Amsterdam has always had strong ties to the water. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. Spread out over 70 islands, this cosmopolitan city boasts 60 miles of canals and 1,000 bridges. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. As early as the 13th century, tiny ships sailed from this port into the challenging Zuider Sea. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. A direct connection to the North Sea was made with the construction of a canal in the early 19th century. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
The most dramatic alteration of the landscape came in 1932 with the building of a 22-mile dam that sealed off part of the Zuider Sea, allowing large landfills. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
Amsterdam gained renown in the 15th century when it became a major trading center, steadily assuming commercial leadership and thus controlling the country’s finances, a trend that remains to this day. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. The historical center is full of interesting attractions such as the medieval weighhouse, the Royal Palace on Dam Square, and the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church which was built in 1468. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. From the time of Rembrandt, Amsterdam has been revered as an artistic center. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. Today the city is renowned for its celebrated museums – the Rijks, Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museums to name but a few. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. It also is a shopper’s city, featuring everything from the famous flower market to glassware, Delft porcelain, cheese and wooden shoes. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
Within a relatively short distance from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem which is the main center of the bulb-growing industry. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
You may explore Amsterdam’s center on foot or join the thousands of residents who favor riding their bicycles. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. One of the most delightful ways to enjoy the city’s famous sights is from a glass-topped sightseeing boat. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises. Gliding through the canals, the boat passes the characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges. Amsterdam, Netherlands/Holland Gay Cruises.
