Amsterdam has a long and eventful history. The origins of the city lie around 1000 CE,[1][2] when inhabitants settled at the mouth of the Amstel and began peatland reclamation.[1] After the All Saints' Flood (1170), a dam was built in the Amstel to protect the lower lands from floods.[1]
In 1275, Amsterdam was granted a toll privilege by Count Floris V which exempted it from a bridge toll.[3] This made Amsterdam popular for international traders to sell goods at lower prices.[3] During the Middle Ages, it developed into one of the largest trading cities in the world. The 17th century was a Golden Age, Amsterdam was the most important trading hub in Europe and the leading financial center of the western world.[4] Amsterdam is colloquially called the "Venice of the North" for its numerous canals.[5] It is also ranked as a top sin city due to the adult entertainment.[6][7] As the capital city of the Netherlands, it is the largest with over 930,000 inhabitants in 2024.[8]
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am17was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Ahmed, Shamim (10 July 2015). "Amsterdam • Venice of the North". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
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