About Amsterdam

Welcome to Amsterdam

Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands. An architectural jewel. Europe´s largest intact historical city centre with magnificent 17th and 18th century merchants houses lining its famous canals. Romantic old wooden bridges. Narrow streets crowded with delightful little shops, cafés, flower sellers and herring stalls. A colourful city with a history of tolerance and humour. The city that boasts a wealth of museums, concert venues and avant-garde theatre and dance. So much to see and do in such a compact size city!

Did you know that Amsterdam has:

727.095 inhabitants
400.000 bikes
165 canals
206 paintings by Van Gogh

For more information about Amsterdam, you can visit: www.amsterdam.info , www.iamsterdam.com or www.ferdinandbolstraat.com

Shopping

Shopping in Amsterdam is a special experience. Shoppers are spoilt by the enormous diversity of shops.

The more exclusive shops are mainly along Beethovenstraat, Van Baerlestraat, P.C. Hooftstraat and Rokin where international fashion houses, boutiques, jewellers and exclusive shoe shops are concentrated.

The Kalverstraat, Leidsestraat, Nieuwendijk and Rokin areas offer mile after mile of wall-to- wall retail pleasure. Here you will find the classic shopping route where department stores, boutiques and souvenir shops are located.

If you enjoy rummaging through antique shops, pay a visit to the Spiegel Quarter near the Rijksmuseum. There are more than 100 specialist art galleries and shops clustered. For more antique toys, furniture, jewellery, clocks check out the big indoor antique market De Looier on the Elandsgracht. And don´t forget the Waterlooplein flea market right next to the City Hall and the Music Theatre.

Various shopping routes through Amsterdam are available at the VVV Tourist Office or pay a visit to the website www.visitamsterdam.nl

Performing arts

Amsterdam is a city rich in music, dance and theatre.

Amsterdam´s Concertgebouw has the best acoustics of any concert hall in the world. Under the baton of legendary Bernard Haitink and (at present) Ricardo Chailly, the resident Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra has earned its place among the world´s best.

With around 1600 seats, the Muziektheater is one of the largest theatres in Amsterdam. The National Ballet and Netherlands Opera companies perform year round (except July). Internationally acclaimed performers turn up with great frequency in Amsterdam, and their shows are usually held in the Theatre Carre. They host visiting English-language productions. The Paradiso hosts frequent pop and rap concerts, occasionally a classical concert. This theatre is housed in a former church.

The Stadsschouwburg is the Municipal Theatre that is the venue for Holland Festival dance performers in June and it hosts visiting performances.