Amsterdam

Photo by: Bert K , Creative Commons

► Jump to Amsterdam Famous Landmarks

Amsterdam is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. With its romantic canals, breathtaking architecture, famous museums, and fancy cafes, the likeness is not dissimilar. Also a haven for the connoisseur of liqueur, and a shopper’s delight, this city seems to have it all.
Founded in the 12th century, Amsterdam rose from being a small fishing village to the capital of Netherlands, and also its largest city. It boasts of a glorious past, especially in the Dutch Golden Age, when it was one of the most important ports in the world. It retains the title of being one of Europe’s financial hubs from back in the 17th century, when it was called ‘Northern Europe’s marketplace’. Today, the city is home to seven of world’s top 500 companies. As a tourist destination, Amsterdam is an interesting patchwork of history, culture, food and entertainment, making it a veritable dream for many visitors. No wonder then that the city plays host to over 4.2 million tourists annually.
If you are a history buff, museums would be a great way to start your tour of Amsterdam. The most important museums in this city are located at het Museumplein or the Museum Square. Built in the 19th century, this square houses the famous Rijksmuseum. It is the national museum of Netherlands. It was actually founded in The Hague in the year 1800, but was moved to Amsterdam in 1808 at the behest of King Louis Bonaparte. The Rijksmuseum is said to have the largest collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including the world-renowned The Night Watch by Rembrandt as well as a good collection of Asian art. Currently, due to renovations and expansion, tourists are allowed to only one section of the museum. Rijksmuseum will be fully open to the public in the year 2012 or 2013.