Amsterdam Print

Amsterdam The city of Amsterdam began as a village on the River Amstel. However in the Middle Ages it grew rapidly as a centre of trade. In 1275 Floris V, Count of Holland gave the people of 'Amstelledamme' to transport their goods by water through his territory. In 1306 the bishop of Utrecht gave Amsterdam certain rights and the little town grew rapidly. In 1323 Amsterdam was made a port for Hamburg beer. Herring curing was invented in 1385. It meant the fish lasted longer and so the herring trade from Amsterdam boomed. The Netherlands stayed neutral during the First World War but there were food shortages. As a result there were riots in Amsterdam in 1917. After the war new housing developments were built in Amsterdam to replace slums. In 1928 the Olympics were held in Amsterdam. Then in the 1930s work began on creating a park called the Amsterdamse Bos. In 1939 the Dutch remained neutral but Germany invaded anyway in 1940. During the Second World War most of the Jews in Amsterdam were deported. (Anne Frank House opened to the public in 1960). After the war Amsterdam flourished again. Then in the 1960s Amsterdam was a haven for hippies. In the late 20th century and early 21st century new museums opened in Amsterdam. The Van Gogh Museum opened in 1973. The Joods Historisch Museum opened in 1987. Foam Photography Museum opened in 2001 and Diamond Museum opened in 2007. Hermitage Amsterdam opened in 2009. Today Amsterdam has a population of 820,000.