Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands! These days the city has a population of just over 790 000 inhabitants and is the largest city in the country. There are more than 881 000 bicycles in Amsterdam and there are only around 200 000 cars.
The bike usage in the city has grown by almost 40% in the last 20 years! Around only 19% of citizens use private cars on a daily basis. Weird, but at least one car gets pulled out of many Amsterdam's canals each week.
The Dancing Houses are crooked historic houses located at Damrak which is just a few minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. The canal houses bring out their best look during nighttime.
Amsterdam is built on clay soil, which is very soft and can shift about. Without the poles that support the city, the buildings of Amsterdam could move around, which could cause huge damage. In fact, some of the canal-front houses look slightly tilted, earning them the nickname Dancing Houses.
A former shipyard located on the banks of the River IJ in Amsterdam Noord, NDSM Wharf has blossomed into an enormous cultural hotspot in recent years with a vibrant artist community and an ever-expanding variety of bars and restaurants.
The collection of the Rijksmuseum was built over a period of 200 years and did not originate from a royal collection incorporated into a national museum. Its origins were modest, with its collection fitting into five rooms at in Huis ten Bosch palace in The Hague.
Amsterdam’s canals are the real stars of thousands of photos boasted on Instagram, Tik Tok and now BeReal. The ideal way to discover it is to meander through its streets while admiring its architecture and exploring the cafés and trendy restaurants.
Angelika Sętorek 2024