Things to do in Amsterdam

About Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a unique urban landscape defined by a 17th-century canal ring that functions as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a primary transport artery. The city balances its deep historical roots, exemplified by the Royal Palace Amsterdam, with a world-class concentration of art history in the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. Visitors can trace the city’s complex past at the Anne Frank House or enjoy modern panoramas from the A'DAM Lookout. The city is built on millions of wooden piles driven into soft peat soil to support its dense architecture.

Good to know

1. 1

   Amsterdam is technically built on approximately 11 million wooden poles that prevent the buildings from sinking into the marshy soil.

2. 2

   The city features more bicycles than residents, with an estimated 800,000 bikes navigating its streets daily.

3. 3

   Amsterdam contains over 1,500 bridges, outnumbering those found in Venice.

4. 4

   Due to the low elevation of the land, much of the city sits below sea level, protected by a sophisticated system of dikes and pumping stations.

5. 5

   The city's iconic canal houses were taxed by width in the 17th century, leading to the construction of famously narrow, tall buildings with external pulleys for moving goods.