History Amsterdam and Culture Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Holland the city was born in the 12th century as a fishermen town. The city was founded as a fishermen villa at the shores of Amstel river around the 12th and 13th century. Little by little the homes began to rise up and the population started building their economy on fishing The history of Amsterdam goes back 8 centuries, but they have been 8 very intense centuries.

From then on, the development of this city, one of the youngest in Europe, has been very impressing. In the 19th century Amsterdam was granted permission to become a city and it´s port became of great economic importance.

During the 16th century Holland got into a conflict with spain and is known as the Battle of Flandes, which lasted over 80 years finalizing with the independence of Holland from Spain. It was then when the country began to feel free, and respect everyones beliefs which wasn´t very much in style back then in Europe. This brought on the arrival of many jews in Spain and Portugal, as well as vendors in every corner of Europe.

In the 17th century, the city lived it´s Golden Era, turning into one of richest cities in the world, due to the commerce activity that was lived here within it´s port and the surrounding areas. From here boats parted to every latitude! There was a wide importing and exporting business surrounding this city in Holland, which gave this city many possibilities. This allowed the capital of a country that went from being a small colony to begin colonizing. It´s population rose from 1000 in the 16th century to more than 300,000 by the end of the 19th century and 800,000 in the 20th century. A population that has since maintained itself in this beautiful Dutch capital.

Throughout the centuries, Holland also lived a tumultous era with many disputes between the British and French being the last ones during the Napoleonic wars that took away great fortunes from this region.

The Golden Era or better said, the second Golden Era occurred at the end of the 19th century and beginings of the 20th when the city has a great development period with the industrial revolution. In Amsterdam great things happened like the building of canals, museums, buildings, theatres, and much more that gave the city lots more to offer. In the 20th century during the first world battle the city was expanding to great things. During WWI the neutrality of this country kept it exempt from damage and on the sidelines, but during WWII the city was invaded by Nazi troops which caused the city to enter in a serious crisis with the dissapearing of many people and hunger. The Nazi invasion in the city finally ended with the ending of the Nazi Empire that caused the city to start working towards getting to where they once were, an economical reference point due to it´s Port, one of the first ones in the world. It was also a cultural reference point since the cosmopolitan feel that this city had, gave great possibilities to the tourists who came to visit. They didn´t have any problems finding accommodation in hotels or apartments in Amsterdam, as well as in hostels in the center of the city, guesthosues or luxurious chalets and homes.