Dam Square
by Paul2001
Dam Square is the heart of Amsterdam. The square gets it name from the obvious fact that there was at onetime a dam here that impeeded the flow of the Amstel river. Today Dam Square is a whirlwind of tourists and business people clammering about to get to the city's attractions and shops. Such major attractions as the Royal Palace, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum and the Nieuwe Kerk flank the square. From Dam Square there are many pedestrian malls stretching out through out all of the Central Amsterdam. Also the Red Light district and the Central train station are just a short walk away. In fact I took this picture as I was rushing off to the train station like so many other Amsterdam communters.
A little bit of background:...
by sandravdp
A little bit of background: Amsterdam has always been the capital city of the Netherlands. The city is hundreds of years old and used to be a harbour city. Ships sailed from here to India to get tea and peppers to Holland. Nowadays the harbourcity of Holland is Rotterdam. Amsterdam grew into a commercial city with 1 million habitants.
When you visit Amsterdam you can best come by train. Why? Well, I will tell you that at my transport tips. The nicest time to visit Amsterdam is probably in may. The sun is shining then, the mass tourism isn't at it's highest level so you will enjoy!
Views from Club11
by Mariajoy
It is definitely well worth the walk to the Oosterdockkade area near Centraal Station and taking the lift up to the 11th floor of the old postal sorting office to get some stunning views over the city.
Royal Palace
by bugulma
The Royal Palace was built in 1648 as the city hall by Jacob van Kampen architect. The guidebooks say it was built from white stones but over times and weather influence it has the colour we see now. I wasn't inside and I haven't any idea whether it is possible but the guidebooks (again) say it has rich collection of paintings as well as sculpture after French influence during Napoleon wars. Exatly in 1806 when Louis Napoleon became the Dutch King he moved to live in the building. Since that the building was a palace for the royal family till 1936 when it was returned to the city municipality.
The Rijksmuseum... Jan Steen
by sim1
Jan Havicksz. Steen (1626-1679)
painting : 'Prince's Day'
'in one hand a rapier (sword) in the other hand the glass.' This rhyme, with a little effort and a magnifying glass, can be read on the piece of paper on the floor against the table leg. The inscription and the work's title 'Prince's Day' explains the occasion behind this painting: the tenth birthday of Prince William III of the house of Orange-Nassau, on 14 November 1660. This feast was not celebrated by everybody because, at the time, the Republic was divided between those for and against the prince. Jan Steen painted this tavern scene on a relatively small format in around 1665, five years after the event.
A closer look of the painting :
http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/ariadata/image/SK/Z/SK-A-384.Z.jpg'
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