Here stands the Vlinderbrug awaiting our exploration. It is a name that might conjure images of delicate butterflies. Yet, this bridge tells a story far grander. Amsterdam has over 1700 bridges. This city was ingeniously built on marshy land. Canals drained the water, so the Dutch could use the area for transport and construction.
Amsterdam’s clever canalside houses reflect this ingenuity. Built during the Golden Age, they were subject to taxes based on width. Thus, houses were built tall and skinny. Today, you can still see the hooks used to hoist goods.
The canals are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The four main canals are Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. They weren’t built for tourism. Instead, they were for transporting goods in the 17th century. Imagine the bustling waterways filled with boats carrying food and merchandise.
Amsterdam is known as the “City of Water.” Water covers 35% of Amsterdam’s surface. This creates a tourism paradise. Picturesque canals and water activities are everywhere. However, Amsterdam used to be called Amstelredam. The city’s name comes from its location on the Amstel river. It started as a fishing village. The Amstel dam was built to control the river’s flooding in the 13th century.
Amsterdam sits below sea level. It is built on about 11 million wooden poles. Without these poles, buildings would shift. Some canal houses even tilt, earning them the nickname “Dancing Houses”.
Amsterdam has more canals than Venice. There are over 160 canals. They total around 100 km. Amsterdam boasts 1281 bridges. That is four times more than Venice. The Magere Brug is iconic. It is featured in many films and TV shows.
Cycling is a way of life here. There are four times more bikes than cars. That means there are about 881,000 bikes. Sadly, 12,000 to 15,000 bikes are fished out of the canals each year. “Bike fisherman” is a real job.
Amsterdam has the highest museum density in the world. There are over 90 museums. This includes the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. You could also visit the Cat Cabinet. It is a museum all about cats.
The canals generate about 2 billion euros in revenue annually. They also create 50,000 jobs. You can find canal cruises, canalside bars, and restaurants. There are even water taxis. Amsterdam is truly a city shaped by its waterways. It is a place where water is not an obstacle. It is an opportunity.