Discount Hotels Amsterdam
Historical interest: Amsterdam
    
Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village around the 13th century. A dam was
built on the river Amstel - hence the name Amstelerdam (dam on the river Amstel).
Before long the Amsterdammers discovered they had a talent for trade. From the
14th century onwards, trade with the Hansic cities flourished.
After the Dutch war of independence with Spain in the 16th - 17th centuries,
wealthy Jewish families from Spain and Portugal came to settle in the Netherlands;
and the Huguenots from France sought refuge in Amsterdam so they could practice
their religion.
The 17th century was Amsterdam's Golden Age. The city's ships sailed to Indonesia,
Brazil and Africa, gathering an impressive Empire in the process. This was also
the century of Rembrandt and the construction of the canals. During this time,
Amsterdam became the most important port in the world and an international centre
for banking.
The 18th - 19th centuries saw a decline in the prosperity of Amsterdam. Wars
against England and France took their toll on the city, and trade was lost with
London. At the end of the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution reached Amsterdam.
Waterways to the sea and to the river Rhine improved communication with the
rest of Europe and the world. Amsterdam got a new lease on life, but never reached
the same supremacy as before.
WWI did not affect Amsterdam, although trade and industry suffered. During
WWII, about 100,000 Jewish people were deported from the city, almost completely
wiping out the Jewish community.
The 1960s put Amsterdam back on the map for reasons other than trade, and the
tolerance of soft drugs made the city an ideal place for the hippie generation.
Riots and clashes against the police became common, reaching their high point
in 1980 when a battle of protesters against the police was fought while Queen
Beatrix pledged her oaths to become the new Queen of the Netherlands.
Nowadays Amsterdam has become more peaceful, and has retained its tolerance
of soft drugs and also its relaxed attitude to social problems.
http://www.amsterdam.nl/eindex.html
Selection of hotels in this region:
The Gresham Memphis | | Le Meridien Apollo | | Delta Hotel Amsterdam City Centre | | The Albus Grand Hotel | | King Hotel | | Aadam Hotel Wilhelmina | | Banks Mansion | | Hotel Falcon Plaza Centre | | Jolly Hotel Carlton Amsterdam | | Nova Hotel | | Slotania Hotel | | NH Doelen | | Hotel Cordial | | Golden Tulip Inntel Amsterdam-Centre | | Die Port Van Cleve Hotel | | NH Schiller | | NH City Centre | | NH Museum Quarter | | HEM Hotel Amsterdam | | Tulip Inn Amsterdam Centre | | Singel Hotel | | Prins Hendrik | | Aalborg Hotel | | NH Caransa | | NH Tropen | | Di Ann Hotel | | NH City North | | PC Hotel | | Artemis Amsterdam Hotel | | Holiday Inn Amsterdam | | Golden Tulip Amsterdam Art | | Museum Hotel | | Seasons Hotel | | Apple Inn Hotel | | Tulip Inn Amsterdam Art | | Hotel Eden | | AMS Toro | | AMS Hotel City Centre | | AMS Atlas Hotel | | AMS Hofpark Hotel | | AMS Concert Inn | | Hotel Ibis Schiphol Airport | | NH Caransa | | AMS Omega Hotel | | AMS Hotel Terdam | |
Click below for a
full list of hotels and online booking
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