"Canals & Bicycle City" a Amsterdam Travel Page by queenpud

Even the building in Amsterdam are egalitarean. It was built by merchants. Wealth was widely spread. No court to build ostentaious palaces, or broad avenues and no decorative churches by the local Calvanist.

Amsterdam was founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village. The historical centre is renowned for its concentric canals, largely built during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. The name Amsterdam literally means Amstel dam. The Amstel's name is derived from Aeme stelle, old Dutch for "area abounding with water". The Amstel is a river in the Netherlands which runs through the city of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is noted for many outstanding museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Rembrandt House Museum, and its world-class symphony orchestra, the Concertgebouworkest, the home base of which is the Concertgebouw. The Van Gogh Museum houses the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings in the world. Anne Frank House is also a popular tourist attraction.

Amsterdam is also famous for its red-light district, de Wallen. Window prostitution is legal in the Netherlands at specific places. The red-light district is located in the centre of the city along major canals and is clearly marked on maps.