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.

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.