Amsterdam is derived from the word Amstelredamme, which is the origin of this city, which is a dam in the river Amstel.
Formerly occupied as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of the development of innovative trading. At that time, the city is a leading financial center and a gem. In the 19th century and 20th century, the city is expanding themselves and many settlements along the outskirts of the city is built. Canals of Amsterdam (Dutch: 'Grachtengordel') of the 17th century in the heart of Amsterdam entered into the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2010.
The city is the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. Many large Dutch companies have headquarters there, and 7 of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, based in the city. In 2010, Amsterdam was ranked 13th in the list of cities with the best quality of life in the world by Mercer, and previously ranked 3rd in innovation by 2thinknow in the Innovation Cities Index 2009.
Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest stock exchange in the world, located in the city center. The main tourist attractions Amsterdam, including its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, Amsterdam Museum, red light district and cannabis coffee shops has attracted more than 3.66 million foreign tourists each year.
Source: Wikipedia
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