Amsterdam is the cultural capital of the Netherlands. It lies on the banks of two bodies of water, the IJ bay and the Amstel river. Founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village on the banks of the Amstel, it is now the largest city in the country and its financial and cultural centre. The medieval core boasts the best of the city's bustling streetlife and is home to shops, many bars and restaurants. Amsterdam has one of the largest historic city centres in Europe, dating largely from the 17th century, the Golden Age of the Netherlands, of which it was the focal point. At this time, a series of concentric, semi-circular canals were built around the older city centre, which still defines its layout and appearance today. Many fine houses and mansions are situated along the canals; most are lived in, others are offices, and some public buildings. Some of the houses are gradually sinking because they are built on piles to cope with the marshy subsoil.
Transportation in Amsterdam
By Car: Amsterdam has an excellent road network, with the city itself easily accessable via the country's motorway network. The A1, A2, A4, A8, A9 all lead into Amsterdam and the A10 is the city's ring roda.
By Train: The NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen) is the country's rail system, providing frequent stops, a selection of ticket options and various services.
By Tram, Metro & Bus: The GVB operates the public transport system throughout the city with trams, metros and buses. The 24-Hours ticket provided by the GVB is the most convenient and inexpensive for visitors. Once stamped, it is available for unlimited use on all trams, buses, subways and nightlines for the amount of hours indicated on the ticket.
By Ferry: Amsterdam ferry port is connected with the North Sea by the North Sea Canal (opened in 1876), which can accommodate large ocean going vessels making it one of the largest ferry ports and offers an excellent connection to the UK with the Amsterdam to Newcastle ferry.
From it's historical buildings & museums to it's cosmopolitain life, Amsterdam offers a stimulating variety of arts, culture, sports and nightlife. With 60 theatres, churches and concert halls, 45 museums, 141 commercial art galleries, 2 sports stadiums and countless clubs popping up all the time, there's something to do from sunrise to sunrise. Some of the most popular attractions include: The Van Gogh Museum which houses the richest collection in the world of works by Vincent van Gogh. The collection comprises over 200 paintings, 500 sketches and 700 letters from the artist, as well as his collection of Japanese prints. The Rijksmuseum has the largest collection of art in the Netherlands, the basis of which was laid at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Anne Frank House; A museum with a story: The Diary of Anne Frank, written in the years 1942-1944. Anne and her family hid from the German occupation forces until they were betrayed and deported.
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