The Dutch Royal Palace is built on piles. Image courtesy of flavouz on Flickr.
Laid-back Amsterdam is full of world-beating museums, leafy parks, a network of photogenic canals and a buzzing bar and café culture. Once you’ve filled your itinerary with major sights, here are 10 things you didn’t know about Amsterdam. They might just add to the enjoyment of your visit.
Amsterdam has the world’s oldest stock exchange
Although most people believe London Stock Exchange to be the oldest in the world, it was established in 1801 and is positively junior in comparison with Amsterdam’s, which was set up in 1602 by Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC) during the Dutch Golden Age. Bonds and stocks printed by the VOC were traded on the Exchange to finance trading expeditions to the Far East. Stocks were first traded in the open air around the Damrak and various temporary homes were found for the exchange but it was not until 1911 that it found a permanent home at the decorative Beurs van Berlage on Damrak, which is now a concert venue. In 2000, the Amsterdam Bourse merged with Paris and Brussels exchanges and now trades as Euronext Amsterdam at Beursplein 5.
Thousands of stolen bikes end up in the canals each year. Image courtesy of the lone conspirator on Flickr.
Bike theft
With around one million bicycles in Amsterdam – that’s more than one per person – up to 100,000 are stolen each year, and of those up to 25,000 end up being dumped in the canals. So that’s why, in the world’s most cycle-friendly city, all locals ride bikes that look bashed up and old. If you choose to join Amsterdam’s residents in utilizing the city’s 400 km (249 miles) of cycle paths, always remember to lock your bike up to a designated cycle rack, bridge or road bollard. Pass the chain through the front wheel and the frame and use the back wheel immobilizer.
Cannabis is illegal in Amsterdam
Contrary to expectations about Amsterdam, it is illegal to buy drugs on the street and buying from passing dealers increases the chances of being ripped off. If you want a smoke go to one of the coffee shops and don’t smoke or buy drugs at all if you are under 18. But equally well don’t go into an Amsterdam coffee shop expecting to buy coffee. You can’t go wrong at Greenhouse Centrum (Oudezijds Voorburgwal), any of the Bulldog chain, or Rokerij (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat) – but remember that smoking straight tobacco is no longer tolerated.
Amsterdam has more canals than Venice
As the city’s most famous feature, Amsterdam’s ring of tree-lined grachten (canals) outnumber those in Venice: 165 canals forming 60 miles (100 km) of waterways as compared with 150 in Venice. Amsterdam also has 1,200 bridges, about three times as 409 in Venice. You can see 15 Amsterdam bridges from the bridge over Herengracht and Reguliersgracht – best at night when the arches are illuminated with thousands of twinkling lights.
Amsterdam is built on piles
Since central Amsterdam is pretty much built on peat and bog, all buildings are constructed on foundations of long wooden beams – mostly oak – about 42.5-65.5 feet (13 to 20 meters) long that are drilled down into the sandy layer beneath for stability. Keeping the wood wet is vital to stop the piles rotting so the city’s water level is carefully monitored – Schiphol airport and parts of east Amsterdam are both below the water line. The Royal Palace in Dam Square is built on 13,659 wooden piles, although some modern office buildings are now supported on concrete piles.
The Bulldog is Amsterdam’s biggest chain of coffeeshops. Image courtesy of Terrazzo on Flickr.
How many nationalities?
Thanks to the Dutch reputation for social tolerance and liberality, Amsterdam is the world’s most multi-cultural city, with 178 different nationalities recorded as living there in 2011. With a total population of 1,211,503, it is estimated that up to 45% of the city have non-Dutch parents. This rainbow of nationalities includes large contingents from Indonesia, Turkey, Morocco, Suriname but Brits and Germans form a large minority also.
Cats on the canal
Although cats and water are not renowned for going together, Amsterdam’s strays get to live out their days at the world’s only floating cat sanctuary; the Poenzenboot (literally ‘cat boat’) on Singel is now a famous Amsterdam landmark. The sanctuary began life in 1966, when an abandoned cat was rescued by Henriette van Weelde took in an abandoned cat and her kittens; since then her operation has grown and grown. Van Weelde’s first two boats were converted sailing boats, but the present craft was purpose-built to accommodate the growing army of cats. Visit for chats with the helpful volunteers and cuddles with some of the more docile cats; others are feral and unused to human interaction. Opening times are generally between 1pm-3pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday) and as there are no entrance fees to the boat, donations are welcomed.
Gin as medicine
Jenever (gin) was first produced by Franciscus Sylvius in the late 16th century and was originally sold for its medicinal properties. It was erroneously regarded as a cure for gout, gallstones, lumbago and liver and kidney problems. Although both types use juniper as flavoring, Dutch gin is distinct from British gin as it is made with barley and sometimes distilled in wood, giving a stronger, smokier taste than the UK variation, which is made from fermented molasses. Today a few gin-tasting houses (proeflokalen) still exist in Amsterdam – sample the wares at De Admiraal (Herengracht 310) or De Drie Fleschjes (Gravenstraat 18).
Watch out for your valuables around Central Station. Image courtesy of Mark Guim on Flickr.
Amsterdam is safe
Despite Amsterdam’s rackety reputation for the Red Light District and coffeeshop culture, it remains one of the safest cities in Europe. Pickpocketing and drug pushing are endemic around the Oude Zijde and Central Station but no more so than any other major city packed full of tourists. The Red Light District, like most of the center of the city, is well policed and violent crime is all but non-existent. In 2012 Mercer Consulting rated Amsterdam at number 12 in a poll of the world’s best cities to live in.
Willem-Alexander is the first Dutch king for 123 years
Following the abdication of his mother Queen Beatrice on April 29 2013, King Willem-Alexander became the first male monarch on the Dutch throne since 1890.
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