Explorations of the “Venice of the North.”
Amsterdam is one of the most famous cities in the world, receiving over 5 million visitors a year. I was one of those visitors in November 2016. It was the first stop of a four-month journey.
Amsterdam is an interesting city full of old Dutch architecture, pot and chip shops (maybe not a coincidence), and, of course, canals. Often referred to as the “Venice of the North,” Amsterdam’s are now a major tourist draw. The canals were started way back in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. This was the high point in Dutch explorations and colonization (New York City was founded during this time, then known as New Amsterdam). These canals were used for transporting goods. Over the years more and more canals were constructed, basically forming rings within the city. Today the city has over 100 km of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500* bridges. (*The exact number or bridges is open to debate, all depends on how you classify a bridge.)
A map showing Amsterdam with its canals from 1662 during the Dutch Golden Age.
A typical old Dutch building. Many old buildings still have their hoists intact on the top floor where the storage would have been.
Today, the city is a mix of various styles of architecture, from the old style of buildings from the photo above, to Baroque and Rococo, to simple modern buildings. All these styles in their own way blend together to form the amazing architecture of this city.
Here is what I found wandering for two days during my sleep deprived state (jet lag and I do not get along).
Starting with my favorite photo from Amsterdam. This is from one of the side canals near the southern part of the canal rings.
Early morning light and one of my first photos from Amsterdam, located near the central train station.
Canal intersection (I wonder what a traffic jam would look like). Some buildings face a canal, while others have their backs to the canal instead like these.
Oude Kerk (Old Church) was my favorite church in Amsterdam. It is less visited than Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in the city center. I love the extra non-matching additions added onto the church.
The interior of Oude Kerk was lovely. It is the oldest building in Amsterdam and oldest parish church in the city, founded around 1213. The current building was consecrated in 1306.
Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam (Royal Palace of Amsterdam) was actually built to the city hall of Amsterdam in the 17th century, but it was taken over by King Louis Napoleon (Napoleon’s younger brother) and later Dutch monarchs.
The central hall is my favorite room in the palace.
This is now a shopping center, not sure what it used to be, but it is awesome.
The central train station, where most people start their trip to Amsterdam.
Close up on a very elaborate hoist on an old 17th century building. It is hard to tell if buildings were used as residential or commercial properties. They often look very similar. Most men worked outside the home in Amsterdam.
Lovely canal view with one of the many canal tour boats.
Another canal view in a different area. There are more modern buildings near the Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market), which are the stalls on the right side of the canal.
Close-up on the backs of the flower stalls, including that insane shutter building. That was definitely a warehouse.
The Bloemenmarkt. This is where you would get your tulip bulbs.
Tram tracks heading into the city center. The main form of transportation throughout the city center is either by bike or tram.
An average canal-side street in Amsterdam.
One of those 1,500 bridges with the city’s main form of transportation, bikes, chained to it. There are more bikes than people in this city. Seriously.
Check out the rest of my Wandering series!
Who wants to do LSD and swim in these photos?
Great post! I absolutely love Amsterdam.