Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Dutch) ("Valiant, Steadfast, Compassionate") | |||||
| Country | Netherlands | ||||
| Province | Holland | ||||
| Language | Dutch | ||||
| Religion | Protestantism | ||||
| Founded | 1306 AD | ||||
Amsterdam is the capital and the largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of Holland: it is built at the end of the river Amstel, which is then split into a series of canals and other artificial bodies of water. The city is very flat, as it is built on land reclaimed by polders. It was founded in the Middle Ages, and rapidly rose to prominence as the capital of the Netherlands thanks to its strategic position.
Amsterdam is the financial, commercial, and cultural heart of the whole Netherlands. It is known as a charming city, also thanks to its many canals and bridges, and also because of its many museums (one of which is the Van Gogh Museum, holding many of the masterpieces of the Dutch painter), theatres and other cultural attractions. The port of Amsterdam is the fourth largest in Europe, and the city is also the location of many international commercial businesses.