Information for Travelers
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.
In addition, the city is famous for its many well-preserved historic houses.
These well-preserved heritage buildings are built on stilts driven into a top layer of mud to the firm, sandy bottom up to 18 meters below.
It's no wonder that Amsterdam is an amazing city to explore on foot, with many picturesque bridges connecting the city's 90 islands.
Eight of them are in fact old wooden bascule bridges, including the Magere Brug (Mager Bridge), one of the most photographed in the city.
Jordaan is Amsterdam's most popular neighborhood and is known for its mix of residential areas with landscaped courtyards, lively markets and upscale boutiques and restaurants.
While best known as the location of the Anne Frank House, the area is also home to lesser-known treasures like the Woonboots Museum and the interesting Amsterdam Cheese Museum.
Culture
With its universities, academies and research institutes, as well as more than 40 museums, numerous theaters and entertainment venues, Amsterdam is also the main cultural center in the country.
The city is also known for its artistic heritage, an extensive canal system.
Its narrow houses with gabled facades date back to the city's so-called Golden Age in the 17th century.
In all, some 6,750 buildings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries are crammed into an area of 2,000 acres that is dissected by 160 canals (grachten), which are home to numerous houseboats.
Cycling is part of the city's culture, so the urban landscape is characterized by numerous cycle paths.
The Museum Quarter is home to the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum with works by Rembrandt and Vermeer and the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art.
Read about Amsterdam in Wikipedia