The capital of the Netherlands is a big attraction in itself, because many medieval historical monuments and masterpieces of architecture have been preserved within the boundaries of Amsterdam, and the city itself is cut with canals through which beautiful bridges span. Amsterdam was founded in 1300, and today it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It is not surprising that the sights of Amsterdam are one of the most visited in the world, and in our review we will present photos and descriptions of the beautiful places of the amazing European capital.
1
Dam Square
The main square of the Dutch capital got its name, like most of the architectural objects in the city, and Amsterdam itself, from a dam built in the distant XIII century.
The almost rectangular central square of Amsterdam is surrounded by magnificent buildings, and in its center is a national monument in memory of the victims of World War II.
The western part of the square is bounded by the Royal Palace, which for a long time served as a city hall, and in 1808 the royal family settled in its halls.
2
Royal Palace
For the first time, the magnificent building of the city hall is mentioned in historical documents under the year 1648, and today it is one of the three medieval palaces that the monarchist couple completely controls.
The erection of the palace became a real symbol of the hard work of the Dutch, because 13 659 piles were driven in to build the building, and sandstone for the walls was brought specially from Germany.
Initially, in addition to the city hall, the building also housed the Amsterdam Bank. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam has become a tourist visiting card of the capital, and paintings of famous Dutch painters are exhibited in its halls and halls.
3
Coin Tower of Amsterdam
In those days when the world knew a country called Holland, the monumental gate of Regrinspourt led to Amsterdam, part of which was a high watchtower.
A real decoration of a unique architectural structure is an octagonal spire with a clock, the four dials of which are oriented to the cardinal points. But the real masterpiece of the tower is the unique carillon of bells, enchanting residents and tourists with a magnificent chime.
Near the tower is a unique and colorful flower market in Amsterdam, where the largest selection of flowers in the whole world.
Since we are talking about flowers, our site most-beauty.ru will be happy to show you the most popular and beautiful types of flowers in the world.
4
Damrak Street
The main street of the capital of the Netherlands used to be a canal, and in the second half of the 19th century it was bombarded and a chic street turned out, on both sides of which there are beautiful city buildings.
On the street is the building of the Stock Exchange, from which Damrak has become synonymous with the financial prosperity of the Netherlands. In addition, there are many cafes, shops of fashion brands, creative workshops and an abundance of flowers on the street.
Damrak enters the famous Dam Square. Within walking distance are the best restaurants in Amsterdam, 10 of which are awarded Michelin stars.
And about the other most beautiful streets in the world, read a fascinating article with photos.
5
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam can rightfully be called the city of museums, because there are more than thirty of them in the city and its environs. The main among them is the State Rijksmuseum Museum, which is in the TOP 20 most visited in the world.
It was founded in 1800 by the brother of Napoleon I, but it did not open its doors to visit until 1885, after the exhibits of the museum moved to a new building.
Among the huge collection of world masterpieces, the real pride of the museum is a collection of Dutch painters and decorative art of Asian peoples.
6
Museum Stedelik
The Museum of Modern Art in Amsterdam will amaze fans of the beautiful not only with exhibits, but also with the unusual shape of the building in which it is located.
Experts say that today it is the best collection in the world, in which a special place is occupied by the works of contemporary artists, graphic artists and sculptors.
It is located in the central part of the city, and you simply cannot find a better place to get acquainted with modern art.
7
Westerkerk
On the banks of the Prinsengracht canal there is a beautiful Calvinist church, erected in the years 1620-1631. The author of the project was the renowned architect Hendrick de Keyser, whose houses in Amsterdam in the late Renaissance style became a real decoration of the capital.
The spire of a beautiful church, whose height is 85 m, is the highest church spire in the city, and crowned with its model of the crown of Maximilian I. The decoration of the church is striking in its splendor, and the doors of a unique organ were painted by the talented engraving artist Gerard de Leress.
Note that Rembrandt is buried within the church, but the exact place where the great painter lies is still a mystery.
8
Vondelpark
It's time to replenish the list of attractions with natural sites, among which the leading place is given to Vondela Park, spread over an area of 120 acres.
Amsterdam parks are a favorite vacation spot for citizens and guests of the capital. And in the Vondelpark, in addition to shady alleys, ponds, there is a theater, a cinema museum, numerous sports and playgrounds.
A beautiful place dates back to 1865, when a group of initiative citizens bought land from the authorities in order to equip a place for rest and walks.
9
Van Gogh Museum
You can not ignore the unique museum of the talented Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, whose paintings glorified his name after death.
The art museum founded in 1973 contains the world's largest collection of paintings, sketches and drawings by a talented painter. In addition, the works of his contemporaries are exhibited.
In terms of attendance, this amazing museum is the second in the Netherlands, and in the world in terms of attendance among all art museums, it occupies the 31st line.
10
Anne Frank House
In this house on the Prinsengracht embankment, a little girl Anna was hiding with her mother from the Nazis. Here she began to write her diary, now known all over the world.
The house itself is an architectural monument, and was erected in 1635. Now it houses a museum in memory of that difficult period of history for the Netherlands.
Anna died in a war horse, and the house and pages of her diary became a real symbol of exposing the crimes of the Nazis.
11
Castigatio
In the northern part of the beautiful and cozy city is the building of the old prison, which distinguishes the splendor of the architectural style from other buildings.
It was built at the beginning of the XVII century, and for many years the most dangerous criminals were kept in the walls of the prison. Above the entrance are three statues that remind of law and justice.
Interestingly, the cells contained only male criminals, and not older than 25 years.
12
Oudekerk
The name of the church, and translated as “Old Church”, reflects its essence, because it is the oldest building in Amsterdam, erected on the site of an old wooden church at the end of the XIV century.
It was built in the Gothic style, but later it acquired the ornate and refined architectural elements of the Renaissance. By tradition, the church has tombs of famous historical figures.
During religious confrontations, the beautiful interior of the church was damaged by Calvinist iconoclasts, but it still remains the most beautiful building in the capital.
13
Church of St. Nicholas
One of the largest Catholic churches in the world, St. Nicholas Church in Amsterdam is located in the old part of the city, and is a unique architectural monument.
The facade of the unique building is decorated with two tall towers, between which harmoniously fit a window-socket, so characteristic of the Gothic style.
The temple is decorated with a majestic octagonal dome, and the massive defensive tower of Schreierstoren has been preserved near the church.
14
Blue bridge
The Blauwbrug bridge, as its name sounds in Dutch, is a beautiful bridge building monument that spanned the Amstel River.
He connected two magnificent squares - Waterloo and Rembrandt, and the first wooden walkway appeared on this site in 1600. Later they built a stone bridge painted in the colors of the national flag.
The real decorations of the bridge are the supports in the form of ship hulls, and lantern columns crowned with crowns.
And about the most beautiful bridges in the world, you can see an interesting article on our website.
15
De Kreutberg Church
The church of De Kreutberg in the heart of Amsterdam was built in the Neo-Gothic style in 1884, and before that there was a secret Jesuit chapel.
A beautiful religious building was dedicated in honor of the founder of the Jesuit Order, Francis Xavier, whose sculpture was placed next to the altar.
The church is active, and services are held in it, and the building itself is listed as a cultural heritage.
16
Nemo Museum
A unique science museum was opened in 1997, and the building resembles a large ship in forms. They created it on the basis of the old labor museum.
The general idea of creating such an institution is aimed at a population of scientific research, as well as encouraging the younger generation to interest in science and the latest technologies.
The Nemo Museum in Amsterdam, where, in addition to exhibits, a theater, an exhibition hall, is an excellent platform for the popularization of science.
17
Bag Museum
There are unusual museums in the world, and the bag museum in Amsterdam can rightfully be among them. In its halls more than 3,500 exhibits were collected, including unique historical bags.
It was opened in 1995, and the initiator of the creation of a unique collection was the antique dealer Hendrikie Ivo, who bought the first handbag made in Germany in 1820.
Today, the museum hosts exhibitions of handbags of world famous manufacturers, as well as lectures on the history of leather production.
So our journey came to an end, in which the main attractions of the capital of the Netherlands are presented, not forgetting to mention interesting facts about Amsterdam.
Exotic European capital, where even a public toilet and urinals at every turn, can shock with their design, and marijuana can be bought in a special stall - a coffee shop, one of the leaders in tourist attendance.
Article author: Valery Skiba