Amsterdam Favorite Tips by tompt

Pigeons on the Dam Dam Square Review

Favorite thing: A famous song in the netherlands is: alle duiven op de dam (all the pigeons at the dam).
And there are a lot of pigeons there. as in every big city it is quit a problem. In some parts of the city it is unlawful to feed them.
They are descendants from rock pigeons, brought to Amsterdam in the middleages to be food for the population. The city did some research on the pigeon population, they counted at 225 locations in Amsterdam. There are 15.000 pigeons in the city. An average of 250 live on the Dam. And the Central Station is a good second with 125 pigeons.

night walk Canals / Houseboats Review

Favorite thing: Have a walk along the canals after dark. The lights reflecting in the water are so beautiful. Many of the 1000 bridges are lit.
A great way to walk of dinner and to take some nice pictures.

no addresses Architecture Review

Favorite thing: In the old days the adresses were not as good as they are today. The streets were known for famous buildings in it. Like church street or station street.
But the less known areas had no street names. The houses were identified by a stone in the facade. This stone had a picture of something, sometimes related to the business or the people living there.
This example, a calf, could be from a butcher or a rich landowner.
In fact there is not much known about this stone. Not the designer, or the year it was made, nothing.......

You can find it at : Zeedijk 43

The dam Dam Square Review

Favorite thing: The dam is the central square of the city. Here you will find the palace, and the monument on the dam.

It is also the place where demonstrations are held frequently.

Heritage

Favorite thing: In 1275 count Floris V of Holland gave toll rights to the 'people living in Aemstelledam'.
This year is marked as the birth of Amsterdam. But the inhabitants of amsterdam were there years earlier. In 1220 the dam became the central point of the settlements at the banks of the river the Amstel. Around 1300 Amsterdam got city rights.

The old town was around the Damrak and between the Oude- and Nieuwe Zijds Voorburgwal. The city expanded in the next centuries. In 1612 a plan for the canals in half circles was presented. In the 17th century the city got this destincted form.

The website of the monument department of the city has great info on the old buildings of Amsterdam:
http://www.bmz.amsterdam.nl/adam/index_e.html

Fondest memory: The coat of arms of Amsterdam

The three crosses are Andreas crosses.They are named after saint Andreas, who is supposed to have died at such a cross. The origin of the coat of arms is unknown.

map of modern Amsterdam Streetmaps / Cityguides Review

Favorite thing: The map of the modern Amsterdam is in the center just like it was centuries ago.
The city was started at a dam in the river Amstel. And every time it wanted to get bigger a new canal was dug at the outside. And you still seee the canals in a round patern. The semi circles getting bigger and bigger.

facades, clock-gable Architecture - Gables Review

Favorite thing: The clock-gable dates back to 1660-1790. The clock-gable is based on the neck-gable, the boards are made from bricks too and the 90 degrees corners disappeared. The top is looking like a bell.

facades, neck-gable Architecture - Gables Review

Favorite thing: The facades come in many different forms in Amsterdam. But espcially along the canals there are some great examples to be found.

In the picture are neck-gables (1640 – 1770)
Made in the 17th century and can be recognised by the two angles of 90 degrees. The corners have decorations of various motives. The neck-gable was built throughout the 18th century.