History

canal of Amsterdam

Jan van Galen

Amsterdam is situated at the mouth and on the south side of the IJ, an inland arm of the former Zuiderzee, now IJsselmeer, and connected by canal with the North Sea. It is divided by the canalized Amstel River into two main sections.

The medieval town lies on either side of the Amstel at the city's centre, enclosed by the semicircular Singel (ditch or moat). Outside the Singel are the three main canals dating from the 17th century: the Herengracht (Heren Canal), Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. Within this area smaller canals run north and south. One tower (the Schreierstoren) of the old fortifications still stands.

The old part of Amsterdam has many ancient buildings, among which the Old Church (Oude Kerk), built in the 13th century, and the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk), begun in the 15th century, are outstanding. Next to the New Church is the 17th-century town hall, now the Royal Palace, built in classical Palladian style. Other notable buildings include the Mint Tower (Munttoren), with a 17th-century upper part superimposed on a medieval gate; the South Church (Zuiderkerk, 1611); the West Church (Westerkerk, 1631), where Rembrandt is buried; the Trippenhuis, housing the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences; and the Old Man's House Gate (Oudemanhuispoort), now the entrance to one of the University of Amsterdam's main buildings. The Sint Nicolaas Church (1886), the Central Station (1889), the Beurs (the bourse, or Commercial Exchange Building, 1903), and the Shipping House (1916) are more modern in style. The former Jewish quarter, in the east of the old town, is the location of the Portuguese Synagogue (1670) and the Rembrandt House (Rembrandthuis), which is now a museum. The old town's three main squares are the Dam, the Leidseplein (Leidse Square), and the Rembrandtsplein. Fine 17th- and 18th-century patrician houses line the canals.

Then in the 16th century, the Dutch war of independence began against the Spanish rule. Although originally on the Spanish side, Amsterdam switched sides in 1578. As a result, freedom of religion was reinstated, a very smart move at the time. Religious wars raged throughout Europe and a lot of people were looking for a place of refuge where they would not be condemned by their religion. Wealthy Jewish families from Spain and Portugal came to settle in the Netherlands. Merchants of Antwerp fled the destruction and ransacking of their city by the Spanish. The "Hugenotes" from France sought refuge in Amsterdam so they could practice their religion. But in Amsterdam nobody really had a belief, as long as you were willing to pay your taxes and do your bit for the economy.

The seventeenth century was Amsterdam’s Golden Age. Amsterdam’s ships sailed to Indonesia, Brazil and Africa, gathering an impressive Empire in the process. This was also the same century as Rembrandt and the construction of the canals. Amsterdam became the most important port of the world and an international center for banking.

The 18th and 19th century saw a decline in the prosperity of Amsterdam. Wars against England and France took their toll on the city and trade was lost to 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.

The First World War did not affect Amsterdam, although trade and industry suffered. During the Second World War about 100.000 Jewish people were deported from Amsterdam, almost completely wiping out the Jewish community.

The sixties put Amsterdam back on the map, for reasons other than trade. The tolerance of soft drugs made the city an ideal place for the “hippie generation”. Riots and clashes against the police become common, reaching their high point in 1980 when a battle of protesters against the police 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 to social problems.