The most frequently asked questions about Amsterdam

Amsterdam Tourist Information

*  Where is Amsterdam located?

Amsterdam Centre

Amsterdam is the capital of Holland ( the Netherlands ) and is located in the southeastern part of the country on a distance of 20 kilometer of the North Sea. The Netherlands are located in the Northwestern part of Europe and is bordered in the east by Germany and in the south by Belgium.

*  How many residents has Amsterdam?

In Amsterdam has a population of 802.000 people within city limits and make part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe with a population of more than 7 million and which consists of the cities Utrecht, The Hague, Amsterdam and everything in between.

*  How old is Amsterdam?

Amsterdam's founding is from the late 10 century and was granted city rights in either 1300 or 1306. The earliest recorded use of the name Amsterdam is from a historic certificate dated 27 October 1275.

*  How many canals and bridges does Amsterdam have?

There are 165 canals in Amsterdam with a total length of more than 60 miles ( 100 km ) and Amsterdam has more than 1280 bridges and many of them are from the Middle Ages.

*  What is the best part of the year to visit Amsterdam? 

Winter in Amsterdam

Of course the summer season is the most popular but it also depends what you looking for. During the winter season Amsterdam changed in another world with snow on the streets and ice on the canals with skating people, which is also a special experience.

*  What is the quality of living in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is ranked nr. 12 on a list of cities in the world in terms of quality of living.

1	1	Vienna	Austria
2	2	Zurich	Switzerland
3	3	Auckland	New Zealand
4	4	Munich	Germany
5	5	Düsseldorf	Germany
6	5	Vancouver	Canada
7	7	Frankfurt	Germany
8	8	Geneva	Switzerland
9	9	Bern	Switzerland
10	9	Copenhagen	Denmark
11	11	Sydney	Australia
12	12	Amsterdam	Netherlands
13	13	Wellington	New Zealand
14	14	Ottawa	Canada
15	15	Toronto	Canada

*  How many tourists visit Amsterdam every year?

Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving about 5 million international visitors annually and there are also more than 15 million day trippers from the country.

*  How many old buildings are there in Amsterdam?

There are about 7000 buildings from the 16th, 17th and 18th century and most of them are located in the old centre of Amsterdam.

*  Is Amsterdam a safe place to visit?

Yes, Amsterdam is one of the most safe capital cities in the world but there are neighbourhoods where it is better not to walk alone at night on the street. And like every big city, beware of pickpockets.

*  How many houseboats and bicycles are there in Amsterdam?

In Amsterdam are over 2500 houseboats and almost a million bicycles.

*  Is Amsterdam expensive?

In the worldwide ranking for cost and living Amsterdam is on the 35 place, so you can say that Amsterdam is a little expensive or not very cheap.

*  What language do they speak in Amsterdam?

The official language in Amsterdam is Dutch, which is a little bit similar to German but most people in Amsterdam also speak English. In the city live more than 160 nationalities, so you should hear a lot of languages but if you speak just a little bit of English you can speak with almost all the residents.

*  What is King's Day exactly?

King's Day is the annual anniversary day of the Dutch king and a national Dutch holiday with celebrations in the whole country, Amsterdam has every year over 1 million visitors and this makes it the biggest street party in the world.

*  What currency do they have in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is part of the European Union which uses the Euro.

*  How many museums does Amsterdam have?

Amsterdam has over 50 museums which attracts almost 2 million visitors every year which gives Amsterdam the highest museum density in the world. The most popular are the Rijksmuseum, Van Goghmuseum and Stedelijk Museum.

*  How is the climate in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam has an oceanic climate and is strongly influenced by it proximity to the North Sea to the west with prevailing strong westerly winds. The winter is cold but mild and cloudy and damp days are common during the cooler months.

*  Are the people of Amsterdam tolerant?

Yes the Dutch are very tolerant because they are a nation of trade. more important than ideology and religion and Amsterdam is also a city of immigrants therefor they are open to other cultures and ideas. When it comes to prostitution, the use of soft drugs,  euthanasia or abortion, the Dutch law legalize it and control it and are one of the most liberal in the world.

*  Who is the most famous resident of Amsterdam?

This must be Johan Cruijff, the famous football player nr.14 from Ajax which he win the world cup in 1972 or maybe it is Rembrandt van Rijn, he was a painter and is generally considered one of the greatest painters and print makers in European art,  he is the most important painter of the Amsterdam history.

*  How is the nightlife in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is famous for its vibrant and diverse nightlife and festivals. During the summer all squares are full of terraces packed of people on a sunny day. Because Amsterdam is a multicultural city,  there are a lot of ethnic restaurants. Amsterdam also have many discotheques, dance and lounge clubs and cafes and bars.