🏗️ Canal Engineering Marvel
Amsterdam's famous canal ring was built in the 17th century and is considered one of the greatest urban planning achievements of its time. The four main canals form concentric semicircles around the city center.
🚲 Bike Capital
There are more bikes than residents in Amsterdam! With over 880,000 bicycles for 850,000 people, cycling is the most popular way to get around. About 12,000 bikes end up in the canals each year.
🏠 Floating Houses
Amsterdam has more than 2,500 houseboats! These floating homes are a unique solution to housing shortages and offer residents a life literally on the water.
🎨 Art Heritage
Amsterdam is home to the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings and has more museums per square meter than any other city in the world. The Rijksmuseum alone houses over 8,000 objects.
🌷 Golden Age
During the Dutch Golden Age (17th century), Amsterdam was the wealthiest city in the world. It was the center of global trade, with ships bringing spices, silk, and other treasures from around the globe.
🏛️ Building on Water
The entire city sits on 11 million wooden piles driven deep into the marshy ground. The Royal Palace alone rests on 13,659 wooden poles. Without these foundations, Amsterdam would literally sink!