Destination AMSTERDAM: Attractions & Culture

Amsterdam, the official capital of the Netherlands, lies on the banks of two bodies of water, the IJ bay and the Amstel river. Founded in the late 12th century as a small fishing village on the banks of the Amstel, it is now the largest city in the country and is a financial and cultural centre.

DISCOVER AMSTERDAM: Anne Frank House, History of Amsterdam, Museums of Amsterdam, De Wallen (Red Light District), SAIL Amsterdam,

DISCOVER AMSTERDAM: CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS

Anne Frank House, Attractions of Amsterdam

Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House opened on May 3, 1960. It consists of the Opekta warehouse and offices and the achterhuis, all unfurnished so that visitors can walk freely through the rooms. Some personal relics of the former occupants remain, such as a section of wallpaper on which Otto Frank marked the height of his growing daughters ...

History of Amsterdam
The origins of Amsterdam lie in the 13th century. It is thought that fisherman living along the banks of the river Amstel built a bridge across the waterway just before it entered the IJ, then a large saltwater inlet. Wooden doors on the bridge served as a dam which at times held back the IJ ...

Museums of Amsterdam
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, located in Amsterdam on the Museumplein. The Rijksmuseum is dedicated to arts, crafts and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art. The Stedelijk Museum is a museum for modern art ...

De Wallen, Red Light District of Amsterdam
De Wallen, also known as Walletjes or Rosse Buurt, is the largest and best-known red-light district in Amsterdam, a major tourist attraction. It is a network of alleys containing several hundred tiny one-room apartments rented by female prostitutes who offer their services from behind a window ...

SAIL Amsterdam
SAIL Amsterdam is a large maritime manifestation that is held every 5 years in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, when tall ships from all over the world visit the city to moor in its Eastern harbour, where people can then admire the ships for four days from the quay or on board (free of charge) ...