Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital and most populated city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 921,402 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
amsterdam

Some of the key events about Amsterdam

  • 1275
    Amsterdam was granted city rights, establishing it as an official municipality
  • 1345
    The Great Fire of Amsterdam destroyed nearly two-thirds of the city
  • 1572
    Spanish troops massacred hundreds of citizens during the Eighty Years' War
  • 1602
    The Dutch East India Company, the world's first multinational corporation, was founded in Amsterdam
  • 1631
    The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, the oldest in the world, was established
  • 1648
    The Royal Palace on Dam Square was completed, serving as the city hall for 150 years
  • 1663
    The plague epidemic killed nearly 24,000 inhabitants
  • 1672
    The Dutch Republic was invaded by France, England, and two German states in the "Disaster Year"
  • 1795
    Amsterdam was occupied by French revolutionary forces
  • 1815
    The Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, was founded in Amsterdam
  • 1876
    The North Sea Canal was opened, greatly improving Amsterdam's connection to the sea
  • 1889
    The Concertgebouw, one of the world's most renowned concert halls, opened its doors
  • 1928
    Amsterdam hosted the Summer Olympics, showcasing the city on a global stage
  • 1940
    Nazi Germany invaded and occupied the Netherlands, including Amsterdam
  • 1941
    The first razzia (raid) targeting Jewish citizens in Amsterdam took place
  • 1944
    The "Hunger Winter" began, causing severe food shortages and thousands of deaths in Amsterdam
  • 1971
    The first Gay Pride parade in the Netherlands was held in Amsterdam
  • 1992
    El Al Flight 1862 crashed into apartment buildings in the Bijlmermeer neighborhood, killing 43 people
  • 2002
    The assassination of politician Pim Fortuyn shocked the city and nation
  • 2013
    The renovated Rijksmuseum reopened after a decade-long restoration project

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.

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