There’s nowhere in the world quite like Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands. It immediately captivates with its narrow houses, picturesque canals, and vibrant atmosphere. It has an intricate history, creating the city that we know today. Before you visit, here are six fun facts about Amsterdam that you may find interesting.
1. It has a Jewish nickname
Amsterdam was a safe haven for European Jewish people during the Holocaust, especially for those who had to leave Spain and Portugal. This earned it the nickname Mokum, which means ‘(safe) place’ in Yiddish.
2. Wooden poles hold the city up
Did you know that Amsterdam is built on approximately 11 million wooden poles? The city lies below sea level, so the top level of its ground is wet clay. Wooden poles have provided stability for much of the Amsterdam that you see today – like the Royal Palace which sits on no less than 13,659 wooden poles! However, it’s not foolproof so the poles are known to shift and sink. This is how the iconic ‘Dancing Houses’ got their nickname, as their foundations have sunk or tilted. New builds are now built on concrete poles.
3.It’s known as the Venice of the North
Funnily enough, Amsterdam actually has more canals than Venice! If you linked all 160+ canals together, it would stretch for 100 kilometres of waterways. Known as grachten in Dutch, Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht are the most famous. These form a popular concentric route through Amsterdam.
4. Bikes are King
With over 400 kilometres of cycle lanes, not owning a bike is almost a crime in Amsterdam! There are four times as many bikes as cars, so keep an eye out when crossing the road as bikes have right of way over cars and pedestrians! There are so many bikes that a ‘bike fisherman’ is a real occupation. Somewhere between 12,000 – 15,000 bikes are fished out of the canals each year so it’s an important job to keep the canals pristine.
5. There are museums a-plenty
Amsterdam is famous for having the highest museum density in the world. There are over 90 museums for you to choose from – from the popular Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum to the quirky Cat Cabinet and Houseboat Museum.
6. It’s the gay capital of Europe
Making history, the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise same-sex marriage in 2001. So, it comes as no surprise that Amsterdam attracts much of the LGBTQIA+ community to visit and live. The Amsterdam Gay Pride event is a huge deal for the city each year!
Is Amsterdam on your bucket list? Visit on a Globus or Cosmos tour, or an Avalon Waterways river cruise.
