Wonderful Copenhagen

Cinekids

 

Old Amsterdam

 

Amsterdam owes its name to its location at a dam built in the 13th century in the Amstel. The city is also called Mokum in the Amsterdam dialect, a nickname from Yiddish. The town received city rights shortly after 1300, became a pilgrimage site in 1345 by the Miracle of Amsterdam and was one of the most important port and trading cities in the world in the Golden Age. An influx of foreigners from mainly the Southern Netherlands, Germany and the Scandinavian countries led to city expansions from the end of the 16th century, including the last canals of the fortification known as the degrachtengordel and was added to the World Heritage List in 2010.

Famous sights in Amsterdam include the canal belt, the Rijksmuseum – known for the rich collection of paintings from the Golden Age, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House. The Red Light District and the coffee shops are also Amsterdam attractions. Amsterdam has two universities and several colleges.