|
Holiday homes
around Amsterdam |
Amsterdam is the capital and largest
city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland
in the west of the country. Its name is derived from "a
dam in the river Amstel", where the Dam Square is today.
Amsterdam began as a small fishing village in the late 12th century
but grew to become one of the most important ports in the world
during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments
in trade. During this time, the city was the leading centre for
finance and diamonds. Today the city is the financial and cultural
capital of the Netherlands with many large Dutch institutions
having their headquarters there, while 7 of the world's top 500
companies are based in the city. Amsterdam's main tourist attractions
include its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum
and the Anne Frank House. |
 |