Cheap Hotels in Amsterdam - News

Explore One of the World's Greatest Small Cities

Amsterdam, with its famously liberal attitude towards life and miles of canals to explore, is one of Europe's best known and most popular city break destinations. While the seat of the Dutch government is the Hague, Amsterdam is the Netherlands' nominal capital. It is the largest city in the country, but its population of 750,000 is dwarfed by the 3.5 million foreign tourists who visit the destination every year.

The Dutch capital derives its name from its original identity and role – a dam on the river Amstel. It was founded as a small fishing village and grew into one of the most important European ports during the Dutch 'Golden Age' of artistic, scientific and commercial productivity in the 17th century.

It is fitting that, seeing as Amsterdam's roots are firmly planted in maritime pursuits, some of its main modern attractions are stretches of water. The city's canals extend over more than 100km and are dotted and crossed by about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, form a concentric belt around the city.

A tour of Amsterdam's canals provides opportunities to do more than simply enjoy cruises on the water, however, as they are bordered by around 1,550 monumental buildings and a number of other sights. These include the Noordekerk (Northern Church), the Noordermarkt (Northern Market) and the Westerkerk (Western Church), which is the tallest church in the city.

Another attraction to be found alongside the Prinsengracht is the Anne Frank House. This building was used as a hiding place by Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl in Amsterdam at the time of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, between 1942 and 1944. It is now one of Europe's most famous museums and tells the full story of the eight people that hid in the building during the Second World War. Anne's famous diary is one of the original objects on display at the museum.

Visitors to Amsterdam may be interested in exploring the exhibits on offer at another establishment dedicated to a famous figure – the Van Gogh Museum. This attraction houses the world's largest collection of work by Vincent van Gogh. The main collection features everything from landscapes and still lifes to the artist's portraits and self-portraits. Visitors to the museum can lay eyes on some of the most famous paintings ever created, including Sunflowers and Gauguin's Chair.

When the day's cultural pursuits are over, tourists in Amsterdam have plenty of evening entertainment options to choose from. One of the best places to visit to experience the city's nightlife is Rembrandtplein. This square is something of a haven for tourists as it is lined with pubs, restaurants, cafes and hotels. Another popular centre for nightlife is the Leidseplein, a vibrant and colourful venue that is often frequented by street musicians, jugglers, fire-eaters and other entertaining performers that contribute to the inimitable atmosphere of Amsterdam.

Those looking for some sophisticated cultural offerings will be able to find plenty of theatres around the Leidseplein, while one of the world's most famous orchestral music venues, the Concertgebouw, is situated in the centre of the city on De Lairessestraat.

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Amsterdam

Updated: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:33:51

Related Links:
Amsterdam Tourist Board
Amsterdam Airport