Amsterdam

:Alternate meanings: See Amsterdam

History

Main article: History of Amsterdam

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Amsterdam was founded as a fishing village in the 13th century. The damming of the river Amstel gave it its name. It was given city rights in 1300 or 1301. From the 14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely on the basis of trade with the cities of the Hanseatic league.

Related Topics:
13th century - Amstel - City rights - 1300 - 1301 - 14th century - Hanseatic league

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The 16th century brought a rebellion by the Dutch against Philip II of Spain and his successors, escalating into the Eighty Years' War which ultimately led to Dutch independence. The Dutch Republic became known for its relative religious tolerance and Jews from Spain and Portugal, prosperous merchants from Antwerp (economic and religious refugees from the part of the Low Countries still controlled by Spain), Huguenots from France (persecuted for their religion) sought safety in Amsterdam. It was the rich, refined migrants from Flanders who set the tone (their Brabant dialects became the basis of standard written Dutch) and made Holland a mercantile power.

Related Topics:
16th century - Philip II of Spain - Eighty Years' War - Jew - Spain - Portugal - Antwerp - Huguenots - France

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The 17th century is considered Amsterdam's "Golden Age". In the early 17th century Amsterdam was the richest city in Europe. Ships sailed from Amsterdam to North America, Africa and present-day Indonesia and Brazil and formed the basis of a worldwide trading network. Amsterdam's merchants had the biggest share in the VOC and WIC. These companies acquired the overseas possessions which formed the seeds of the later Dutch colonies. Amsterdam was the most important point for the trans-shipment of goods in Europe and it was the leading financial center of the world. Amsterdam's stock exchange was the first to trade continuously.

Related Topics:
17th century - North America - Africa - Indonesia - Brazil - VOC - WIC

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The population grew from slightly over 10,000 around 1500 to 30,000 around 1570, 60,000 around 1600, 105,000 in 1622 and almost 200,000 around 1700 (a twentyfold increase in 200 years). Thereafter, the population did not change much for another century and a half. During the century before WW II it almost quadrupled, but then remained fairly constant again to this day.

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The 18th and early 19th centuries saw a decline in Amsterdam's prosperity. The wars of the Dutch Republic with the United Kingdom and France took their toll on Amsterdam. During the Napoleonic wars Amsterdam's fortunes reached their lowest point. However, with the establishment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815, things slowly began to improve. In Amsterdam new developments were started by people like Sarphati who found their inspiration in Paris.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - France - 1815 - Sarphati

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At the end of the 19th century the Industrial Revolution reached Amsterdam. The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal was dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the Rhine and the North Sea Canal to give the port a connection with the North Sea. Both projects improved communication with the rest of Europe and the world dramatically. They gave the economy a big boost.

Related Topics:
Industrial Revolution - Amsterdam-Rhine Canal - Rhine - North Sea Canal - North Sea

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Between 1850 and 1900 population doubled to about 500.000.

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The end of the 19th century is sometimes called Amsterdam's second Golden Age. New museums, a train station, and the Concertgebouw were built. Amsterdam's population grew significantly during this period.

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During World War I, the Netherlands remained neutral, but Amsterdam suffered the effects of the war when food became scarce.

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During World War II, German troops occupied the city. More than 100,000 Jews were deported, of whom perhaps the most famous was a young girl, Anne Frank. This almost completely wiped out the Jewish community.

Related Topics:
World War II - German - Jew - Anne Frank

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