Amsterdam (IJmuiden) Ferry Port

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, and is famous for its beautiful canals, large number of bicycles and great museums as well as its hazy coffee shops! Amsterdam is always one of Europe’s top destinations. The city's narrow houses, dating from the 17th century, were constructed in this way because residents were taxed on the width of their properties, although some of the cities cleverer house owners built their properties to be wider at the back of the house, while still appearing the be very narrow from the front.

Amsterdam History

Founded on land reclaimed from the sea, Amsterdam has flourished since the 14th century, beginning with it's trade with the Hanseatic League. In 1345, a supposed miracle in the Kalverstraat made the city an important place of pilgrimage until the widespread adoption of the Protestant faith. In the 16th century, the Dutch rebelled against Philip II of Spain and the Spanish Inquisition. The revolt escalated into the Eighty Years' War, leading to Dutch independence and a reputation for relative religious tolerance. The influx of Flemish printers and Amsterdam's intellectual tolerance made the city the home of the free press. In the 17th century Amsterdam became the wealthiest city in the world. Ships sailed from Amsterdam formed the basis of a worldwide trading network. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company base in Amsterdam became the world's first stock exchange, trading in its own shares.

In the 18th and 19th Centuries, wars with England and France took their toll on Amsterdam, with the city reaching it's lowest point when it was enveloped into the French Empire during the Napoleonic Wars. After the wars, the Netherlands regained it's independance and towards the end of the 19th Century new museums, a railway station, and a concert hall were built just as the Industrial Revolution reached the city. Canals were dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the Rhine and to the North Sea, dramatically improving commerce with the rest of Europe and the world. The Netherlands remained neutral in the First World War but still suffered food and fuel shortages, sparking riots in which several people were killed. Early in World War Two, teh Nazis invaded Amsterdam and many families tried to hide Jewish families like Anne Frank's.

Amsterdam attractions

Amsterdam is a great city to stroll around, and take in the views of the picturesque, tree-lined canal network, before popping in to one of the city's many museums. Especially worth a visit are: The Van Gogh Museum (packed with stunning examples from the definitve "tortured artist", with paint so thick that it still appears to be running off the canvas, more than 100 years after they were created); the Rijksmuseum (featuring incredible old masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer); and Stedelijk Museum (featuring some more challenging, world-class modern work). One of Amsterdam's other famous landmarks is the poignient Anne Frank House, once home to the eponymous diarist and her ill-fated family, which allows visitors an insight into the terrible plight of Jewish families during the Second World War.

Amsterdam Events

King's Day (or Queen's Day, depending on who's in charge at the time!) is held every year on 27 April, the monarch's official birthday. It is one of the biggest, most colourful and enjoyable festivities in the Netherlands, and especially so in Amsterdam.

Visiting Amsterdam

Having more in the way of canals than roads, it is fair to say that Amsterdam is one of Europe's more car-unfriendly cities, so possibly a better option for travelling from the UK to Amsterdam is a combination of rail and ferry.

Find out more about Amsterdam and the Port of Amsterdam.