Amsterdam Introduction

Amsterdam Introduction

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, the largest city of the country as well as the nation’s economic, cultural center and transportation hub. The name of the city derives from Amstel Dam, which means a dam located in the Amstel River.

Release time : 2016-02-25 16:22:18

source : WTCF

1323, Amsterdam had the exclusive right to import beer from Hamburg. The Herring trade developed rapidly after the discovery of a storage method of Herrings by removing the intestine of the captured Herrings immediately to extend the preservation time. This storage technique allowed the fishermen to catch more fish without worrying about spoilage, and in turn allowing them to earn more money.

Golden Age

The late 15th century witnessed the rapid rise of Amsterdam. After the Spanish occupied Antwerp, many rich men of Jewish decent fled to Amsterdam. They spent money travelling to India in order to do research, eventually culminating into business opportunities. In 1602, the Dutch East India Company was founded and became the first multinational corporation in the word, with Amsterdam city owning a majority stake of the company. This created an unprecedented period of prosperity, making the 17th century a golden age.

In the meantime, Amsterdam underwent two large-scale urban expansions, which for the first time took the functionality and aesthetics of the city into account. Construction during this period included the famous North Sea Canal and Jordaan district.

Art also flourished and in the first half of the 17th century, the number of artists and art dealers in Amsterdam increased to allow rapid development. In just thirty years, Amsterdam became a thriving cultural center and the location where many masterpieces were created. Artists who contributed include, Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen.

Industrialization

In the late 17th century, Amsterdam remained stagnant in economic development, resulting in economic recession leading to an increasingly serious poverty problem. But with the construction of North Sea Canal in 1876, Amsterdam finally connected with the North Sea directly. After the project, there was an increase in ships docked in the port of Amsterdam. This marked the turning point of Amsterdam. Having trade contacts with the Dutch