The History of Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam, Netherlands has always been a well-known name in the world history. It is well-known throughout the world as the greatest planned city of the northern Europe, and is highly acclaimed for its rich heritage. It was considered as the center of world economy in the 17th century, and now the city of Amsterdam, Netherlands is acclaimed for its tolerant character.

The Early Days

The greatest planned city of Amsterdam, Netherlands was first founded as a fishing village around the thirteenth century. It developed round a dam ion the Amstel river at the end of the 12th century, and the name Amstelledamme occurs for the first time in October 27, 1275 when the toll concession of Floris V. Count of Holland happened. During the 14th century throughout the 15th, Amsterdam, Netherlands experienced a rapid development, which later on laid the foundation for the city’s Golden Age.

It was noted that only very few medieval buildings in the city survive today. The houses were then built of wood, a vulnerable type of construction material. The world famous Houten Huis is no exception to this rule. However, most of them were destroyed, but a surprisingly large number of Amsterdam dwellings still have timber frames.

The City’s Golden Age

The Golden Age of Amsterdam, Netherlands starts from the period 1585 and ends in 1672. This period was said to be the hey-day of the city’s commercial success. During this time, the Amsterdam, Netherlands was the staple market of the world and it is also during this period that the characteristic Amsterdam cityscape was developed. It is just worth noting that in 1613 and 1663, urban expansions are what set the city’s characteristic appearance. It is also during this time that a number of today’s historic buildings were built, like the town hall in the Dam Square, which is known as the Royal Palace at present.

The Age of Gold and Silver

1672 in Amsterdam, Netherlands was a year of disaster for the Dutch Republic as the French and English were attacking simultaneously during this time. The Golden Age of the city had come to end; however Amsterdam, Netherlands was still able to manage the consolidation of its prosperity during the period 1672 to 1795 despite of the predicament that the Republic found itself in.

At that time, the city remained as the major staple market and managed to retain its position as the financial center of Europe. Also, a large number of dwellings were built at this period, both simple and rich canal houses reflect the city’s prosperity.

Amsterdam’s Recession and Decline

In 1795 the government of the patrician oligarchies was overthrown from power and the old Republic ceased to exist. Soon, the French were to occupy the country. It was during the period 1795 to 1813 that Amsterdam, Netherlands has suffered badly from the economic recession, which is a state of affairs reflected by the stagnation of the demographic development. A number of houses were vacant at this time, and some even collapsed for lack of maintenance. However, some facades and interiors dating back to the Empire period of Amsterdam, Netherlands still survive up to these days.

1813 to 1940 in the history of Amsterdam, Netherlands marked the period of economic recovery and it was from 1870 onwards that the expansion began. A rapid population growth started to happen and from here an increasing wealth was accumulated. As many have noted, this development was primarily the result of the Industrial Revolution which triggered off a New Golden Age.


Amsterdam Hotels

Called by many as Holland, the city of Amsterdam is the most visited center in the Netherlands. Recent statistics have shown that more than 3.5 million tourists are coming to visit Amsterdam per year. This popularity stemmed from its being a city of tolerance and diversity with all the advantages of a big city, be it culture, entertainment, international restaurants, good transport, and great hotels.

Speaking of hotels, many of the Amsterdam hotels offer the best accommodation, dining and entertainment. Many of the Amsterdam hotels offers discounts for those who wish to spend their holidays in the city. They usually feature up to 75 percent discount in their standard rates. However, it is important to note that Amsterdam is a busy place during weekends, especially during the high season. Thus, it is best that you book your Amsterdam hotel well in advance.


Here is a short list of the most preferred hotels in Amsterdam.

Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam – This hub currently has the most media coverage of all the Amsterdam hotels. It is very well situated, being nearer to the center of the city, with direct public transport connections. The place also has an easy access from the ring-road and from the rooms, lovely views over the fashionable Docklands areas are to be had. In addition, Lloyd Hotel Amsterdam has parking facilities of its own in a parking garage. It also has restaurants, a bar, a soundproof music room, a library and even a “corner” shop. It offers 116 rooms, ranging from one to five stars, and it is these rooms which offer a different experience to its visitors. What’s more, the rooms in this Amsterdam hotel are beautifully finished with the most exciting Dutch designs in the interior of the rooms. All guests can also enjoy a free high speed internet access, other than satellite television with a unique selection of channels.

Piet Hein Hotel Amsterdam – Unlike Lloyd Hotel, the hotel Piet Hein offers you a pleasant nautical atmosphere. It is situated at the Vondelpark in the heart of Amsterdam, only steps away from the Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, the Modern Art museum, and the lively Leidseplein with casino. As you may have noticed, this Amsterdam hotel is actually located at a beautiful spot in the Museum Quarter. You can also enjoy and relax at the open air concerts in the summer, as the Concertgebouw is just within walking distance from this Amsterdam hotel.

The Quentin Hotel Amsterdam – Located in the core of Amsterdam nightlife, The Quentin is known for her unique atmosphere. It hosts throughout the year a number of the city’s young music bands on a regular basis. It is also five minutes walk away from the beautiful Musuemplein, the home of the Rijksmuseum, with the most important collection of Dutch old masters, sculptures, prints and antique furniture. The Quentin Amsterdam hotel is also steps away from the Van Gogh Museum that hosts shows with more than 200 of the artist prime works as well as contemporary artists. The colorful Flowers Market, as well as the Waterlooplein flea market are all within a walking distance and can be easily reached from the hotel.

San Francisco Offers Fun in Sun and the Water

If you like water sports and activities that involve the water, then San Francisco should be at the very top of your must visit list. There are so many water activities in San Francisco your head will spin. In fact, bring your suit and prepare to spend a great deal of time enjoying the water and the great recreation that the water has to offer.

If you like the water but have little real experience at manning the wheel of a boat or navigating narrow straights, you will probably be best served by chartering the services of experts rather than attempting a go of it on your own. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this. One of the most common ways is to take a ferry out to Alcatraz or Angel Island. You get the benefit of time on the water with no work involved whatsoever. You also get the added benefit of a tour of some sort on the other end of your trip. Many visitors each year enjoy this means of water travel and it is both an economical way to travel by water and a low stress way to do so.

You can also elect a sunset or sightseeing cruise around the bay on a chartered sailboat or motor sailor that is fully crewed. Some of the charter companies even offer team-building activities if you are traveling to San Francisco on business. Sailing is a great way to build a team and bond them like nothing else on earth. If you've never been sailing before, I highly recommend chartering a boat for an outing even if it's only for a small period of time. It's a great way to find out if you have sea legs that's for sure. In addition to finding out if you have sea legs, a short tour will either leave you knowing this isn't for you or hungry for more-in which case, you might wish to take sailing lessons and consider purchasing a sailboat of your own someday.

Sailing lessons are a great thing to give yourself while on vacation in San Francisco as well. The bay offers a protected, or at least relatively protected area in which to learn the finer aspects of sailing and there are many schools locally that can offer excellent instruction in the finer points of sailing and navigation. Sailing however requires more than an afternoon of lessons in order to have any degree of competency but a few lessons while on vacation is a great place to begin and an even better excuse to return.

If you have some experience with navigation and sailing, there are some companies that will allow you to rent a boat for a day or even a weekend. This allows you to be your own "Master and Commander" and can make for a great family day for the entire family. I firmly believe there are few things on earth that are better than tasting the salt of the sea while feeling the wind in your face, but I've always felt more at home on water than on solid ground so I am more than a little biased towards enjoyment of water based activities.

Which brings me to my next suggestion. Some are not content to merely ride the waves but would rather create waves of their own. For those who prefer a more hands on and muscle powered trek through the water, perhaps a rowboat or paddleboat rental would be in order? There are places in Golden Gate Park where this is easily achieved and the lake is an ideal setting for these kinds of boats. And of course there are kayak rentals that seem to abound in the San Francisco area which offer a whole new level of fun for all involved.

No matter how you look at it, there are some great ways to spend a day on the water in San Francisco. Come found out why so many people have left their hearts here and enjoy the peaceful serenity of a day 'at sea'.
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