

Like the City of Florence, the City of Amsterdam has some concern about mass tourism, especially since its population is only around 821, 000 people against droves of tourists. In a symbolic act in the struggle against mass tourism, the world-famous photo motif “I Amsterdam” sign was removed from the front of the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum dedicated to history and arts.

The City of Amsterdam however still does welcome tourists, and is hospitable- everybody is welcome to a piece of the pie.

The City of Amsterdam was home to Anne Frank

Anne Frank in School- Wikimedia Commons

Anne Frank was a Jewish girl who gained fame posthumously for her journal entries, which were published after her death. She is a victim of the Holocaust- Anne Frank documented her experiences while in hiding with her family in the City of Amsterdam.

The Jewish girl loved the chestnut tree, and described it in her journal, from her view of it from the Annexe, where she and her family hid. In 2009, saplings from this tree were planted at 11 sites nationwide.

There is a piece of the City of Amsterdam in cities such as The Hague and New York, as cuttings of the Ann Frank tree in Amsterdam were cut and sent to these and other cities across the world.

You can read Ann Frank’s experiences in ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’, which has been translated into over 70 languages. The family home in the City of Amsterdam has also been converted into a museum which you can visit and learn more about the holocaust.

The City of Amsterdam’s Vondelpark is home to Parakeets

Parakeet- by Rob Young- Wikimedia Commons

A Parakeet is a species of parrot that is small to medium in size, with long tail feathers. This beautiful bird is not native to the Netherlands but was introduced there as a pet. When a few of the birds escaped, they made a home in the City of Amsterdam.

Fancy feeding a Parakeet? Then head on the Vondelpark, a large urban public park in the City of Amsterdam, where at least 4,000 birds are found.

The City of Amsterdam is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world

Cyclists in Amsterdam- by Steven Lek- Wikimedia Common

A picture of the City of Amsterdam’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte may have caught your attention. Mr Rutte apparently enjoys travelling to his office by bike. So do many other residents of the City of Amsterdam.

Brace yourself for the statistics- almost 2 million bikes that will be on Dutch roads on any working day between 8 and 9 am.

The City has been ranked the number one most bike-friendly city in 2013, by Business Insider. It has provided bike lanes and paths, making it safe for everyone.

These top 20 Facts about the City of Amsterdam reveal the City of Amsterdam’s biggest attractions as well as the quirky things about the city that you may enjoy. The history, culture and art of the City of Amsterdam make it a prime spot for a visit. Keeping in mind that many nationalities occupy the City of Amsterdam, you would be comfortable being there.

The City of Amsterdam is the ‘it’ city in the Netherlands. It’s one of the top financial centers in Europe, with many Dutch institutions as well as international companies hosting their headquarters there.