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"The truth about Bram Stoker's 'Count Dracula'"
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The legend of Count Dracula.
Though the Count is a purely fictional character, it is however based on some true historical facts. Here we will present the truth behind the legend...
Yes, there was a real Dracula, and he was a true prince of darkness. He was Prince Vlad III Dracula, also known as Vlad Tepes, meaning "Vlad the Impaler." The Turks called him Kaziglu Bey, or "the Impaler Prince." He was the prince of Walachia, but, as legend suggests, he was born in Transylvania, which at that time was ruled by Hungary.

According to legend, Walachia was founded in 1290 by a Transylvanian named Radu Negru, or Rudolph the Black. Dracula's grandfather, Prince Mircea the Old, reigned from 1386 to 1418. He fought to keep Walachia independent from the Turks but was forced to pay tribute to them. He and his descendants continued to rule Walachia, but under the suzerainty of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey).
The throne of Walachia was not necessarily passed from father to son. The prince was elected by the country's boyars, or land-owning nobles. This caused fighting among family members, assassinations, and other unpleasantness. Eventually the royal House of Basarab was split into two factions -- Mircea's descendants, and the descendants of another prince named Dan II. Dan's descendants were called the Danesti.
Mircea had an illegitimate son, Vlad, born around 1390. He grew up in the court of King Sigismund of Hungary, first probably as a hostage and later as a page. Sigismund, who became the Holy Roman Emperor in 1410, founded a secret fraternal order of knights called the Order of the Dragon to uphold Catholicism and fight Turkey. Vlad was admitted to the Order, probably in 1431. The boyars of Walachia started to call him Dracul, meaning "dragon." Vlad's second son would be known as Dracula, or "son of the dragon." Dracul also meant "devil." So some of Dracula's enemies called him "son of the devil."
Sigismund made Vlad the military governor of Transylvania, a post he held from 1431 to 1435. During that time he lived in the town of Sighisoara or Schassburg. You can still visit the citadel there and even the house where Vlad's son Dracula was born. Today there's a restaurant on the second floor. There's also a mural in the house that may depict Vlad Dracul.

www.andaluciaimagen.com/foto-Castillo-de-Bran...
Young Dracula
Dracula was born in November or December of 1431. His given name was Vlad. He had an older brother, Mircea, and a younger brother, Radu the Handsome. Their mother may have been a Moldavian princess or a Tranyslvanian noble. It is said that she educated Dracula in his early years. Later he was trained for knighthood by an old boyar who had fought the Turks.
Dracula's father was not content to remain a mere governor forever. During his years in Transyvlania, he gathered supporters for his plan to seize Walachia's throne from its current occupant, a Danesti prince named Alexandru I. In late 1436 or early 1437 Vlad Dracul killed Alexandru and became Prince Vlad II.
Vlad was a vassal of Hungary and also had to pay tribute to Hungary's enemy, Turkey. In 1442 Turkey invaded Transylvania. Vlad tried to stay neutral, but Hungary's rulers blamed him and drove him and his family out of Walachia. A Hungarian general, Janos Hunyadi (who may have been the illegitimate son of Emperor Sigismund) made a Danesti named Basarab II the prince of Walachia.

"Dracula's Blood Wine" sold at the foot of Bran Castle

Bran Castle, supposedly Dracula's Castle, is actually a pretty fairy-tale castle in the little village of Bran in Romania. Neither the fictional Dracula nor the real Vlad Tepes, whom Bram Stoker may or may not have based Dracula, ever set foot in Bran Castle. Nevertheless, a market selling Dracula souveniers and hoards of tourists may lead one to believe otherwise. In fact, it was built by the people of Brasov to protect the Bran mountain pass from the Turks, and was inhabited by Queen Marie.

The following year Vlad regained the throne with the help of the sultan of Turkey. In 1444 he sent his two younger sons to Turkey to prove his loyalty. Dracula was about 13. He spent the next four years in Adrianople, Turkey as a hostage.
In 1444 Hungary went to war with Turkey and demanded that Vlad join the crusade. As a member of the Order of the Dragon, Vlad was sworn to obey this summons. But he didn't want to anger the Turks, so he sent his eldest son, Mircea, in his place. The Christian army was demolished at the Battle of Varna, and Vlad and Mircea blamed Janos Hunyadi.

In 1447 Vlad and Mircea were murdered. Mircea was killed by the boyars and merchants of the Walachian city Tirgoviste. There are different stories about how he died - he may have been tortured and burned, or buried alive. Apparently his father died at the same time. Some say that the assassinations were organized by Hunyadi.
Since Vlad and Mircea were dead, and Dracula and Radu were still in Turkey, Hunyadi was able to put a member of the Danesti clan, Vladislav II, on the Walachian throne. The Turks didn't like having a Hungarian puppet in charge of Walachia, so in 1448 they freed Dracula and gave him an army. He was seventeen years old.
It seems that Dracula's little brother Radu chose to remain in Turkey. He had grown up there, and apparently remained loyal to the sultan.

Bran es un pequeña ciudad situada en Transilvania, junto a la frontera con Valaquia (actualmente, Rumania) en plenos Cárpatos Transilvanos. Destacable es el Castillo de Bran , llamado Castillo de Drácula, si bien no lo construyó Vlad Draculea (se cree que pasó en él unos días en su camino a prisión en Budapest).
www.branebro.com/

Dracula's Reign
With the help of his Turkish army, Dracula seized the Walachian throne. However, he only ruled for two months before Hunyadi forced him into exile in Moldavia. Again Vladislav II became Walachia's prince.
Three years later Prince Bogdan of Moldavia was assassinated and Dracula fled the country. By now Vladislav II had become a supporter of Turkey, and Hunyadi was sorry he had put him on the throne. Everyone switched sides - Dracula became Hunyadi's vassal, and Hunyadi now supported Dracula's attempt to regain his throne. In 1456 Hunyadi invaded Turkish Serbia while Dracula invaded Walachia. Hunyadi was killed, but Dracula killed Vladislav II and took back his throne.
He established his capital at Tirgoviste - you can still see the ruins of his palace there. And nearby a statue of Vlad Tepes still stands. He is considered an important figure in Romanian history because he unified Walachia and resisted the influence of foreigners.
But it's Dracula's cruelty that most non-Romanians remember. After becoming prince, Dracula supposedly invited many beggars and other old, sick and poor people to a banquet at his castle. When his guests had finished eating their meal and drinking a toast to him, Dracula asked them, "Would you like to be without cares, lacking nothing in this world?"
Yes, they said enthusiastically.
So Dracula had the castle boarded up and set it on fire. Nobody made it out alive - and that was the end of their problems, as he had promised. "I did this so that no one will be poor in my realm," he said.

Castillo de Drácula es el segundo inmueble más caro del mundo

El Castillo de Bran
El castillo de Bran, ligado a la leyenda del vampiro Drácula y situado en el centro de Rumanía, es el segundo inmueble más caro del mundo puesto a la venta, conforme con una clasificación de la revista estadounidense Forbes.
El castillo fue valorado por la mencionada revista en 140 millones de dólares, cantidad justificada por los expertos por los ingresos que podría proporcionar este edificio histórico a un potencial propietario.
En el primer puesto en la lista de Forbes se sitúa una propiedad en Beverly Hills (California, EU), valorada en 165 millones de dólares, que perteneció al magnate de la prensa William Randolph Hearst.
El castillo rumano fue puesto a la venta por Baytree Capital, en nombre de Dominic de Habsburgo, hijo de la princesa Ileana de Rumanía, después de que el año pasado la propiedad le fuera devuelta por las autoridades rumanas.
Conforme con un acuerdo con el Ministerio rumano de Cultura, el castillo de Bran, el segundo edificio más visitado de Rumanía tras el Palacio Real Peles de Sinaia, deberá conservar hasta el año 2009 su función de museo.
Situado cerca de Brasov, en el centro de Rumanía, fue construido por los caballeros de la Orden Teutónica a principios del siglo XIII y sirvió durante la Edad Media para defender el camino comercial que comunicaba Valaquia con Transilvania.
El príncipe de Valaquia, Vlad el Empalador (s.XV), modelo histórico del personaje mítico Drácula, utilizó esta fortaleza con fines militares varias veces durante su reinado.
Los colonos alemanes de Brasov, que compraron el castillo a fines del siglo XV, lo regalaron en 1918 a la reina María de Rumanía, que lo convirtió en residencia y lo dejó en herencia a su hija Ileana.

(20minutos.es)

According to another story, he invited 500 boyars to a banquet and asked them how many princes had ruled in their lifetimes. They said they had lived through many reigns. Shouting that this was their fault because of their plotting, Dracula had them all arrested on the spot. The older ones were impaled; the others were marched 50 miles to Poenari where they were forced to build a mountaintop fortress. They worked a long time; when their clothes fell off, they worked naked. Most of them died, of course. And of course Dracula seized the boyars' property and passed it out to his supporters. In that way he created a new nobility, loyal to him.
(The ruins of the Poenari fortress can still be seen. You have to climb nearly 1,500 steps and cross a little bridge to reach it. It's now called Castle Dracula, but several places are called that. Another "Castle Dracula" is Bran Castle, near the town of Brasov. Although Dracula may have stayed there occasionally, it certainly wasn't his home.)
Dracula liked to set up a banquet table and dine while he watched people die. His favorite form of execution was impalement. It was slow; people could take days to die. He liked to impale many people at once, arranging the stakes in fancy designs. Nothing was too brutal for Dracula - he enjoyed having people skinned, boiled alive, etc. He prided himself on making the punishment (supposedly) fit the crime.

By 1462, when he was deposed, he had killed between 40,000 and 100,000 people, possibly more. He always thought up some excuse for these executions. He killed merchants who cheated their customers. He killed women who had affairs. Supposedly he had one woman impaled because her husband's shirt was too short. He didn't mind impaling children, either. Afterwards he would display the corpses in public so everyone would learn a lesson. It's said that there were over 20,000 bodies hanging outside his capital city. Of course, the stories about Dracula's cruelty might have been exaggerated by his enemies.
Despite all this, Dracula's subjects respected him for fighting the Turks and being a strong ruler. He's remembered today as a patriotic hero who stood up to Turkey and Hungary. He was the last Walachian prince to remain independent from the Ottoman Empire. He was so scornful of other nations that when two foreign ambassadors refused to doff their hats to him, he had the hats nailed to their heads. He was opposed to the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches because he thought foreigners, operating through the churches, had too much power in Walachia. He tried to prevent foreign merchants from taking business away from his citizens. If merchants disobeyed his trade laws, they were, of course, impaled.
Dracula created a very severe moral code for the citizens of Walachia. You can guess what happened to anyone who broke the code. Thieves were impaled, even liars were impaled. Naturally there wasn't a lot of crime in Walachia during his reign.
To prove how well his laws worked, Dracula had a gold cup placed in a public square. Anyone who wanted to could drink from the cup, but no one was allowed to take it out of the square. No one did.
A visiting merchant once left his money outside all night, thinking that it would be safe because of Dracula's strict policies. To his surprise, some of his coins were stolen. He complained to Dracula, who promptly issued a proclamation that the money must be returned or the city would be destroyed. That night Dracula secretly had the missing money, plus one extra coin, returned to the merchant. The next morning the merchant counted the money and found it had been returned. He told Dracula about this, and mentioned the extra coin. Dracula replied that the thief had been caught and would be impaled. And if the merchant hadn't mentioned the extra coin, he would have been impaled, too.

www.romaniatourism.com/plan.html

Dracula Overthrown
In 1462 Dracula attacked the Turks to drive them out of the Danube River valley. Sultan Mehmed II retaliated by invading Walachia with an army three times larger than Dracula's. Dracula was forced to retreat to his capital, Tirgoviste. He burned his own villages and poisoned wells on the way so that the Turkish army wouldn't have any food or water.
When the sultan reached Tirgoviste, he saw a terrifying scene, remembered in history as "the Forest of the Impaled." There, outside the city, were 20,000 Turkish prisoners, all impaled. The sultan's officers were too scared to go on - Dracula had won again.
Although the sultan retreated, Dracula's little brother Radu did not. The Turks had provided him with an army in hopes that he could seize Dracula's throne. Many of Dracula's boyars abandoned him to join Radu. Radu's army pursued Dracula to his fortress at Poenari. Dracula's wife was so frightened that she threw herself from the upper battlements. The Turks seized the castle, but Dracula managed to escape through a secret tunnel. There were still some peasants around he hadn't impaled, and they helped him flee from Walachia.
He went to the new king of Hungary, Matthias Corvinus, for help. Instead the king had him imprisoned in a tower. Dracula remained in Hungary while Radu ruled Walachia as a puppet for the Turks. After the first four years he was allowed to move into a house. He became a Catholic to please the Catholic Hungarians. He ingratiated himself with the Hungarian royal family, and even married one of its members (possibly the king's cousin).
But he was still the same old Dracula. He impaled rats and birds for fun. Once a thief broke into his house and a Hungarian captain followed him to arrest him. Dracula didn't kill the thief - he killed the officer. Why? Because the officer was a gentleman, and should have known not to enter a house uninvited.

The Death of Dracula
In 1473, Dracula's brother Radu lost the Walachian throne to a member of the Danesti clan, Basarab the Old. Radu died of syphilis in January of 1475, and in 1476 Dracula invaded Walachia with the help of Moldavia and Transylvania. They drove Basarab out of the country, and Dracula again became Walachia's prince. Most of Dracula's army then went home to Transylvania.
The Turks attacked a few months later. Dracula was killed while fighting near Bucharest in December 1476. Some say he died at the hands of a Turkish assassin posing as a servant, or that he was accidentally killed on the battlefield by his own men because he had disguised himself as a Turk to confuse the enemy. The sultan displayed Dracula's head on a pike in Constantinople to prove that he was dead. His body was buried at the island monastery of Snagov, which he had patronized. But excavations in 1931 failed to turn up any sign of his coffin!
And that is the story of the real Prince Dracula.
www.countdracula.boo-media.com/legendcountdra...

DRACULA-TRANSILVANYA - Group
La verdadera historia de Dracula - Truveo Video Search
Venden castillo de Drácula en Rumania — especiales — -
Ponen a la venta castillo de Drácula en Rumania - El Universal ... -
No sólo Drácula en Rumania

ALICIA HERNANZ PÉREZ. MADRID - 20/01/2007
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Envía este artículo
ATERRIZAMOS en Bucarest totalmente desorientados, ignorantes ante un país desconocido al que habíamos decidido viajar únicamente para conocer más de cerca el famoso mito del conde Drácula.

Alicia Hernanz en el castillo de Peles

Sin embargo, lo que encontramos en Rumania superó con creces nuestras expectativas; es más, el principal objetivo de nuestro viaje quedó reducido a simple curiosidad, pues quién se detiene a escuchar historias sobre un personaje hacia el que los rumanos no parecen mostrar apenas interés. Desde luego, nadie que haya admirado los frescos del monasterio de Voronet, que han sido a menudo comparados con los mosaicos de la aljama Kahrie de Estambul. Tampoco nadie que haya navegado por los canales del delta del Danubio, declarado reserva de la biosfera por la Unesco, o visitado pequeños pueblos llenos de encanto como Sibiel, Talmacel o Sapanta. La reacción será la misma en alguien que haya descubierto que la iglesia de madera con más altura no está en Noruega, sino en la pequeña aldea de Surdesti, o que haya visitado castillos tan impresionantes como el de Peles, en Sinaia.
Y es que Rumania tiene ciudades medievales comparables con las de Alemania, Holanda, Bélgica o Francia. Es el caso de Sibiu, Brasov o Sighisoara, cuya ciudadela es patrimonio de la humanidad. Bien es cierto que durante el circuito visitamos lugares muy relacionados con el mito de Stoker, como la ciudad de Bistrita, donde se construyó el hotel La Corona de Oro después de que el lugar fuese mencionado en la obra, y el Paso del Borgo, una zona de colinas escarpadas de gran belleza donde transcurre el encuentro entre Jonathan Harker y Drácula en la ficción. Sin embargo, Rumania no necesita de novelas o personajes para destacar, pues es en sí mismo un país de gente entrañable e innumerables atractivos.
Cuéntenos su viaje a sus destinos favoritos, en 30 líneas y con alguna fotografía. EL PAÍS (El Viajero). Miguel Yuste, 40. 28037 Madrid. Los autores de las cartas publicadas recibirán un lote de libros de El País-Aguilar.

http://elviajero.elpais.com/articulo...lpviavje_6/Tes

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Distrito: Brăila
Braila Region Map: Agaua — Zavoaia | Romania Google Satellite Maps

Región: Valaquia - Capital: Brăila (ciudad)
Indicativo: BR - Población: ~ 395.000 hab. - Densidad: ~ 82 hab/km² -
Superficie: 4.766 km² - Web: Consejo del distrito - Prefijo telefónico: (+40) x39

Brăila es un distrito (judeţ) ubicado en el Este de Rumanía, en el Nordeste de la región histórica de Valaquia, la ciudad capital es Brăila.
Distritos vecinos
Distrito de Tulcea por el Este.
Distrito de Buzău por el Oeste.
Distritos de Galaţi y Vrancea por el Norte.
Distritos de Ialomiţa y Constanţa County por el Sur.
Demografía
Un 98% de la población es de origen rumano. La principal minoría la constituyen los rromas (gitanos). También se encuentran rusos, lipovanos, arumanos y otros.

www.panoramio.com/photo/6446210

Geografía
El distrito tiene un área total de 4.766 km². Se extiende a través de la baja Llanura de Bărăgan, una de las principales regiones de cultivo de cereales en Rumanía.
En el Este corre el río Danubio, que forma la Gran Isla de Brăila, rodeada por los canales de Măcin, Cremenea y Valciu. En la región norte corre el río Siret y en el noroeste el río Buzău.

Economía
La agricultura es la principal actividad económica del distrito. Las industrias se concentran casi totalmente alrededor de la ciudad de Brăila.
Las principales actividades industriales son:La industria alimenticia.
La industria textil.
La industria de los componentes mecánicos.
En la ciudad de Brăila se encuentra un puerto importante que llego a ser el mayor puerto de cereales de Rumanía.Turismo
Las principales atracciones turísticas son:La ciudad de Brăila.
La estación turística del Lacu Sărat (Lago Salado).

División Administrativa
El distrito cuenta con un municipio, 3 poblados y 40 comunas.
Municipios:
Brăila (ciudad)
Poblados:
Ianca - Însurăţei - Făurei

Capital: Brăila
Braila Map - Map of Braila, Romania

Distrito: Brăila - Estatus: Capital de distrito
Coordinadas: 45°16′09″ N 27°57′07″ E / 45.2692, 27.9519
Población: ~ 225.000 hab. - Web: www.primariabraila.ro/
www.norseaodyssey.com/.../driving_in_romania.htm

Brăila es la ciudad capital del distrito del mismo nombre y un puerto junto al Río Danubio, en el Noroeste de la región histórica de Valaquia, en el Este de Rumanía.

Historia
Un Libro de Conocimiento español de alrededor de 1350, así como varios mapas catalanes (Angelino de Dalorto, 1325/1330 y Angelino Dulcert, 1339) muestran un asentamiento llamado Drinago en la orilla oeste del Río Danubio, en el sitio ocupado por la Brăila actual. Documentos griegos de aproximadamente la misma época mencionan a la ciudad como Proilabum o Proilava.

Desde 1538-40, los turcosotomanos controlaron la ciudad y sus alrededores hasta que la Convención de Akkerman la devolvió al gobierno de Valaquia en 1829. Los turcos la llamaron Ibrail o Ibraila. La ciudad fue atacada, saqueada e incendiada por el príncipe moldavo Esteban el Grande el 2 de febrero de 1470, como parte de la campaña de represión contra las fuerzas del príncipe valaco Radu el Hermoso, quien se había aliado con los turcos. También fue gobernada por el príncipe valaco Miguel el Bravo entre 1595 y 1596.

Durante el siglo XIX, el puerto se convirtió, además de los de Turnu y Giurgiu, en uno de los más importantes de Valaquia junto al Danubio, sirviendo de base para casi toda la mercancía que entraba o salía de Rumanía, y la ciudad alcanzó su principal punto de prosperidad entre fines del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX. Tras la Revolución anticomunista de 1989, la ciudad entró en un periodo de declive económico.

Puntos de interés
Los principales monumentos son:
-La Iglesia Griega, construida en 1865 por la comunidad griega.
-Iglesia de los Santos Arcángeles que sirviera como mezquita durante el dominio otomano.
-Iglesia de San Nicolás, también del siglo XIX.
-El teatro Maria Filotti.
-El centro antiguo de la ciudad alberga numerosas edificaciones del siglo XIX, algunas de estas hermosamente restauradas.
-Otras atracciones importantes son el Jardín Público, un parque situado junto la orilla del Danubio con bellas vistas del río y los Montes Măcin, y la antigua Casa del Agua, con su restaurante ubicado en la planta superior, y que cuenta con un sistema rotativo (360° en una hora).

A través de Brăila corre una las más antiguas líneas de tranvías eléctricos de Rumanía, inaugurada a fines del siglo XIX y mantenida en servicio hasta nuestros días. La Faleza es el nombre que recibe el bonito paseo fluvial, a orillas del Danubio o Dunare,en rumano, y que merece la pena visitar por su belleza.

Enlaces externos
braila.net
braila.org
(Wikipedia)

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Distrito: Buzău
Región: Muntenia - Capital: Buzău
Matrícula: BZ - Población: ~ 510.000 hab. - Densidad: ~ 81 hab/km²
Superficie: 6,103 km² - Web: Consejo del distrito - Prefijo telefónico: (+40) x38

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Buzău es un distrito (judeţ) de Rumania, en la región histórica de Muntenia, de Rumania cuya capital es Buzău.
Distritos vecinos

Brăila al este.
Prahova y Braşov al oeste.
Covasna y Vrancea al norte.
Ialomiţa al sur.
Demografía
rumanos - 97%.
Rromas - menos del 3% declarados, y otros.
estadísticas oficiales (en inglés)

A gas bubble appears from a mud volcano in Berca village, 140km (88 miles) northeast of Bucharest, October 7, 2007. Mud volcanoes are small volcano-shaped structures that have been formed as mud and volcanic gases from a depth of 3,000 m rise towards the surface.

Geografía
Este distrito tiene una área total de 6.103 km2.
En la parte norte hay montañas, así como desde la parte sur hasta los Cárpatos occidentales - los montes Vrancea y los montes Buzău con cimas por encima de los 1700 m. Las cumbres decrecen en el sur y en el este continúa el declive en las colinas subcarpatianas hasta eso de los 80 m de la llanura de Bărăgan.
El principal río que atraviesa el distrito es el Buzău, el cual reúne a muchos arroyos de las montañas y corrientes hasta el este, hasta el río Siret. El área es propensa a las inundaciones, la del verano 2005 destruyendo la carrretera principal y los puentes del ferrocarril en Mărăcineni al norte de Buzău.
Economía
Las industrias predominantes del distrito son:Componentes mecánicos, de automoción y del ferrocarril. Metalurgia. Vidrio.
Alimentación. Textil. Madera
La accidentada área es muy apropiada para el vino y huertos frutales. Sal y aceite son los principales recursos naturales obtenidos en la región.
Turismo
Los principales destinos turísticos son:
-La ciudad de Buzău
-Los montes Vrancea y los montes Buzău
-Los volcanes de lodo de Berca
-El monasterio Ciolanu
-El monasterio Răteşti
-Los lagos de Balta Alba yAmara
-Sărata-Monteoru
-La tumba del soldado calvo
Divisiones administrativas
El distrito tiene 2 municipalidades, 3 ciudades y 82 comunas.
Municipalidades
Buzău
Râmnicu Sărat
Ciudades
Nehoiu - Pogoanele - Pătârlagele

Vulcanii noroiosi - Buzau
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Capital: Buzău
Google-Map of Buzau -
Map of Buzau
Map of Buzau

Coordinadas: 45°9′6″ N 26°49′″ E / 45.15167
Distrito: Buzău - Estatus: Capital de distrito
Superficie: 81.3 km² - Altitud: 95 msnm - Población: ~ 140.000 hab.
Densidad: ~ 1,637/km² - Web: www.primariabuzau.ro
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The city of Buzău is the county seat of Buzău County, Romania, in the historical region of Wallachia. It lies near the right bank of the Buzău River, between the south-eastern curvature of the Carpathian Mountains and the lowlands of Bărăgan Plain.
Attested since 376 AD, Buzău was as an important Wallachian market town and Eastern Orthodoxepiscopal see in the Middle Ages. After facing a period of repeated destruction during the 17th and 18th century, Buzău slowly recovered to become nowadays an important modern city in south-eastern Romania.
The city's most important landmark is the Communal Palace, built between 1899 and 1903, now serving as City Hall. Along with the Courthouse, the Communal Palace was designed by architects commissioned by mayor Nicu Constantinescu, at the end of the 19th century.
From the Communal Palace, Cuza Vodă Street leads to the Bazaar. The Cuza Vodă Street features late 19th century buildings
Crâng Park, carved in the corner of a larger forest, lies in the western outskirts of the town and is a remnant of the old Codrii Vlăsiei. Crâng was designed in the late 19th century. It has an obelisk, erected in 1976 to celebrate 1600 years since the town's first recorded historical attestation.
The oldest building in Buzău is the Vergu-Mănăilă house, erected in the 17th or 18th century as a boyars' mansion. Renovated between 1971-1974, it now hosts the local Museum of ethnography and folk art.
The church of Banului, erected in the 16th century as a monastery, underwent renovation several times. In 1884, it was repainted by a team of painters including Gheorghe Tattarescu and his uncle Nicolae Teodorescu.
An old tradition of the city is the Drăgaica fair, a midsummer fair traced back to traditional shepherd's fairs in the Buzău mountains, that moved to Buzău sometimes before the 18th century.

The Vasile Voiculescu memorial county library in Buzău

Geography
Buzău is located between the Buzău river valley, that forms its northern bounds, the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains' curvature and the Danube Plain. It has an oblong shape, as it is larger along the Buzău river and shorter across. The altitude of Buzău ranges from 101 meters in the North-West, near the hills to 88 meters close to the river, with a 95 meter average (as is also the altitude in the Dacia square, in the center).Therefore, Buzău is located on a flat relief, with a 10 meters altitude difference along a 4 km line.
History
First recorded historical attestation
The earliest mention on the river Buzău and the polis (named Mousaios) on its bank is a letter from Ioannis Soranus, governor of Scytia Minor, to the archbishop of Caesarea Mazaca (about 400 A.D.). The document, kept in copies at the Vatican Library and San Marco Library in Venice, tells about the martyrdom of a Christian missionary by the name of Sabbas, drowned by the Goths in the river Buzău. He is the spiritual patron of the city of Buzău as well as of several local villages.
Several graves (3rd to 5th century AD) were found in Buzău, as well as coins that prove the continuance of the settlement.
Market Town and Bishopric in the Middle Ages
Buzău evolved during the Middle Ages as a commercial and cultural center.
Gustav Treiber, in his work Siebenburgische Viertel Jahresschrit states that prior to the 12th century, the city was surrounded by a wall with four gates towards the four main directions.
The earliest mention of Buzău as a market town (târg) and customs station is found in a document, dated January 31 1431, and issued by Dan II, voivod of Wallachia. The document stated that salesmen from Braşov were free to trade in several Wallachian towns (Buzău, among them) just as they were during the reign of Mircea cel Bătrân. These privileges have been later reinforced by Vlad III the Impaler, who stated that the roads to be taken by the salesmen were to be: via Rucăr, Prahova, Teleajen or Buzău.
In 1500, Radu cel Mare created The Bishopric of Buzău, making the town a spiritual center of Eastern Wallachia. In 1507, Buzău appears (under the name of Boza) for the first time on a map, made by Nicolaus Germanus. At the time, the city was the 4th largest city of Wallachia, and an important trade partner of Braşov. Between 1503 and 1515, the salesmen from Buzău traded merchandise worth 2,245,835 aspres (an Ottoman currency). A document dated 1536 shows that the town was administered by one judeţ (mayor) and 12 elected pârgari (city councillors). Underground tunnels dating back to the 16th century connect the bishopric's complex, the city center and the Crâng Park (at the time, only a large forest at the town's outskirts). Their role was to store supply and evacuate people in case of danger.
In 1571, the Banu monastery was erected. The monastery's name, "Banu", indicates the nobility title of its builder, ban Andronic Cantacuzino. The monastery church was rebuilt by Andreiana, wife of Şerban Cantacuzino, in 1722. After the monastic assets secularizing act of 1863, the monastery was dismantled; its church, however, was sparred.
A 1575 document mentions the Bazaar (permanent market with shops, stores, cellars, storage rooms). The Bazaar of Buzău was the second oldest in Wallachia. At the end of the 16th century, Buzău was divided in four parts: the Bishopric with its servants, the Banu monastery and its servants, the old market and the city (located between the bishopric and the monastery).
During the last decade of the 16th century, around 18,000 Serbs settled in Wallachia. Several families made Buzău their home, by founding a neighbourhood known to this day by the name Serbs and located on the bank of the Buzău River. Later, in 1792-1838, many Bulgarian refugees settled in the same neighbourhood. Due to similarities of the mother tongues spoken by the two ethnic groups, the locals called the new refugees also Serbs. The Bulgarians were given land by the river where they created vegetable gardens.

Cuza Vodă street, with the Communal Palace tower in the background

Successive destructions
The late Middle Ages brought a wave of destruction to the town, Buzău being completely or partially destroyed by multiple wars and foreign military invasions, as well as natural disasters.
The Vergu-Mănăilă house, the oldest building of Buzău, dating back to the 1780s. It is the only building in Buzău dating back to the city's age of destructions (17th-18th century).
The army of Mihai Viteazul was located in Buzău in 1596. After the army left, the city was devastated in 1597 by Ottoman and Tatar raids. The next year, Mihai Viteazul brought gifts to the inhabitants of the city to compensate for the damages. The chronicler Balthasar Walter described the tatar invasion of 1597:
“They pillaged the plains around Buzău, Brăila, Bucharest and other cities which the Turks had either left untouched or not completely destroyed, took the locals captive and stole all the year's income, burning down most of the places.”
In April 1616, many houses in Buzău were burnt down during a Polish invasion, during one of the Moldavian Magnate Wars. The inhabitants took refuge in the nearby mountains and forests. All existing land deeds were lost at the event. One year later, in July 1617, the city was once again occupied by the Ottoman army.
Buzău was pillaged by Tatars again in 1623, as pointed out by Matei Basarab in a 1633 letter:
“[The Bishopric of Buzău] is entirely deserted, enslaved and burnt by the heathen Tatars during all these years.”
The oldest recorded seal of Buzău (1831), showing a Phoenix, symbol of the city's repeated rebirth after destruction.
A Turkish invasion in 1659 again led to the city being burnt down and destroyed, and the locals being taken captive. In 1679, Buzău was pillaged again by the Ottomans. The city was rebuilt every time, thus appearing on a 1700 map of Wallachia, printed in Padova by stolnicConstantin Cantacuzino. The map shows 22 other cities and market towns of the country.
After a period of relative peace, during which the bishopric was subsidized by the domn to open a school in Greek and another in Slavonic, in 1739, during a Russo-Turkish War, Russian troops as well as Frilow's Cossacks ravaged through Buzău, taking the bishop with them as they went.
During another Russo-Turkish War, Ottoman soldiers burnt all the stores and houses, burning the city to the ground. The Bishopric church was also destroyed, and the bishop moved temporarily to Bucharest. The Banu monastery church escaped destruction, only to be destroyed in 1774 by an earthquake. Also, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787 - 1792, the city was once again destroyed. The long string of war-caused damage went on in 1806 and 1807, when the Ottoman army burnt down the city to ruins leaving 230 people dead. The locals fled to the Nişcov river valley, from where they returned only in 1812.
The cholera and bubonic plague epidemics at the beginning of the 19th century also decimated the city's population (see Caragea's plague).
The last time the city was devastated by war was in 1821 at the Greek War of Independence[13]. After that, in light of the establishment of the Organic Regulations, a period of reconstruction and modernisation began. Also, Wallachia stopped being a theatre of operations in the wars between the Ottoman Empire and Russia, the conflincts moving further away, in Crimea, the Southern and Western Balkans and the Caucasus.

Cuza Voda Street, in the old commercial town center

Thus, although Buzău is attested by documents as a polis since the 4th century AD, and as a market town since 1431, the oldest building in the city is the Vergu-Mănăilă house, erected as recently as the 18th century, around 1780. The Vergu-Mănăilă house was owned at the time by a high-ranking boyar named Vergu, who owned a pub and a bakery near the house.
19th Century development
During the 19th century, the city overcame the difficulties of repeated reconstruction, and started to develop as a modern city with solid businesses and a cultural life. The Crâng forest became a leisure place for the locals around 1829, and was eventually organized as a public garden by 1850.
Schools began to be set up, as in 1831 the Bishopric opened a school for muralists and icon painters, led by Nicolae Teodorescu and attended by Gheorghe Tattarescu. One year later, the National School (the first school in Buzău to teach in the Romanian language) was open, and in 1838 Şcoala Normală (a school for teachers) was inaugurated by Dionisie Romano. Şcoala normală trained teachers for the city schools and for 115 villages. The Buzău theological seminar was open in 1836. It was the first secondary school in Buzău and the second theological school in Wallachia, after the one in Bucharest.
The oldest known census in Buzău showed, in 1832, a total population of 2567, of which one was Austrian, one was English, 18 were Jewish and the rest Romanian.
Around 1837-1840, public lighting was introduced on the main street. The street lamps were using tallowcandles. By 1861, the number of public street lamps grew from 38 to 50. In 1841 the streets were realigned "by urban rules".
By 1842, the city had a stable doctor, a drugstore, a fire squad and an officially authorized midwife.
During the Wallachian revolution of 1848, a "National Guard", supervised by Barbu and Nicolae Bălcescu was set up immediately after the government was organized in Bucharest in June. However, the revolution was crushed by Russian and Ottoman forces, and Buzău was occupied by the Russian army for three years. The Russian army briefly occupied Buzău again in 1853 during the Crimean War. After the occupation ended, the city's development was resumed.
At the Ad-hoc divans organized after the Congress of Paris in 1856, a large majority of representatives of Buzău voted for Wallachia's union with Moldova. Later on, after a personal union was completed on 5 February1859, prince Alexander John Cuza was welcomed enthusiastically by the inhabitants of Buzău and was persuaded to spend the night in the city on his way from Iaşi to Bucharest. The newly-elected Domn of both Wallachia and Moldova left the city the next day via Strada Mare, a street known today by the name of Bulevardul Unirii (Union Boulevard).

The Vergu-Mănăilă house, the oldest building of Buzău, dating back to the 1780s. It is the only building in Buzău dating back to the city's age of destructions (17th-18th century)

The buildings on the Cuza Vodă Street (at the time known as Strada Târgului -- Market Street) were erected between 1850 and 1880 in the style of the 19th century South-Eastern European commercial houses -- two-story buildings with shops on the ground floor, and residences on the top floor.
Cultural life blossomed, as in 1852, the first theater show in Buzău took place. In 1854, a printing press was imported by the Bishopric from Vienna, and was subsequently used to print the Buzău Bible, the fourth Romanian bible (the first three being the Bucharest Bible in 1688, one printed in Blaj in 1792 and another printed in Saint Petersburg in 1819).
Public lighting was enhanced in 1860 by introducing petrol lamps. In the same year, street numbers were assigned to houses, and streets were paved with stones. The Gârlaşi Hospital (nowadays, the Infectious Diseases Hospital) was open in 1865, being the first permanent city hospital.
The Moldavia theater was open in 1898 in a building in central Buzău. The 400 seats hall was the location where important Romanian artists that came to Buzău, such as Nicolae Leonard, Constantin Nottara and George Enescu performed.
In 1899, mayor Nicu Constantinescu began the construction of the Communal Palace, a project completed in 1903. The Communal Palace is now the city's most prominent landmark. Constantinescu also decided to refactor the central streets of Buzău, which were narrow and winding, an heritage of the market town history and the repeated destructions followed by disorganized rebuilding of the city. Thus, the wide and straight Park Boulevard (linking the city center and the Crâng Park) and the Railway Station Boulevard (linking the center to the railway station) were built.
During this period, Constantin Brâncuşi and Ion Luca Caragiale were briefly residents of Buzău. Caragiale leased a restaurant near the railway station in 1894 and lived there for a year. During this period, he also held a public conference, whose intended subject, Prose writing techniques was changed at the last moment into Causes of human stupidity. Brâncuşi lived in the city in the summer of 1914, after Eliza Seceleanu, a young local landowner's widow, had commissioned him to create two sculptures: Prayer and the bust of Petre Stănescu, her late husband. After creating the two sculptures in Paris, Brâncuşi brought them to Buzău and lived there for a few months while working to prepare the sculptures' stands. Both sculptures decorated Stănescu's tomb at the local Dumbrava cemetery for a while, but they were since moved to the National Museum of Art of Romania in Bucharest, being replaced by two copies. The copies have been stolen in 1999 and have not been replaced since.
The first electric light bulb in the city was installed in 1899, in front of the public garden in the center of Buzău. The first cinema show in Buzău took place in 1904, in a beer pub on the Park Boulevard, by a local named Nicolae Mihăilescu.
The World Wars and the interbellum
During World War I, the city was occupied, from 14 December1916 to 14 November1918, by German forces, and many of the inhabitants took refuge in Moldavia or in the country side. Buzău returned to Romanian administration at the end of the war.
After 1918, Buzău continued to develop, slowly becoming an industrial center. Also, a football team, named Vârtejul was created in 1921, and the first boxing match in Buzău took place in 1931, when a sports newspaper was first printed.
The most important mayor of Buzău between the two world wars was Stan Săraru, who erected in 1935 a modern food market, which nowadays is the most important market in the city and is named the Stan Săraru market. He also started the construction of the Crâng Stadium, and a public bathhouse and paved the main streets with cobblestone.
An eagle, nicknamed Ilie by the locals and raised by a salesman who lived nearby was the railway station's mascot between 1930 and 1943. Ilie came to the train station often, and ate out of people's hands. The eagle died during World War II, shot by Nazi soldiers. A beer brewed in Buzău was named Vulturul (The eagle), and a street in Buzău was named Strada Vulturului (Eagle street) in his memory.
During World War II, Soviet troops occupied Buzău in August 1944, and, as German soldiers were barricaded inside the Communal Palace, its tower was knocked down by cannons. The tower was rebuilt after the war. Heavy fighting took place in the area after August 23, 1944, when Marshal Ion Antonescu was arrested in Bucharest and his pro-Nazi government overthrown. The Heroes' Cemetery, which lies in the western part of the city, is the burial ground of the Soviet, German, and Romanian soldiers who died at that time.

The Communal Palace in Dacia Square, Buzău

The communist period
After the war, when Romanian government was taken over by a communist regime, Buzău lost its county seat status in 1952, being included in the Ploieşti Region. Then Buzău county was later reinstated in 1968.
All the factories in Buzău were nationalized and the central government in Bucharest ran a policy of building monotonous and drab blocks of flats. Consequently, some old neighborhoods in Buzău were demolished to make way for the new buildings. Before 1953, the residential areas were exclusively made up of houses, but many of them were razed to build blocks of flats. The process was slow at first, but between 1980 and 1988, all the houses on the main street of the city were demolished and blocks of flats were built. During that time, many historic buildings were destroyed, such as the Moldavia theater. Of the historic city center, only the Cuza Vodă street buildings escaped demolition. Also, in 1969, a residential area was built into the Crâng Park, reducing its size. This development was sometimes chaotic, as it happened in 1985, when the new Unirii Boulevard was rerouted by mayor Dochia who ordered that the foundations of some blocks that were being built be buried during one night and the street to run over the covered foundations.
Forced industrialization took place during the communist regime, as the Buzău-South industrial platform was inaugurated in 1963. The location was chosen as to use some barren land and to have the local winds move the pollution away from the city.
However, some city improvements have also been made during this period. The Tineretului Park was built in the Eastern side of the city, with a sports hall and a swimming pool. In 1981, a movie theater with 650 seats was open, and a major hospital was built in 1971-1973. In 1976, the city celebrated 1,600 years since its oldest historical attestation. To mark the event, an obelisk was erected in Crâng Park. In the same year, the Dacia square, the city's main square located in front of the Communal Palace, was repaved, with white, red and grey Măgura marble, with patterns similar to those on traditional folk costumes from the Bisoca area.

Mc Donald's in Buzau

Post-communism (1990-present day)
The process of demolition of homes was stopped after the fall of Communism in Romania, in late December 1989. The city's economy stagnated for some years, but Buzău slowly started to develop, as state-owned factories were privatized and some new industries emerged.
Work for construction of an orthodox cathedral, named the St. Sava Cathedral was started in 1991. In 1995, a theater was open again in Buzău, named George Ciprian Theater.
Economy
During the Middle Ages, Buzău's economy was centered on trade, as this market town was a customs point, taking advantage of its position at the Carpathians' curvature, at a point where roads that linked Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania met.
As a consequence of the agricultural reform that took place during the reign of Alexander John Cuza in 1897 and 1898, the Bulgarian gardeners rented some land that the state had taken over from the bishopric. They developed a distribution network for their products in Buzău, as well as in the nearby cities Braşov, Ploieşti and Râmnicu Sărat. Their activity became more successful after some of them took over ownership of their land after a second land reform in 1921.
After the destruction period had ended, the economical development took on an industrial component. Towards the end of the 19th century, the development of the Romanian railway network, in which Buzău was an important hub, gave a strong momentum to the evolution from small workshops to full scale industrial plants. The first industrial facility was the Garoflid mill, open in 1883, which also functioned as a textile factory. In 1894, the Saturn society opened an oil refinery, which functioned for fifty years.
After a severe national-wide drop of the industrial production level, caused by World War I (the 1919 total production was merely a quarter of the 1913 production), industrial development accelerated again during the interbellum. The baking industry was an important part of the local economy. The first industrial mill in the city, Garoflid, renamed Zangopol after its new owned, managed to have a capital of 5 million lei in 1928, and 30 million lei in 1938, and the society that managed the mill had about 100 employees. Another important business that started at this time was the Metalurgica şi Turnătorie – S.A. (Metalurgica and Metal Casting) factory, founded in 1928 with a capital of over 9 million lei. Although it had to overcom several difficulties at the beginning, being closed during the Great Crisis, it reopened in 1933.
After World War II, the establishment of the Communist government, and the nationalization decision of 11 June1948 all companies in Buzău became state property. Also, the Communist government began implementing forced industrialization, some of the industries that developed in Buzău during the Communist rule being unsuitable for the location. In 1965 the industrial platform Buzău South was inaugurated, on 318 ha of land, in the area where the Saturn refinery previously had existed, before being blown up during World War II. The most important factories in Buzău, created or enhanced at this time, are located in the Buzău South industrial zone: The Steel Wire and Steel Wire-by Products (renamed Ductil after 1990), The Railway Equipment Factory (after 1990, Apcarom), Metalurgica (founded in 1928), The Glass Factory.
Other industrial state enterprises opened in Buzău in other parts of the city. Thus, The Contactors Factory is located in the north-western part of the city and the plastic factory (after 1990, Romcarbon S.A.) is located in the north side.
In spite of the forced industrialization process, Buzău was not based on solely one leading industry, as it happened in other Romanian cities, and there was no single factory on which the entire city economy depended. According to a new law of commercial societies, adopted 1990, after the fall of the Communist regime, the factories in the city reorganized as joint stock companies. Only some of the companies failed to become competitive on a market economy and were closed during the transition process, many others, after reorganizing, became functional businesses.
The largest Buzău-based company is the Romet holding, with Romanian capital, made up of several companies that produce isolation material for water and gas pipes, water purifiers, fire-extinguishers and other such products. The company became successful during the 1990s, by selling its Aquator water purifier. In 1999, this group acquired Aromet S.A., company which managed the Metalurgica factory, founded in 1928.
Other companies in Buzău were privatized by programs supervised by the World Bank. Apcarom S.A., the only Romanian producer of railway equipment, was taken over by the Austrian company VAE, and had, as of 2008 a social capital of 7.38 milloan lei. Ductil S.A. , one of the largest businesses in Buzău, was privatized in 1999 and subsequently diveded by the new majority shareholder, FRO Spa, which kept only the electrods and welding equipment section and sold the other departments. The section that produces steel wire and steel wire products, steel nets and concrete became Ductil Steel S.A. and is now part of the portfolio of the Italian company Sidersipe. The iron powder section was renamed Ductil Iron Powder. In 2007, FRO Spa sold their majority shares of Ductil S.A. to the Russian Mechel company, for 90 million euros.Zahărul S.A., the local sugar producer, was acquired by the Agrana România Austrian capital group, which owns other sugar factories in Roman and Ţăndărei.
The baking industry still plays an important role in the local economy. The largest producer on this market in Buzău is Boromir Prod, whose majority shareholder is the Boromir Ind group of Râmnicu Vâlcea.

Transport

Rail
Buzău is an important railway hub, connecting Bucharest and Ploieşti to Focşani, Galaţi and Constanţa. The city railway station was inaugurated in 1872, together with the Bucharest-Galaţi railroad.
A branch of that railroad, running from Buzău to Mărăşeşti was open a few years later, on 13 June1881, becoming the first railroad designed by Romanian engineers.
The Buzău-Nehoiaşu commuter railway line, open in 1908, links Buzău to most communes on the Buzău River valley, including the towns of Nehoiu and Pătârlagele.
Road
Buzău is reachable by road via DN2 (E85) from Bucharest and the main cities from Moldavia. DN1B connects Buzău to Ploieşti and DN10 crosses the Carpathian Mountains at their curvature through the Buzău Pass to Braşov. Galaţi and Brăila can be reached via DN2B.
Two inter-city bus stations, one located in the north of the city, the other in the south, near the railway station, are in use for private passenger transport companies who provide coach connections to other cities or run commuter lines with nearby communes.
Air
The closest airport to Buzău is Henri Coandă International Airport, in Otopeni, 110 km away.
Public transportation
Buzău's public transportation includes 10 regular bus lines, connecting the residential areas to the main industrial zones (including the Buzău Sud platform), city center and railway station. Several taxi companies are licensed and operate throughout the city and the nearby communes.
(Wikipedia)

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[Nettus]

Distrito: Prahova
Región: Valaquia - Capital: Ploieşti
Matrícula: MM - Población: ~ 835.000 hab. Densidad: ~ 176 hab/km²
Superficie: 4.716 km² - Web: Consejo del distrito - Prefijo telefónico: (+40) x44


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Prahova es un distrito (judeţ) ubicado en la zona central septentrional de Rumania, en la región de Valaquia. Su superficie es de 4.716 km² y su población es de 829.945 habitantes (en 2002), con una densidad de 176 hab/km².
La ciudad capital del distrito es Ploieşti (232.452 hab).
La gran mayoría de la población es de origen rumano (97,7%), mientras que la principal minoría las constituyen los romaníes.
Distritos vecinos
Distrito de Buzău por el este, Dâmboviţa por el oeste. Braşov por el norte y Ialomiţa e Ilfov por el sur.
Demografía
En el año 2002, la población del distrito ascendía a 829.945 habitantes, mientras que la densidad poblacional era de 176 hab/km². De acuerdo a estos datos, se trataba del distrito más poblado de Rumania, con una densidad poblacional que era más del doble de la media nacional.Rumanos - 97,74%
Romaníes, y otros.

Bucegi Mountains at Busteni, Prahova Valley
Geografía
El distrito tiene una extensión territorial de 4.716 km².
El relieve de Prahova se encuentra dividido en partes iguales entre las montañas, las colinas y la llanura. En el norte del distrito se encuentran las montañas, un grupo de las cuales forman parte del extremo sur de los Cárpatos Orientales. El otro conjunto importante de elevaciones son los montes Bucegi, que pertenecen a los Cárpatos del sur. Ambos conjuntos montañosos se encuentran separados por el Valle de Prahova.
En el sur del distrito predominan los terrenos llanos, como extensión de la parte noroeste de la Llanura rumana.
El principal río que fluye por el distrito es el que le da su nombre, el Prahova. Nace en las montañas y recorre el Valle de Prahova, en donde recibe a varios afluentes, entre los que se cuentan el Doftana, el Teleajen y otros.

Economía
En esta región se encuentran las principales reservas petrolíferas de Rumania, por lo que se han desarrollado en forma importante las industrias relacionadas con la extracción y la refinación de hidrocarburos. El distrito está muy industrializado, al punto tal que más de 115.000 personas trabajan en tareas relacionadas con la industria. Prahova contiene el 8% de la actividad industrial nacional.
Algunas de las grandes compañías multinacionales (como Coca Cola, Unilever, Interbrew, Michelin y Timken) han realizado grandes inversiones en los últimos años.
Las industrias que predominan en el distrito de Prahova incluyen:Industria petrolera (representa aproximadamente el 50% de la actividad industrial del distrito).
Equipamientos para la extracción de hidrocarburos.
Industria química.
Industria del caucho.
Industria de componentes mecánicos.
Industria de alimentos y bebidas.
Industria textil.
La agricultura también ha tenido un desarrollo importante en esta parte de Rumania. En el sur de Prahova, se practica la agricultura extensiva y la zona de colinas es apta para el desarrollo de viñedos y frutales. El distrito contribuye con un 3% de la producción agrícola nacional.

Montañas Bucegi

Turismo
El Valle de Prahova es una de las zonas con mayor potencial de desarrollo turístico del país, y cuenta con una importante infraestructura para atender a los visitantes.
Los principales destinos turísticos de este distrito son:
En el Valle de Prahova:
El resort de Sinaia
El resort de Buşteni
El resort de Azuga
Los montes Bucegi
En el Valle del río Teleajen:
El resort de Vălenii de Munte
Cheia
Slănic
Los Montes Zăganul
Los Montes Ciucaş
En el Valle del río Doftana:
El resort de Teleaga
Valea Doftanei
Los Montes Gârbova
La ciudad de Ploieşti

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Capital: Ploieşti
Ploiesti Map | Romania Google Satellite Maps

Distrito: Prahova - Estatus: Capital de distrito
Coordinadas: 44°56′24″ N 26°01′48″ E / 44.9400, 26.0300
Superficie: 60,06 km² - Población: ~ 240.000 hab.
Densidad: ~ 3870,33 hab./km² - Web: Sitio web

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Ploieşti es una ciudad en el distrito de Prahova, en Valaquia, Rumania. Tiene una población de 232.452 habitantes y 60,06 km² de superficie. Ploieşti se encuentra 56 km al norte de Bucarest.

History
The town was established in 1596, during the reign of Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave). It rapidly flourished as a center for trade and handicraft manufacturing in the 17th and 18th centuries. The road connecting Ploieşti to Braşov was opened in 1864, and the railway arrived in 1882. Many schools and hospitals were built around this time.
In the mid-19th century, the Ploieşti region was one of the world's leading oil extraction and refinery sites. The city is also remembered as the site of the self-styled Republic of Ploieşti, a short-lived 1870 revolt against the Romanian monarchy.
Between the two World Wars, local industry was boosted by petroleum processing in particular. Major oil companies, most of them foreign, started operations in the city. In 1939, the 12 refineries of Ploieşti provided 80% of the total petroleum processed in Romania.

Although badly damaged after the November 1940 earthquake, the city became the main source of oil for Nazi Germany's war effort during World War II, when Romania was Germany's ally. Thanks to its relative remoteness from airfields, Ploieşti was spared Allied attack until 03 August1943, when the United States Army Air Forces mounted Operation Tidal Wave from Benghazi, North Africa, bombing the refineries in a massive low altitude strike by 178 B-24 Liberator bombers. Although the raid inflicted heavy damage on the ground, much of the damage was soon fixed. In April 1944, the Allies launched decisive attacks from captured airbases in Italy. The most-bombed city in World War II, Ploieşti, Romania, was finally captured by Soviet troops in August 1944.
Following the war, the new Communist regime nationalised the oil industry, which had largely been privately owned, and made massive investments in the oil and petroleum industry in a bid to modernise the country and repair the war damage.

Economy and transport
After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Ploieşti has experienced rapid economic growth due to major investments from foreign companies. The city is situated at just 60 km north from Bucharest, with promising infrastructure and many development projects currently underway. Ploieşti is a strong industrial center, focused especially on the oil production and refining industry. Although oil production in the region is declining steadily, there is still a thriving processing industry through four operating oil refineries, linked by pipelines to Bucharest, the Black Sea port of Constanţa and the Danube port of Giurgiu. Ploieşti is also a textile manufacturing center. Ploiesti concentrates many foreign investments: OMV-Petrom, Lukoil, Shell Gas, Timken, Yazaky, Coca Cola, Efes Pilsener, British American Tobacco,Interbrew, . Many retailers like Carrefour, Metro, Selgros, Kaufland, Billa, Bricostore,Praktiker, Intermarche, Profi, Mega Image found in Ploieşti a continuously growing market. In Ploieşti can also be found two McDonald's restaurants, and only one KFC restaurant opened in 2006. The German retailer Tengelmann expects to have some 30 stores this year and has set itself a target of 120 stores by 2010, investing €200 million. To facilitate its growth, Tengelmann built a depot in Ploieşti. With its Interex operation, the French independent retailer Intermarché intends to become a distribution leader in the Balkans. In Romania the first Interex store was opened in June 2002 in the city of Ploieşti.
Unilever has a detergent plant in Ploieşti. By transferring their food production to Ploieşti, the company will concentrate their full activity in Romania to the same location. At the beginning of March this year(2007), Unilever announced they would invest EUR 3 million to build one production center in Romania, and the construction of the new food plant is part of this plan.

The city expands
The under-developed villages around Ploieşti will go through substantial changes, with derelict dwellings likely to transform into villas and whole agricultural plots nearby becoming new housing districts. With city prices currently reaching hundreds of euros per square meters in all major cities, these plots will be the only alternative in the near future for small investors aiming to be within commuting distance from city centers. Due to the relatively easy process required to obtain planning permission, virtually any plot of land in Romania can be transformed from agricultural to housing. As a result, any land bought in the vicinity of cities is likely to be part of a satellite village in 10-20 years time, with its value likely to increase accordingly. Prices already increased over the past few years and particularly over 2006 for all types of land, but, with current prices still as low as a few Euros per square meter for larger plots, this is yet another guaranteed investment that should be considered.
The city council has also developed a few projects in order to adapt Ploieşti to new economic requests. The projects refer to the housing sector as well as to business sector. Thus, the districts in southern Ploieşti (Mimiu, Bariera Bucureşti) will become available for sale. There is also a planned business district in the Hipodrom-Tatarani area which is expected to detract the infrastructural flow from the city centre.

The developing road infrastructure
Ploieşti is situated on the future highwayBucharest - Braşov, the main path towards the north and west provinces and the Western EU. The Henri Coandă International Airport is just at 45 km distance, and the ski resorts from Prahova Valley can be reached in one hour driving. The lack of motorways and well-built roads in Romania makes transport a challenge, but the situation will change. Rather slowly until now, with only one undergoing motorway and another one ready to start, hopefully faster in the near future, under the scrutiny of the EU, the motorway infrastructure will improve substantially over the next years. Why is this important for housing? Being next to a busy road will have a negative impact on the interest for a property, but being in the middle of nowhere does not make wonders for the price tag of a house, particularly for working couples. The ongoing motorway mentioned above has already had a strong positive impact on the prices nearby the big cities and this is likely to repeat when further motorways will appear on the map. Therefore, buying land in the vicinity of soon-to-start major road developments, either for housing or for industrial projects, is likely to be a very good investment.
Ploieşti is the second railway center in the country after Bucharest, linking Bucharest with Transylvania and Moldavia. The city's public transportation system is run by Regia Autonomă de Transport Ploieşti (RATP) and includes an extensive network ofbuses, trolleybuses and trams/streetcars. Ploieşti's distinct yellow bus fleet is one of the most modern in Southeastern Europe, provides connections to all areas within the city, for a daily average of 150,000 passengers. The municipal roads comprise over 800 streets with a total length of 324 km. East and West ring belts cannot prevent around 5300 vehicles transiting Ploieşti each day. The municipal vehicle park comprised 216 buses, 32 trams and 10 trolleybuses carrying about 70 millions passengers annually. There are 33 bus lines having a total length of 415,46 km; 2 trolley-bus lines having a total length of 19,9 km and 2 tram lines having a total length of 23,8 km.
(Wikipedia)

[Nettus]

Distrito: Prahova
Región: Valaquia - Capital: Ploieşti
Matrícula: MM - Población: ~ 835.000 hab. Densidad: ~ 176 hab/km²
Superficie: 4.716 km² - Web: Consejo del distrito - Prefijo telefónico: (+40) x44

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Prahova es un distrito (judeţ) ubicado en la zona central septentrional de Rumania, en la región de Valaquia. Su superficie es de 4.716 km² y su población es de 829.945 habitantes (en 2002), con una densidad de 176 hab/km².
La ciudad capital del distrito es Ploieşti (232.452 hab).
La gran mayoría de la población es de origen rumano (97,7%), mientras que la principal minoría las constituyen los romaníes.
Distritos vecinos
Distrito de Buzău por el este, Dâmboviţa por el oeste. Braşov por el norte y Ialomiţa e Ilfov por el sur.
Demografía
En el año 2002, la población del distrito ascendía a 829.945 habitantes, mientras que la densidad poblacional era de 176 hab/km². De acuerdo a estos datos, se trataba del distrito más poblado de Rumania, con una densidad poblacional que era más del doble de la media nacional.Rumanos - 97,74%
Romaníes, y otros.

Bucegi Mountains at Busteni, Prahova Valley

Geografía
El distrito tiene una extensión territorial de 4.716 km².
El relieve de Prahova se encuentra dividido en partes iguales entre las montañas, las colinas y la llanura. En el norte del distrito se encuentran las montañas, un grupo de las cuales forman parte del extremo sur de los Cárpatos Orientales. El otro conjunto importante de elevaciones son los montes Bucegi, que pertenecen a los Cárpatos del sur. Ambos conjuntos montañosos se encuentran separados por el Valle de Prahova.
En el sur del distrito predominan los terrenos llanos, como extensión de la parte noroeste de la Llanura rumana.
El principal río que fluye por el distrito es el que le da su nombre, el Prahova. Nace en las montañas y recorre el Valle de Prahova, en donde recibe a varios afluentes, entre los que se cuentan el Doftana, el Teleajen y otros.

Economía
En esta región se encuentran las principales reservas petrolíferas de Rumania, por lo que se han desarrollado en forma importante las industrias relacionadas con la extracción y la refinación de hidrocarburos. El distrito está muy industrializado, al punto tal que más de 115.000 personas trabajan en tareas relacionadas con la industria. Prahova contiene el 8% de la actividad industrial nacional.
Algunas de las grandes compañías multinacionales (como Coca Cola, Unilever, Interbrew, Michelin y Timken) han realizado grandes inversiones en los últimos años.
Las industrias que predominan en el distrito de Prahova incluyen:Industria petrolera (representa aproximadamente el 50% de la actividad industrial del distrito).
Equipamientos para la extracción de hidrocarburos.
Industria química.
Industria del caucho.
Industria de componentes mecánicos.
Industria de alimentos y bebidas.
Industria textil.
La agricultura también ha tenido un desarrollo importante en esta parte de Rumania. En el sur de Prahova, se practica la agricultura extensiva y la zona de colinas es apta para el desarrollo de viñedos y frutales. El distrito contribuye con un 3% de la producción agrícola nacional.

Montañas Bucegi

Turismo
El Valle de Prahova es una de las zonas con mayor potencial de desarrollo turístico del país, y cuenta con una importante infraestructura para atender a los visitantes.
Los principales destinos turísticos de este distrito son:
En el Valle de Prahova:
El resort de Sinaia
El resort de Buşteni
El resort de Azuga
Los montes Bucegi
En el Valle del río Teleajen:
El resort de Vălenii de Munte
Cheia
Slănic
Los Montes Zăganul
Los Montes Ciucaş
En el Valle del río Doftana:
El resort de Teleaga
Valea Doftanei
Los Montes Gârbova
La ciudad de Ploieşti

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Capital: Ploieşti
Ploiesti Map | Romania Google Satellite Maps

Distrito: Prahova - Estatus: Capital de distrito
Coordinadas: 44°56′24″ N 26°01′48″ E / 44.9400, 26.0300
Superficie: 60,06 km² - Población: ~ 240.000 hab.
Densidad: ~ 3870,33 hab./km² - Web: Sitio web

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Ploieşti es una ciudad en el distrito de Prahova, en Valaquia, Rumania. Tiene una población de 232.452 habitantes y 60,06 km² de superficie. Ploieşti se encuentra 56 km al norte de Bucarest.

History
The town was established in 1596, during the reign of Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave). It rapidly flourished as a center for trade and handicraft manufacturing in the 17th and 18th centuries. The road connecting Ploieşti to Braşov was opened in 1864, and the railway arrived in 1882. Many schools and hospitals were built around this time.
In the mid-19th century, the Ploieşti region was one of the world's leading oil extraction and refinery sites. The city is also remembered as the site of the self-styled Republic of Ploieşti, a short-lived 1870 revolt against the Romanian monarchy.
Between the two World Wars, local industry was boosted by petroleum processing in particular. Major oil companies, most of them foreign, started operations in the city. In 1939, the 12 refineries of Ploieşti provided 80% of the total petroleum processed in Romania.

Although badly damaged after the November 1940 earthquake, the city became the main source of oil for Nazi Germany's war effort during World War II, when Romania was Germany's ally. Thanks to its relative remoteness from airfields, Ploieşti was spared Allied attack until 03 August1943, when the United States Army Air Forces mounted Operation Tidal Wave from Benghazi, North Africa, bombing the refineries in a massive low altitude strike by 178 B-24 Liberator bombers. Although the raid inflicted heavy damage on the ground, much of the damage was soon fixed. In April 1944, the Allies launched decisive attacks from captured airbases in Italy. The most-bombed city in World War II, Ploieşti, Romania, was finally captured by Soviet troops in August 1944.
Following the war, the new Communist regime nationalised the oil industry, which had largely been privately owned, and made massive investments in the oil and petroleum industry in a bid to modernise the country and repair the war damage.

Economy and transport
After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Ploieşti has experienced rapid economic growth due to major investments from foreign companies. The city is situated at just 60 km north from Bucharest, with promising infrastructure and many development projects currently underway. Ploieşti is a strong industrial center, focused especially on the oil production and refining industry. Although oil production in the region is declining steadily, there is still a thriving processing industry through four operating oil refineries, linked by pipelines to Bucharest, the Black Sea port of Constanţa and the Danube port of Giurgiu. Ploieşti is also a textile manufacturing center. Ploiesti concentrates many foreign investments: OMV-Petrom, Lukoil, Shell Gas, Timken, Yazaky, Coca Cola, Efes Pilsener, British American Tobacco,Interbrew, . Many retailers like Carrefour, Metro, Selgros, Kaufland, Billa, Bricostore,Praktiker, Intermarche, Profi, Mega Image found in Ploieşti a continuously growing market. In Ploieşti can also be found two McDonald's restaurants, and only one KFC restaurant opened in 2006. The German retailer Tengelmann expects to have some 30 stores this year and has set itself a target of 120 stores by 2010, investing €200 million. To facilitate its growth, Tengelmann built a depot in Ploieşti. With its Interex operation, the French independent retailer Intermarché intends to become a distribution leader in the Balkans. In Romania the first Interex store was opened in June 2002 in the city of Ploieşti.
Unilever has a detergent plant in Ploieşti. By transferring their food production to Ploieşti, the company will concentrate their full activity in Romania to the same location. At the beginning of March this year(2007), Unilever announced they would invest EUR 3 million to build one production center in Romania, and the construction of the new food plant is part of this plan.

The city expands
The under-developed villages around Ploieşti will go through substantial changes, with derelict dwellings likely to transform into villas and whole agricultural plots nearby becoming new housing districts. With city prices currently reaching hundreds of euros per square meters in all major cities, these plots will be the only alternative in the near future for small investors aiming to be within commuting distance from city centers. Due to the relatively easy process required to obtain planning permission, virtually any plot of land in Romania can be transformed from agricultural to housing. As a result, any land bought in the vicinity of cities is likely to be part of a satellite village in 10-20 years time, with its value likely to increase accordingly. Prices already increased over the past few years and particularly over 2006 for all types of land, but, with current prices still as low as a few Euros per square meter for larger plots, this is yet another guaranteed investment that should be considered.
The city council has also developed a few projects in order to adapt Ploieşti to new economic requests. The projects refer to the housing sector as well as to business sector. Thus, the districts in southern Ploieşti (Mimiu, Bariera Bucureşti) will become available for sale. There is also a planned business district in the Hipodrom-Tatarani area which is expected to detract the infrastructural flow from the city centre.

The developing road infrastructure
Ploieşti is situated on the future highwayBucharest - Braşov, the main path towards the north and west provinces and the Western EU. The Henri Coandă International Airport is just at 45 km distance, and the ski resorts from Prahova Valley can be reached in one hour driving. The lack of motorways and well-built roads in Romania makes transport a challenge, but the situation will change. Rather slowly until now, with only one undergoing motorway and another one ready to start, hopefully faster in the near future, under the scrutiny of the EU, the motorway infrastructure will improve substantially over the next years. Why is this important for housing? Being next to a busy road will have a negative impact on the interest for a property, but being in the middle of nowhere does not make wonders for the price tag of a house, particularly for working couples. The ongoing motorway mentioned above has already had a strong positive impact on the prices nearby the big cities and this is likely to repeat when further motorways will appear on the map. Therefore, buying land in the vicinity of soon-to-start major road developments, either for housing or for industrial projects, is likely to be a very good investment.
Ploieşti is the second railway center in the country after Bucharest, linking Bucharest with Transylvania and Moldavia. The city's public transportation system is run by Regia Autonomă de Transport Ploieşti (RATP) and includes an extensive network ofbuses, trolleybuses and trams/streetcars. Ploieşti's distinct yellow bus fleet is one of the most modern in Southeastern Europe, provides connections to all areas within the city, for a daily average of 150,000 passengers. The municipal roads comprise over 800 streets with a total length of 324 km. East and West ring belts cannot prevent around 5300 vehicles transiting Ploieşti each day. The municipal vehicle park comprised 216 buses, 32 trams and 10 trolleybuses carrying about 70 millions passengers annually. There are 33 bus lines having a total length of 415,46 km; 2 trolley-bus lines having a total length of 19,9 km and 2 tram lines having a total length of 23,8 km.
(Wikipedia)

[Nettus]

Distrito: Ialomiţa
Región: Valaquia - Capital: Slobozia
Matrícula: IL - Población: ~ 310.000 hab.
Densidad:~ 67 hab/km² - Superficie: 4.453 km²
Web: Consejo del distrito - Prefijo tel.: (+40) x43

Ialomiţa es un distrito (judeţ) de Rumanía, en Muntenia, cuya capital es Slobozia.

Fronteras
Distrito de Constanţa al este, Ilfov al oeste,Brăila, Buzău y Prahova al norte y
Călăraşi al sur.
Demografía
Rumanos: 95,6% - Gitanos: 4.1%
Economía
La agricultura es la principal ocupación del distrito. Casi toda la industria se concentra en la ciudad de Slobozia.
Las industrias predominantes en el distrito son: Industria alimenticia, textil y de componentes mecánicos.

Turismo
Los principales destinos turísticos son:
La ciudad de Slobozia.
Divisiones administrativas
El distrito tiene 3 municipalidades, 4 ciudadesy 57 comunas.
Municipalidades
Slobozia - Feteşti - Urziceni
Ciudades
Amara - Căzăneşti - Fierbinţi-Târg - Ţăndărei

Capital: Slobozia
Slobozia Map - Map of Slobozia, Romania

Coordinadas: 44°33′50″ N 27°21′58″ E / 44.56389 27.36611
Distrito: Ialomiţa - Estatus: Capital de distrito
Superficie: 87 km² - Población: ~ 55.000 hab.
Density: ~ 396.70/km² - Código postal: 920xxx
Web: www.sloboziail.ro

Geography
Slobozia lies roughly in the middle of the county,on the banks of Ialomita River, at ca. 120 km (74.56 mi) east of Bucharest and 150 km (93.20 mi) west of Constanţa, important port at the Black Sea. The City is within 30 km of the Bucharest-Constanta A2 Motorway (Autostrada Soarelui).
The total area of the municipality is 132.87 km² (32,832 acres), of which 119.87 km² (29,621 acres) outside city limits and 13 km² (3,212 acres) in the city. In the present administrative form, Slobozia consists of Slobozia proper and the neighbourhoods of Bora and Slobozia Nouǎ.
Economy
The main activity in the area is agriculture, processing of the agricultural products and light industry.

Culture
In 1990 the Cultural Centre was inaugurated, bearing the name of the well-known conductor and compositor Ionel Perlea, a city native. The building houses exposition and spectacle rooms, bookstores, cultural institutions. In 1999 the Cultural Centre Ionel Perlea entered the UNESCO circuit.
The municipality houses the Bishopric of Slobozia and Călăraşi.
The religious cults have full liberty. There are plenty churches and cathedrals of the different cults. A very important event happened in 1993: the establishment, on the clergy's and worshippers' appeal request, of the Bishopric of Slobozia and Călăraşi, with its headquarters at Slobozia, as a recognition of the role played during the centuries by the Sfinţii Voievozi (Saint Archangels Michael and Gabriel) Monastery in preserving the christian-orthodox traditions.
Etymology
The city was built on the place of the village "Vaideei". The name can be read as "vai de ei" which means "poor them/pity them".
Its name is from Romanian "slobozie", which meant a recently colonized village which was free of taxation. The word itself comes from the Slavic word "slobod" which means "free". As it is located in the middle of flat land (Bărăgan Plain), it was very vulnerable to Tatar and Ottoman incursions. To encourage peasants to settle there, they were exempted from some taxes, hence the name.

Tourism
The main tourist attraction consists of the nearby Lake Amara - 5 km away. Amara Resort is also a balneoclimateric resort. Access to Amara is very easy - there are minibuses every 15 minutes, from the Slobozia Train Station. As part of a private tourist complex, there is a small copy of the Eiffel Tower (54m.).

[Nettus]

Países Bajos
Lema: Je maintiendrai - Himno nacional: Het Wilhelmus
Capital: Ámsterdam (~ 750.000) - Coordinadas: (Amsterdam): 52°22' N 4°54' E
Ciudad más poblada: Ámsterdam - Idiomas oficiales: neerlandés y Frisón
Forma de gobierno: Monarquía constitucional - Reina: S.M.Beatriz I
Independencia:-Reconocida (del Imperio Español): 26/07/1581- Declarada: 30 de enero de 1648
Superficie: 41.526 km2 - Fronteras: 1.027 km - Población: ~ 16,8 millones
Densidad: 393 hab/km2 - Moneda: Euro - Gentilicio: Neerlandés, neerlandesa
Prefijo telefónico: +31 - Matrícula: NL

Países Bajos (en neerlandés: Nederland) es el nombre de la parte europea del Reino de los Países Bajos (Koninkrijk der Nederlanden), que se compone de aquellos, de las Antillas Neerlandesas y de Aruba. Es miembro de la Unión Europea (UE).
Como su nombre indica, el territorio del país esta formado por tierras bajas de las que aproximadamente una tercera parte estan situadas al nivel del mar o por debajo de éste. Frecuentemente, este país es conocido, metonímicamente, por el nombre de su región histórica más influyente o relevante, Holanda, situada en la parte occidental del país. Su idioma también es conocido tradicionalmente, por extensión, como holandés, aun cuando su nombre oficial es neerlandés.
Los Países Bajos están situados en el noroeste de Europa y limitan al norte y oeste con el mar del Norte, al sur con Bélgica y al este con Alemania.
El país constituye una de las zonas más densamente pobladas del mundo y es uno de los estados más desarrollados: en 2007 estaba situado en el noveno lugar en cuanto a desarrollo humano según el Índice de Desarrollo Humano publicado por Naciones Unidas.
A menudo, se confunden también los Países Bajos con la unión aduanera conocida como BeNeLux: Belgique o België (Bélgica), Nederland (Países Bajos) y Luxemburg (Luxemburgo); la denominación tiene su base en la historia en tanto que en el pasado los tres estados formaron una sola entidad política.
Historia
Historia de los Países Bajos
Prehistoria
Los Países Bajos han sido habitados desde la última glaciación; los más antiguos vestigios hallados tienen una antigüedad de 100.000 años, el país poseía un clima de tundra con muy escasa vegetación y sus primeros pobladores fueron cazadores-recolectores. Al finalizar la edad de hielo, el área fue habitada por varios grupos paleolíticos. Un grupo incluso fabricó canoas (Pesse, hacia 9000 a. C.) y después de eso, alrededor de 8000 a. C., una tribu mesolítica residió cerca de Bergumermeer (Frisia). La agricultura llegó hacia el año 5000 a. C., a través de la cultura de alfarería linear (probablemente proveniente de las granjas de Europa central), pero fue sólo practicada en las llanuras del extremo sur del país (Limburgo del Sur).
Los primeros restos notables de la prehistoria fueron los dólmenes, que han sido encontrados en la provincia de Drente, y fueron probablemente construidos por gente de la cultura granjera de Funnelbeaker entre 4100 y 3200 a. C. La primera evidencia del uso de ruedas proviene de alrededor del 2400 a. C., probablemente estaba relacionado con la cultura Bellbeaker (Klokbeker cultuur). Esta cultura también experimentó con cobre, de lo que alguna evidencia (yunques de piedra, cuchillos de cobre, diademas de cobre) fue encontrada en el parque de Veluwe. Cada hallazgo de cobre nos muestra el comercio con otros "países", debido a que el mineral de cobre no se encuentra en el país.
La edad de bronce probablemente comenzó alrededor del 2000 a. C., como en la tumba de "El herrero de Wageningen". Después de este descubrimiento, más objetos de la edad de bronce aparecieron, como Epe, Drouwen y sobretodo Drenthe que debido a la cantidad de objetos encontrados como cuentas de estaño en un collar nos indican que era centro de comercio de la época. La riqueza de los Países Bajos en la Edad de Hierro puede ser vista en la "Tumba del rey en Oss" (sobre el 500 a. C.), allí un verdadero rey fue enterrado con algunos objetos como una espada de hierro con un grabado de oro y coral en el mayor monte funerario de Europa Occidental, que tenía 52 m de ancho.
En la época de la llegada de los romanos, los Países Bajos se hallaban habitados por varias tribus germanicas, quienes se habían asentado aquí alrededor del 600 a. C., como los Tubanti, los Canninefates o los Frisios. Tribus celtas se asentaron en el sur, entre ellas los eburones, menaipos y texuandri. Diversos germanos se asentaron el delta del Rin al comienzo de la ocupación romana, y formaron la tribu de los Batavios.

www.resetips.com/sv/artiklar/stader/Amsterdam.htm

Roma
La provincia romana de Germania Inferior, 120 d. C.
En el siglo I a. C., los romanos conquistaron la parte sur del país, donde crearon la provincia romana de Germania Inferior. Los romanos fueron los primeros en construir ciudades en el país, como Utrecht, Nijmegen y Maastricht. La parte norte, que estaba fuera del Imperio Romano y que era el lugar donde los Frisios vivían, fue fuertemente influenciada por su poderoso vecino del sur. Además los romanos introdujeron la escritura.
La relación con los habitantes originales fue buena en general; muchos batavios sirvieron en la caballería romana. La cultura batavia fue influenciada por la romana, resultando, entre otras cosas, en templos de tipo romano como el de Elst, dedicado a los dioses locales. Sin embargo esto no impidió la rebelión batavia en el 69 dC, bajo el liderazgo del líder batavio Cayo Julio Civilis. Cuarenta castellae fueron quemados porque los romanos violaron los derechos de los líderes batavios al tomar a sus jóvenes como esclavos. Otros soldados romanos se unieron a la revuelta, que incluso dividió la parte norte del ejército romano y en abril del 70 D.C., Vespasiano envió unas cuantas legiones para frenar la revuelta. Su comandante, Petilius Cerialis, fue derrotado por los batavios y comenzó negociaciones con Julio Civilis, en algún lugar entre Waal y Maas cerca de Noviomagus (Nijmegen) o, como los batavios probablemente lo llamaban, Batavodurum. (Fuente: Historiae, Tácito, S. I D.C.)
Después de Roma
Carlomagno según una ilustración de Alberto Durero (1511).
Los recién llegados se unieron a los habitantes originales para crear tres pueblos: los frisios a lo largo de la costa, los sajones en el este y los francos en el sur. Los francos se convirtieron al cristianismo después de que su rey Clodoveo I lo hiciera en el año 496 y así el cristianismo fue introducido en el norte gracias a la conquista de Frisia por los francos. Los Países Bajos pertenecían al imperio franco de Carlomagno, cuyo núcleo se encontraba en lo que hoy es Bélgica y el norte de Francia, y que se extendía además por el resto de Francia, Alemania, norte de Italia y otros territorios de Europa occidental. En 843, con el Tratado de Verdún, el Imperio quedó dividido en tres partes: Francia en el oeste, Alemania en el este y un imperio entre los dos, que abarcaba los Países Bajos, el este de Francia y el norte de Italia. Posteriormente, este imperio central se dividió; la mayor parte de los territorios de habla neerlandesa se integró en Alemania y Flandes se incorporó a Francia.
Entre los años 800 y 1000, los Países Bajos padecieron los saqueos de los vikingos, sus ataques eran muy virulentos, como la destrucción de la ciudad de Dorestad. Pero la supremacía vikinga terminó en 920, cuando el rey Enrique I de Alemania liberó Utrecht. Los reyes y emperadores alemanes dominaron los Países Bajos durante los siglos X y XI. Alemania recibió la denominación de Sacro Imperio Romano tras la coronación de Otón I el Grande como emperador. Nimega fue un lugar significativo para los emperadores germanos, varios de ellos nacieron y murieron allí.

Rotterdam

Las Cruzadas fueron populares en los Países Bajos y muchos se unieron para ir a luchar en Tierra Santa. El Sacro Imperio Romano se mostró incapaz de mantener la unidad política debido a la creciente independencia de las ciudades. Los gobernantes locales transformaron sus ducados y condados en reinos privados y se sentían poco obligados a obedecer al emperador. Una gran parte de lo que actualmente son los Países Bajos estaba gobernada por el conde de Holanda, el duque de Güeldres, el duque de Brabante y el obispo de Utrecht. En el norte, Frisia y Groninga mantuvieron su independencia y eran gobernadas por la pequeña nobleza.
Güeldres y Holanda luchaban por el control de Utrecht. Por su parte, Utrecht se vio marginada debido a las continuas dificultades que experimentaba para elegir nuevos obispos, mientras que las dinastías de los estados vecinos eran más estables. Groninga, Drente y la mayor parte de Güeldres, que había formado parte de Utrecht, se independizaron. Brabante trató de someter a sus vecinos, aunque sus intentos fracasaron. Holanda también intentó asegurar su supremacía en Zelanda y Frisia, pero tampoco tuvo éxito. En el norte, Frisia conservó su independencia durante este período. Poseía sus propias instituciones y se oponía a la imposición del sistema feudal que se podía encontrar en otras localidades europeas, a pesar de ello, los frisios perdieron su independencia cuando fueron derrotados en 1498 por los mercenarios lansquenetes alemanes del duque Alberto de Sajonia-Meißen.
Borgoña
En 1433 buena parte del territorio de los Países Bajos y Bélgica fue unificada por el duque Felipe III de Borgoña. Antes de la unión borgoñona, los neerlandeses se identificaban con su ciudad, su condado o ducado local o como súbditos del Sacro Imperio Romano. Fue durante esta etapa borgoñona cuando comenzó a surgir entre los neerlandeses una conciencia de nación. Los principales nobles de Holanda invitaron al duque a conquistar este país, a pesar de que él no tenía ninguna pretensión histórica sobre Holanda. Ámsterdam creció y en el siglo XV se convirtió en el principal puerto comercial europeo para el grano procedente de la región báltica.
Güeldres se oponía al dominio borgoñón y trató de crear su propio estado en el noreste de los Países Bajos y noroeste de Alemania. Debido a la falta de dinero, Güeldres hizo que sus soldados se proveyeran de lo que necesitaran mediante el saqueo de los territorios enemigos. Estos soldados supusieron una gran amenaza para los Países Bajos borgoñones. Güeldres estaba aliada con Francia, Inglaterra y Dinamarca, los cuales querían poner fin a la prosperidad de Flandes y al dominio borgoñón sobre los Países Bajos.
Países Bajos de los Habsburgo
Por herencia y conquista el país llegó a estar bajo posesión de la dinastía de los Habsburgo bajo Carlos V en el siglo XVI, quien los unificó en un solo estado. El este de Holanda sólo fue ocupado unas décadas antes de la lucha de los holandeses por su independencia. Sin embargo, en 1548, ocho años antes de su abdicación del trono, el Emperador Carlos V garantizó el estatus de las Diecisiete Provincias de Holanda como una entidad separada tanto del Imperio como de Francia. Esta Pragmática Sanción de 1549 no fue de independencia plena, pero permitió una autonomía significativa.
Al Emperador Carlos le sucedió su hijo Felipe II de España. A diferencia de su padre, que había crecido en Gante (Bélgica), Felipe tuvo poco apego personal con los Países Bajos, y así la nobleza local lo consideró indiferente hacia su estado. Como católico devoto Felipe estaba consternado por el éxito de la Reforma Protestante, que llevó a un aumento en el número de Calvinistas. Sus intentos de reforzar la persecución religiosa de los protestantes y sus esfuerzos por centralizar el gobierno, la justicia y los impuestos le hicieron impopular y le condujeron a una revuelta. Los holandeses lucharon por su independencia de España, lo que originó la Guerra de los Ochenta Años (1568-1648). Siete provincias rebeldes se unieron en la Unión de Utrecht en 1579 y formaron la República de los Siete Países Bajos Unidos.

Haarlem

República Neerlandesa (1581-1795)
Provincias Unidas
Guillermo de Orange, el fundador de la familia real holandesa, lideró a los holandeses durante la primera parte de la guerra. Los primeros años fueron un éxito para las tropas españolas. Sin embargo, los asedios siguientes en Holanda fueron contrarrestados. El rey de España perdió el control de los Países Bajos después de que soldados castellanos amotinados saqueasen Amberes y matasen a 10.000 de sus habitantes. Los católicos conservadores del sur y el este apoyaron a los castellanos, que recuperaron Amberes y otras ciudades flamencas y holandesas. Recuperaron la mayor parte del territorio en los Países Bajos (pero no en Flandes, teniendo como resultado la separación histórica entre los Países Bajos y Flandes). Muchos flamencos huyeron a Holanda, entre ellos, la mitad de la población de Amberes, 3/4 de Brujas y Gante y toda la población de Nieuwpoort, Dunkerque y el campo.
La guerra continuó ininterrumpidamente durante otros 60 años, pero el enfrentamiento principal había terminado. La Paz de Westfalia, firmada el 30 de enero de 1648, confirmó la independencia de las Provincias Unidas de España y Alemania. Los holandeses ya no se consideraban a sí mismos como alemanes desde el siglo XV, pero permanecieron oficialmente como parte de Alemania hasta 1648. La identidad nacional se formó principalmente por la provincia de la que procedía la mayoría de la población. Puesto que Holanda era con diferencia la provincia más importante, la República de las Siete Provincias llegó a ser conocida como Holanda en los países extranjeros.
Los barcos holandeses cazaban ballenas en la costa de Svalbard, comerciaban con especias en la India e Indonesia y fundaron colonias en Nueva Amsterdam (hoy Nueva York), Sudáfrica y las Indias Orientales Holandesas. El mayor asentamiento neerlandés en el extranjero fue la Colonia del Cabo. Se estableció por Jan van Riebeeck, en nombre de la Compañía Holandesa de las Indias Orientales, en Ciudad del Cabo en 1652. El Príncipe de Orange adquirió el control de la Colonia del Cabo en 1788.
Además, algunas colonias portuguesas fueron conquistadas, principalmente en nordeste de Brasil, Angola, Indonesia y Ceilán. Debido a estos desarrollos el siglo XVII lleva el sobrenombre de la Edad de Oro de los Países Bajos. Como eran una república estaban gobernados más por una aristocracia de comerciantes urbanos, llamados los regentes, que por un rey. Los Estados Generales, con sus representantes de todas las provincias, decidiría aquellas cuestiones importantes para toda la República. Sin embargo, a la cabeza de cada provincia estaba el estatúder de esa provincia, un puesto ocupado por un descendiente de la Casa de Orange.
En 1650 el estatúder Guillermo II, Príncipe de Orange murió repentinamente de viruela; su hijo, el último estatúder y rey de Inglaterra, Guillermo III, nació sólo 8 días después, por tanto, dejó a la nación sin un sucesor obvio. Los Príncipes de Orange se convirtieron en estatúder y en gobernantes casi hereditarios en 1672 y 1748. La República Holandesa de las Provincias Unidas fue una auténtica república solamente desde 1650 a 1672 y desde 1702 a 1748. A estos períodos se les llama la Primera y Segunda Era sin estatúder.

Groningen

Reino de los Países Bajos
Mapa de los Países Bajos en 1843 después de la independencia de Bélgica.
República Bátava
El territorio de los Países Bajos fue incorporado al Primer Imperio Francés bajo el mando de Napoleón I desde 1795 hasta 1815, fecha en la que se formó un Reino Holandés que incluía a las actuales Bélgica y Luxemburgo. El Congreso de Viena ocasionó dos importantes cambios: el control colonial sobre Indonesia fue perdido y el norte y sur de los Países Bajos se unificaron.
Las tensiones entre el norte y el sur entre otras causas por la diferencia religiosa, provocaron que en 1830 los belgas se declararan independientes y aunque el rey Guillermo I envío un año más tarde las tropas, la movilización de las tropas francesas en favor de la causa belga, lo hizo desistir de cualquier enfrentamiento. Sólo ocho años más tarde, en 1839, se reconoció oficialmente la independencia de Bélgica.
La ascensión de la reína Guillermina al trono en 1890 significó la separación de estos y Luxemburgo, debido a que el título de Gran Duque no puede ser heredado por una mujer. Durante el siglo XIX el país tardó en industrializarse en comparación con Alemania o Francia.
Guerras mundiales
A pesar de que los Países Bajos movilizaron sus tropas en agosto de 1914, permanecieron neutrales durante la Primera Guerra Mundial. La invasión alemana de Bélgica aquel mismo año condujo a muchos refugiados belgas (en torno a un millón) a buscar cobijo en el país. Dado que los neerlandeses se encontraban rodeados por países en guerra y el Mar del Norte no era seguro para la navegación civil, los alimentos escasearon y se hizo necesario recurrir al racionamiento. Con el final del conflicto en 1918, la situación regresó a la normalidad.
La Gran Depresión de 1929 tuvo efectos muy negativos para la economía neerlandesa. Como el gobierno de Henrik Colijn se negó a cambiar su política económica y a salir del patrón oro, los Países Bajos tardaron más tiempo en recuperarse de la crisis que otros países europeos. La depresión provocó mucho desempleo y pobreza, además de un creciente descontento social. El auge del nacionalsocialismo en Alemania no pasó inadvertido en los Países Bajos, en los que surgió el temor a un nuevo conflicto armado. A pesar de ello, la opinión mayoritaria entre los neerlandeses era que Alemania respetaría la neutralidad de los Países Bajos.
Al estallar la Segunda Guerra Mundial en 1939, declararon su neutralidad una vez más. No obstante, el 10 de mayo de 1940 los alemanes lanzaron un ataque contra los Países Bajos y Bélgica y conquistaron la mayor parte del país en poco tiempo. Las mal equipadas tropas neerlandesas pudieron hacer muy poco; el 14 de mayo ya sólo quedaban unas pocas bolsas de resistencia. Sin embargo, aquel día la Luftwaffe (fuerza aérea alemana) bombardeó Rotterdam, la segunda ciudad más importante del país, matando a 800 personas y destruyendo buena parte de la ciudad, lo que dejó sin hogar a 78.000 personas. Tras este bombardeo y las amenazas alemanas de realizar uno similar en Utrecht, los Países Bajos capitularon el 15 de mayo (excepto la provincia de Zelanda). La familia real y algunas tropas huyeron al Reino Unido. Algunos miembros de la familia real vivieron en Ottawa (Canadá) hasta la liberación aliada.
Fuerzas japonesas invadieron las Indias Orientales Holandesas el 11 de enero de 1942; allí, los neerlandeses se rindieron el 8 de marzo, después de que los japoneses desembarcaran en Java. Sin embargo, muchos navíos y militares holandeses lograron alcanzar Australia, desde donde lucharon contra los japoneses.
El invierno 1944-1945 fue especialmente duro, provocando hambruna y pasando a la historia neerlandesa con el nombre de Hongerwinter ("invierno del hambre"). En mayo de 1945, la Alemania nazi finalmente se rindió, y firmó su rendición ante los holandeses en Wageningen.
Desde 1945
Rotterdam después del ataque alemán en 1940.
Después de la guerra, la economía neerlandesa prosperó y el país fue miembro fundador de la Comunidad Europea del Carbón y del Acero (CECA) en 1951 la cual desembocó finalmente en 1957 en la fundación de la Comunidad Económica Europea. Ya en 1944 Bélgica, Nederland y Luxemburgo comenzaron una cooperación aduanera bajo el nombre de Benelux, (BElgica-NEderland-LUXembourg), que desembocó en 1958 en una unión económica. El Tratado de la Unión Europea o Tratado de Maastricht es conocido así porque se firmó en la ciudad neerlandesa de Maastricht.
En 1953 el país sufrió una de las catástrofes naturales mas grandes de su historia. En la noche del 2 de febrero se rompen múltiples diques en el sur-oeste del país inundando grandes zonas de la provincia de Zelanda, causando la muerte a cerca de 1800 personas y muchos millones de dolares de perdidas. A partir de entonces se ponen manos a la obra para evitar una catástrofe de tal magnitud en el futuro. Se inicia así el Plan Delta que dispuso la construcción de grandes diques y obras civiles para la retención de los embates de las aguas del Mar del Norte. Pero las obras que deberían proteger la provincia de Zelanda no se terminaron hasta casi el final del siglo XX.
La creación del Benelux, unión económica junto a Bélgica y Luxemburgo, y su posterior unión a otros organismos panaeuropeos dio paso a la creación de la Comunidad Económica Europea tras la firma del tratado de Roma en 1957, por lo que se considera a los Países Bajos como a uno de los países fundadores de dicha organización. Durante los años 70 la crisis del petróleo hizo que los diferentes gobiernos creasen un frente con cambios en la política económica, creando un ejemplo de crecimiento, lo que algunos denominaron "polder-economie" o economía de polder. En 1980 la Reina Juliana abdica en su hija Beatriz, el sexto monarca desde la creación del Reino de los Países Bajos y tercera mujer, tras su madre y su abuela, que reina el territorio de forma consecutiva.
Los gabinetes de Ruud Lubbers (1982-1994) comenzaron con una política de economizar y privatizar. En 1992 se firmó en la ciudad de Maastricht el Tratado de la Unión Europea. El gabinete de Wim Kok (1994-2002) fue compuesto por liberales y socialdemócratas, y fue el primer gabinete sin partidos cristianos. En esta época también se introducieron las reformas liberales como el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo y la legalización de eutanasia.

Organización territorial
El Reino de los Países Bajos está formado por doce provincias:

Geografía
El nombre del país, Nederlanden («Tierras bajas»), se debe a que una parte del norte y oeste del territorio del país se encuentra por debajo del nivel del mar. Al sureste del país se extienden los llamados Países altos superiores, que se elevan un poco por encima del nivel del mar.
Un complejo sistema de drenaje de agua, cuya construcción se inició en la época medieval, ha permitido incrementar la superficie del país en más de un 20%. Sin un drenaje constante la mitad de los Países Bajos sería inundado por el mar y por los numerosos ríos que cruzan su territorio, como es el caso del Rin que desemboca en Rotterdam, lo que ha hecho de esta ciudad el puerto de mayor tráfico de Europa. Junto con el Rin hay otros dos ríos más que dividen al país en dos partes, estos son el río Mosa y el Waal.
Plan Delta
Durante la inundación del mar del Norte de 1953, la brecha en un dique causó la muerte a 1.835 personas, forzando la evacuación de otras 70.000, además de ser destruidas 4.500 edificaciones. Para evitar que una catástrofe así se repitiera, un ambicioso proyecto fue puesto en marcha, el Plan Delta (Idioma neerlandés: Deltawerken) que unió las desembocaduras del Rin y el Mosa.
La obra más destacada del complejo es la Oosterscheldekering que está considerada una de la siete maravillas del mundo moderno según la Sociedad americana de ingenieros civiles.
Además, los Países Bajos son uno de los países que más sufren el cambio climático. No sólo son un problema las inundaciones producidas por el mar, ya que un desbordamiento de los ríos también podría ser muy peligroso.

Fields around Keukenhof park

Clima
El bioma primigenio en los Países Bajos es el bosque templado de frondosas. Según WWF, la práctica totalidad de los Países Bajos pertenece a la ecorregión denominada bosque mixto atlántico, salvo el extremo sureste, que corresponde al bosque de frondosas de Europa occidental. El viento predominante es suroeste y causa un clima oceánico moderado con calurosos veranos e inviernos suaves.
Economía
Economía de los Países Bajos
Los Países Bajos son una de las mayores y más desarrolladas economías del mundo. En el año 2005 su PIB (Producto Interior Bruto) creció un 1,5%, dando como resultado una renta per cápita de $30.300 dólares. El 79% de la fuerza laboral trabaja en el sector servicios, un 17% trabaja en la industria, y tan solo el 2% de la fuerza laboral trabaja en el sector de agricultura. En el año 2005 la tasa de desempleo se situó en el 6,6%, a la vez que la pobreza alcanzó al 0,5% de la población.
La economía destaca por su alto grado de competitividad, situándose en el octavo puesto de la tabla mundial. El comercio representa más del 80% de su PIB y si sumamos sus importaciones y exportaciones, a pesar de que su población tiene un peso relativo del 0.22% en la población mundial su comercio equivale al 4% del total.
La bicicleta es el medio de transporte más importante del pais.
Anexo:Empresas de los Países Bajos
Turismo
Ámsterdam es la capital del país y uno de los destinos mas visitados por los turistas. La población utiliza la bicicleta como medio de transporte preferente. Los lugares más relevantes para visitar en Ámsterdam son el museo van Gogh, el Rijksmuseum y la casa de Anne Frank.
En el resto del país los destinos más frecuentes son La Haya, capital administrativa de los Países Bajos, Róterdam con el Europoort, el puerto más grande de Europa y segundo del mundo, Gouda con su mercado de queso que se celebra todos los jueves, Alkmaar también importante por sus quesos, Maastricht, ciudad más antigua de Los Paises Bajos junto con Nimega y las localidades de Lisse e Hillegom que poseen el Keukenhof. También importantes son Delft, Haarlem, Utrecht o Groninga.
Demografía
En el año 2007, Países Bajos tiene una población de 16.570.000 habitantes y un PIB de 30.174 EUR per cápita. El idioma oficial es el neerlandés. La esperanza de vida es de 79,1 años. El 99% de la población esta alfabetizada. El promedio de hijos por mujer es de 1,66. Los Países Bajos presentan una de las densidades de población más altas del mundo. La mayoría de sus habitantes son descendientes de los francos, frisones y sajones.
El gobierno alentó la emigración después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial ya que temía una superpoblación del territorio. Cerca de medio millón de personas abandonaron el país, pero el número de inmigrantes provenientes principalmente de las Indias Neerlandesas, Turquía, Surinam, las Antillas Neerlandesas y Marruecos, ha superado el número de emigrantes.
La composición étnica actual es la siguiente:80.9% neerlandeses - 2.4% indonesios - 2.4% alemanes - 2.2% turcos - 2.0% surinameses - 1.9% marroquíes - 0.8% antillanos y arubanos - 6.0% otros
Urbanización
El país está densamente poblado, aunque las ciudades sean modestas en el tamaño comparado con otros países europeos o mundiales. No tienen un tamaño muy grande pero el grado de urbanización medio de estas es muy alto. La capital y la ciudad más grande es Amsterdam, aunque el gobierno está localizado en La Haya. Mientras que la capital generalmente está definida como la ciudad donde habita la sede del gobierno, en este caso nadie llamaría nunca a La Haya como capital, aunque es llamada la "capital legal del mundo" al poseer la Oficina Europea de Policía (Europol).
Randstad
El Randstad (del neerlandés rand: borde y stad: ciudad) es el nombre que recibe la mayor conurbación de los Países Bajos, a su vez una de las mayores de Europa.
Hay que distinguir entre la región metropolitana de Randstad, con una población en torno a los 6,5 millones de habitantes (40% del total de los Países Bajos), y la Región de Randstad, (una asociación socio-económica) que reúne unos 7,6 millones de habitantes (casi la mitad de la población del país).
Ambas entidades se extienden por las provincias de Holanda Meridional, Holanda Septentrional, Utrecht y Flevolandia.
Área metropolitana de Amsterdam y Área metropolitana de Rotterdam

Maastricht

Diez ciudades más habitadas
Estas son las diez ciudades con más habitantes del país:

1. Amsterdam: ..~ 750.000 habitantes.
2. Rotterdam:.. .~ 585.000 habitantes.
3. La Haya: .......~ 475.000 habitantes.
4. Utrech: .........~ 295.000 habitantes.
5. Eindhoven: ...~ 210.000 habitantes.
6. Tilburgo: ......~ 205.000 habitantes.
7. Almere: ........~ 185.000 habitantes.
8. Groninga:..... ~ 183.000 habitantes.
9. Breda: .........~ 171.000 habitantes.
10. Nimega: .......~ 160.732 habitantes.
Cultura
En el siglo XVII, durante el periodo que se conoce como la «Edad de Oro neerlandesa», la influencia cultural del país tuvo su cúspide. Entre las figuras neerlandesas más notorias de esa época estaban Christiaan Huygens y Baruch Spinoza. Además, había extranjeros que vivían en el país gracias a su ambiente de tolerancia, como el francés René Descartes o el inglés John Locke.
El país es conocido popularmente por sus molinos de viento, zapatos de madera, tulipanes, bicicletas y tolerancia social.

Pintura
La pintura barroca holandesa será burguesa, dominando los temas de paisaje, retratos y vida cotidiana, con la figura de Rembrandt como su mejor exponente. En esta «Edad de Oro neerlandesa» del siglo XVII también destacaron Johannes Vermeer, Frans Hals y anteriormente Hieronymus Bosch. En siglos más recientes, el país ha producido pintores notables como Vincent van Gogh o Piet Mondrian.
La abstracción de Mondrian se elaboró a partir de la retícula cubista, a la que progresivamente redujo a trazos horizontales y verticales que encierran planos de color puro. Por su simplificación, el lenguaje del neoplasticismo (véase De Stijl). En el periodo de entreguerras, Theo van Doesburg, después de haber sido uno de los principales defensores del neoplasticismo, renovó de manera decisiva el arte abstracto al mantener que la creación artística sólo debía estar sometida a reglas controlables y lógicas.
Gastronomía
Gastronomía de los Países Bajos
La cocina se caracteriza por el consumo en grandes cantidades de pan y patatas. Es muy popular una tostada redonda untada con manteca: el beschuit, que se suele comer como desayuno, con diferentes sabores y que se emplea en diferentes celebraciones. También es famoso uno de los platos nacionales, el Erwtensoep que básicamente es una sopa de guisantes.
Son populares los quesos, entre los que destacan el Gouda, Edam y Leyden. Muchas de las ciudades en el este tienen sus propios quesos, algunos de ellos distinguibles sólo por el sabor y por su apariencia exterior.
Pero como en todos los países europeos las diferencias regionales se hacen patentes y cada región tiene sus platos típicos. El norte, protestante, tiene otra forma de ver la vida que el sur, católico; y eso se ve también en sus influencias gastronómicas.

Gouda

Idioma
Idioma neerlandés
En el país la mayoría de la población habla el Idioma neerlandés pero también estan reconocidas lenguas provinciales y dialectos regionales. La lengua oficial es el neerlandés y es hablada por todo el mundo en los Países Bajos, Flandes y Surinam.-El Idioma frisón es la lengua co-oficial en la provincia de Frisia, y es hablado por 453.000 personas.
-Varios dialectos del Bajo sajón neerlandés son hablados en la parte noreste del país y son reconocidos por los neerlandeses como lenguas regionales de acuerdo a la Carta Europea de las Lenguas Regionales o Minoritarias. Son hablados por 1.798.000 personas.
-Otro dialecto neerlandés es el Idioma limburgués que se habla en el sureste de la provincia de Limburgo y es hablado por 825.000 personas.
Es tradicional en el país hablar otras lenguas, el 70% de la población tiene un conocimiento alto del Idioma inglés, entre el 55 y el 59% habla el Idioma alemán y sobre el 19% habla el Idioma francés.

Enlaces externos
Información general del país en el sitio del Ministerio neerlandés de Asuntos Exteriores
Casa Real Neerlandesa
Oficina de Turismo y Congresos
Radio Nederland, la emisora internacional de los Países Bajos
Holandalatina.com, web sobre Holanda en castellano
Noticias de Holanda, Noticias de los Países Bajos en español
Sababa.nl, portal sobre Los Paises Bajos
(Wikipedia)

[Nettus]

picasaweb.google.com/.../1ckT-0CU_9wjfbZYDyOPhw (Mc Donald's in Buzau)
(La foto que desapareció)

[Nettus]

Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city in the Netherlands with impressive architecture, lovely canals that crisscross the city, great shopping, and friendly people who nearly all speak English well. There is something for every traveler's taste here, whether you prefer culture and history, serious partying, or just the relaxing charm of an old European city. Amsterdam has over a million inhabitants in the urban area, and is located in the Province of North-Holland. Although Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, the seat of government is The Hague, and the provincial capital is Haarlem.

Understand
Orientation
The 'Amsterdam' that most people know is the city centre, the semicircle with Central Station at its apex. It corresponds to the old city, as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the old city; the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, the Prinsengracht, and the Singelgracht (not to be confused with the Singel!), which runs alongside the roads Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade, and Mauritskade and marks the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870. The semicircle is on the south side of the IJ, which is called a river, but is more exactly an estuary. Going east from central station, the railway passes the artificial islands of the redeveloped Eastern Docklands. North of the IJ is mainly housing, although a major dockland redevelopment has started there too.
The river Amstel flows into the city from the south. Originally, it flowed along the line Rokin-Damrak. The dam in the Amstel, which gives the city its name, was located under the present Bijenkorf department store. The original settlement was on the right bank of the Amstel, on the present Warmoesstraat: it is therefore the oldest street in the city. The city has expanded in all directions, except to the north of the ring motorway. The region there, Waterland, is a protected rural landscape of open fields and small villages.
The radius of the semicircle is about 2 km. All major tourist destinations, and most hotels, are located inside it or just outside it. As a result, much of Amsterdam is never visited by tourists: at least 90% of the population lives outside this area. Most economic activity in Amsterdam -- the offices of the service sector, and the port -- is located on or outside the ring motorway, which is four to five kilometers from the centre.
Attitudes
Many people choose to visit Amsterdam because of its reputation for tolerance, although part of this reputation is attributable to cultural misunderstandings. Prostitution is legalized and licensed in the Netherlands, and in Amsterdam it is very visible (window prostitution), and there are large numbers of prostitutes. The sale, possession, and consumption of small quantities of cannabis, while illegal, is condoned by authorities (the policy of gedogen). This does not mean that you can get away with anything in Amsterdam. In any case, public attitudes and official policy have hardened in recent years. For more on coffee shops and drugs, see below in Stay safe.
Depending on your viewpoint some people will consider Amsterdam an unwholesome city whereas other people will find their relaxed attitudes refreshing. Amsterdam is not generally seen as a family destination, but if you avoid the red light district, it is no more objectionable for children than any large city.
Nearly everyone in Amsterdam, young or old, seems to speak excellent English.
When to visit
Amsterdam is a large city and a major tourist destination, so you can visit it all year round. However, in winter the days are short (8 hours daylight around Christmas), and the weather may be too cold to walk around the city comfortably, let alone cycle. Some things are seasonal: the bulb fields flower only in the spring, and Queen's Day (Koninginnedag) is always on 30 April, unless that is a Sunday. Queen Beatrix was in fact born on 31 January, but since January is too cold, the celebrations are held on the birthday of her mother Juliana. The color of Queen's Day is orange, symbolizing national pride in the royal House of Orange-Nassau.
Media/listings
-Amsterdam Weekly. An English-language free cultural weekly published every Wednesday. It provides coverage of Amsterdam city life, and an arts and entertainment calendar.
-Uitkrant. A free monthly magazine, listing all concerts, classical, jazz, pop etc., exhibitions, museums and anything cultural to do in Amsterdam. It can be picked up at many spots in the city, e.g. at the Uitburo at the Leidseplein.
-Amsterdam Spoke. An English magazine featuring Amsterdam’s daily life, its ambiance and trends.
Get in
By plane
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (IATA: AMS) (ICAO: EHAM) is one of the busiest airports in the world, situated 15 km south-west of the city. Jet2.com, Easyjet and other low-cost carriers serve Schiphol, providing a fairly economical way to city-hop to Amsterdam from other spots in Europe (list LCC flights). As Amsterdam is a very popular destination, the cheapest tickets may be gone, and in that case a traditional carrier might be cheaper. So it pays to check a number of airlines before booking, to get the best deal. The former national carrier for the Netherlands is KLM, now merged with Air France. With partner Northwest Airlines they offer worldwide connections. The US, Asia and Europe are particularly well served at Schiphol.
For very frequent visitors to Amsterdam (6 or more times a year) it may pay to invest in a Privium card. This is available to EU passport holders only, but allows you to cut the queues at passport control. Instead of showing your passport you go to a special lane with an iris scanner, this will save a significant amount of time if the passport lines are long. Cost is currently €99/year + €55 for a partner (from October 2008: €119 and €65 for a partner).
When leaving Amsterdam, give yourself enough time to get to your plane and through security (especially when flying to the United States)! Schiphol is a large airport - be there at least an hour in advance.

Corner of Prinsengracht and Bloemgracht, near Jordaan

Schiphol by train
From Schiphol there is a direct train to Amsterdam Central Station, for € 3.80, in 15 minutes. Buy the ticket from the machine (yellow with blue writing), at the counter you will pay extra charge (€ 0.50); beware: most machines may not accept credit or debit cards, however, there is a machine that accepts cash on the side of the main airport hall closer to terminal 1 and 2. Moreover, you'll find there is no problem getting tickets at the ticket office for €0.50 more, and you will also be given advice as to the next train and at what platform. See below for information on the All-in travel ticket, which includes a train journey to Amsterdam plus public transport in Amsterdam. The train station at Schiphol is located underground, under the main airport hall. Watch out for pick-pockets and baggage thieves: a common trick is a knock on your window to distract you, so that an accomplice can steal your luggage or laptop. Another one is to have an accomplice jam the doors and then to steal your luggage. The thief jumps out and the door immediately closes, making it impossible to catch them.
Trains run all night, although between 01:00 and 05:00 only once an hour. The price and duration of the journey are the same as during the day.
Schiphol by local transport
If you are desperately trying to save money or are staying near Leidseplein, you could use local transport from Schiphol to central Amsterdam, provided that you use a strippenkaart (see below). A trip takes about thirty minutes and leads directly to the south-west of the centre of Amsterdam (namely Museumplein and Leidseplein). The price depends on which bus you take: on local bus 197 the trip would cost you 5 strippen, that's €2.30 on a 15 strippenkaart, or €4.00 on board; on "interliner" bus 370 (an express bus, although in this case the local bus is equally fast) you pay €3.40.
Bus 197 currently runs every 15 minutes for most of the day, from 0507 to 0022 daily; bus 370 runs every hour during the day and every 30 minutes during peak hours (but stops running at about 2000). From midnight to five a.m., night bus lines go to and from the airport: either bus N97 (5 strippen) or bus 358 (€3.50). Together, these buses run about twice an hour.
Schiphol by taxi
Taxis from Schiphol are expensive and priced unexpectedly. You pay around €7 (as of Feb 08) as a minimum charge and that includes the first two kilometers. Then the meter starts racing. The ride costs about €40 to go, say, the Leidseplein. Luckily, it could take only 25 minutes. Choose the nicest cab as that driver is more likely to be reputable. Don't just pick the first taxi in line.
Schiphol, other modes of transport
Many hotels in Amsterdam share a paid shuttle bus service, and some hotels around the airport will send a free van for you.
If you decided to bring your bicycle on the plane with you, there is a 15-kilometer sign-posted bike route from the airport to Amsterdam. Turn right as you leave the airport terminal: the cycle path starts about 200 metres down the road.
Other airports
Using airports other than Schiphol could prove cheaper in some cases, as some budget airlines fly to Eindhoven and Rotterdam Airports. Then buses and trains can be used to get to Amsterdam. A taxi is not advisable, from Rotterdam to Amsterdam a taxi would cost €130, and from Eindhoven even more.
From Eindhoven Airport take a local bus (Hermes bus 401, duration 23 minutes, frequency about four times per hour, €3.20 on board or €1.80 using a 15 strippenkaart) to the train station, from there take a train to Amsterdam (duration 1:20 hour, frequency four times per hour, single €17.40). Alternatively, take the express bus directly from the airport to Amsterdam central station, which takes 2:15 hours. This service goes quite infrequently; see their website for a schedule. The ticket price is €22 for a single or €38 for a return.
From Rotterdam Airport ("Zestienhoven") take a city bus (RET "airport shuttle" bus 33, duration 20 minutes, frequency every 10-20 minutes, €2.40 on board or €1.40 using a 15 strippenkaart) to Rotterdam Centraal train station, from there take a train to Amsterdam (duration about an hour, frequency every 10-20 minutes, single €13.20).
By train
Most trains arrive and depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station (with one extra 'a' in Dutch), located between the old centre and the IJ waterfront. Other train stations are Duivendrecht, Bijlmer-ArenA, Amstel, Muiderpoort (all southeast), RAI, Zuid-WTC (both south), Lelylaan and Sloterdijk (both west). Schiphol airport also has its own train station, which functions as a major hub within the Netherlands. It has at least seven trains an hour to Amsterdam Central, with additional trains going to other Amsterdam stations.
Direct international trains run to Brussels (connecting with Eurostar trains to London St Pancras and Ebbsfleet (Kent) in England), Paris, Cologne, Frankfurt, Berlin, Copenhagen, Milan, Vienna, Prague and Moscow. See NS Hispeed for an international journey planner for trains into/out of the Netherlands.
By bus
Most international bus services are affiliated to Eurolines, which has a terminal at Amstel Station (train station, metro station 51, 53, 54, tram 12). One bus per day is usually the maximum frequency on these routes. There are other international bus services, but they are often aimed at very specific markets, e.g. Polish migrant workers. There are almost no long-distance internal bus services in the Netherlands, and none to Amsterdam.
By car
The western part of the Netherlands has a dense (and congested) road network. Coming from the east (Germany), the A1 motorway leads directly to Amsterdam. On the A12 from Arnhem, change at Utrecht to the A2 northbound. From the south (Belgium), the A2 goes directly to Amsterdam: the A16 /A27 from Antwerp via Breda connects to the A2 south of Utrecht. From The Hague, the A4 leads to Amsterdam. All motorways to Amsterdam connect to the ring motorway, the A10. From this motorway, main roads lead radially into Amsterdam (the roads S101 through S118).
In most cases, you should want to avoid going to the city centre by car: traffic is dense and parking spaces are expensive and nearly impossible to find. Instead, when on the A10, follow the signs to one of the P+R-spots (P+R Zeeburg to the east, P+R ArenA and P+R Olympisch Stadion to the south, P+R Sloterdijk to the west). Here, you can park your car, and take public transport to the city centre, for a single fare. There are also a few places a short walk from outer tram stops to park for free.
The speed limit on Dutch motorways is 120 km/h, except where indicated. On the A10 ring motorway around Amsterdam, the maximum speed is 100 km/h, and 80 km/h on the Western section. These limits are strictly enforced and there are many speed cameras.
By sea
The maritime Passenger Terminal Amsterdam is close to the city centre, but is only for cruise ships. The nearest ferry port is IJmuiden (ferry from Newcastle upon Tyne). There are also ferry terminals at Rotterdam Europoort (ferry from Kingston Upon Hull), and Hook of Holland (ferry from Harwich). More information, timetables and ticket prices for these ferries is available online at Ferries to Amsterdam.

Get around
On foot and bike
Amsterdam's centre is fairly small, and almost abnormally flat, so you can easily get to most tourist destinations on foot - from the train station, within a half an hour.
A pleasant way to cover a lot of ground is to rent a bicycle. There are approximately three-quarters of a million people living in Amsterdam and they own about 600,000 bicycles. The city is very, very bike-friendly, and there are separate bike lanes on most major streets. In the city centre, however, there is often not enough space for a bike lane, so cars and cyclists share narrow streets. Cyclists have the right of way. If you are not used to that, be very careful, and also watch out for other cyclists. Avoid getting your tire in the tram rails; it's a nasty fall. Always cross tram rails at an angle. There are bike rental shops at stations, and several others in and around the city centre. Bikes cost about € 9 to € 20 per day.
A good map for cycling (routes, repairs, rentals + also public transport) is Amsterdam op de fiets (a Cito-plan). When preparing a route, there's a digital bicycle route-planner for Amsterdam, see Routecraft.com

Make sure to get a good lock, and to use it. Amsterdam has one of the highest bicycle theft rates in the world, see the Netherlands page. Note also that if buying a bike, prices that seem too good to be true are stolen bikes. Any bike offered for sale to passers-by, on the street, is certainly stolen. There's an old Amsterdam joke; if to a large group of bicycles going by, you yell out, "Hey, that's my bike!" about five people will jump off "their" bikes and start running.
MacBike Bicycle Rental. Perhaps the most ubiquitous bicycle rental agency in Amsterdam, their bicycles are painted red with a MacBike sign on the front, everyone will know you're visiting. The bicycles are reliable, and in very good condition. Several locations around the city centre for assistance or repairs. Online bicycle reservations at their website.
Orangebike, Rentals & Tours. Their bikes are not so obvious coloured, more discrete, reliable and sturdy. Even the typical Dutch Grandmother bikes are available at Orangebike. Every day you could go on the 3 hour historical city tour and discover the hidden treasures by bike for 19.50 euro only. Online reservations on their website.
The bicycle is ideal for exploring the surrounding countryside. Within half an hour you're out of town. Go North, take the ferry accross the IJ to Waterland. Or go South, into the Amsterdamse Bos (a giant park), or follow the river Amstel where Rembrandt worked. You can also take your bike on the metro (with a reduced fare ticket, see public transport gvb.nl) to end of line Gaasperplas, and cycle along rivers and windmills to old fortified towns like Weesp , Muiden and Naarden.
Public transport
Public transport within the city is operated by the GVB (Gemeentevervoerbedrijf). The tram (18 lines) is the main form of public transport system in the central area, and there are also dozens of bus routes. Regional buses, and some suburban buses, are operated by Connexxion and Arriva. All tram stops have a detailed map of the system and the surrounding area.
There is a four line metro, including a short underground section in the city centre, that serves the neighbourhoods of the South East. It takes 15-20 minutes from Central Station or Waterlooplein to the Bijlmer (Amsterdam Arena stadium, Heineken Music Hall and Pathe Arena cinema and IMAX).
Tickets can be bought on bus or tram, but it is always cheaper to buy a strippenkaart before boarding. They are available from machines in the metro and railway stations, from the GVB office opposite Central Station, and from supermarkets, newsagents and tobacconists. In Central Station, purchase them at the red GVB machine (bills and coins) or at one of the Albert Heijn To Go mini marts. Purchase multi-day passes at the Amsterdam Tourist office (ACTB) or GWK Money Exchange.
A strippenkaart is also valid for use on NS trains within Amsterdam, validate them on the platform. They are not valid for train trips to Schiphol airport. You can use them on buses to Schiphol but generally it's faster to get there by train.
The strippenkaart ticket consists of a number of strips, which must be stamped in a yellow machine prior to entering the metro, or by the driver or conductor when boarding a tram or bus. Travel for one hour through a single zone costs two strips; two zones cost three strips, and so forth. Typically tourists will only be travelling through the central zone of Amsterdam, unless they plan on visiting outer areas. Multiple people can share one strippenkaart but must be validated respective to the number of travellers (e.g. for two people travelling in one zone, the strip can be validated on the second and fourth strip from the last validation stamp). A strippenkaart of 15 strips costs €6.90.
Alternatively, you can get a 1, 2, 3 or 4 day pass. Although convenient, it is usually cheaper to use strippenkaarten, especially for people who stay in the city centre. (€7/1 day, €11.50/2 days, €14.50/3 days, €17.50/4 days, as of Jul 08). An All-in travel ticket is also available (as a pilot, between 23 July and 31 October 2008), which includes, apart from 1, 2, 3 or 4 days travel with GVB, a train journey between Schiphol and Amsterdam and back. (€ 12.95/1 day, € 17/2 days, € 19.70/3 days, € 22.40/4 days). Since two train trips between Amsterdam and Schiphol cost €7.60, the All-in ticket is cheaper than the normal day pass when travelling from Schiphol (note that the period starts running at the start of the train journey to Amsterdam; the return journey can be outside this period). More information:
Don't forget to stamp it before your first journey. If you stay longer in Amsterdam, you can buy discounted weekly or monthly tickets from most post offices or other ticket sale points which are really cheaper.
A new national ticketing system is being introduced, based on a contactless card (swipe card). The system is operational on the Amsterdam metro, at first in parallel with the old system. Trams and buses will be converted to the new system in 2008 to 2009.
Most trams these days have conductors, near the rear of the tram. Board by the driver or the conductor. If you have questions, the conductor will be sure to respond to your query.
Enter buses only via the front door.
For current information on the Dutch Public Transportation-system ('Openbaar Vervoer' or O.V. in Dutch/NL) check online. Openbaar Vervoer (O.V.)
There are several free ferry services across the IJ river, to Amsterdam North, the most frequent runs every seven minutes. They all leave from a new jetty on the northern (rear) side of Centraal Station.
The nicest one is the fifteen minute service to NDSM Werf, a funky, up and coming, industrial neighbourhood with a nice cafe-bar (Ijkantine) restaurant (Noorderlicht), indoor skateboard park, and the Pancake Boat (Pannekoekenboot) which sails many times each week. Ferries leave every 30 minutes from Central Station and from NDSM Werf. Double frequencies during rush hours.
Trains
For journeys outside the city, the train is usually the best option. Besides some exceptions, all trains in the Netherlands are operated by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS, "Dutch Railways"). Their website has English-language information.
Ticket machines are the standard way to buy a ticket, it costs 50 cents extra to buy a ticket at ticket counters, and at Central Station, there are often long lines at these counters. Older machines are not in English and as such can be difficult to interpret. New machines come with a language selection, and support English, Dutch, French and German but usually only accept credit and debit cards (note that many foreign credit and debit cards do not work in most NS ticket machines). In Central Station, there is a machine that accepts cash and is located in the hallway in front of the ticket office.
You face a fine of 35 euros, due immediately, if you are caught on the train without a ticket. The chance of getting caught without a ticket is almost certain on main routes during the day, but there is always a random element.
For discount tickets and rail passes see the Netherlands page.

Car
Using a car in central Amsterdam is something of a pain. Many of the streets are narrow, the traffic (and parking) signs are baroque and obscure, and cyclists and pedestrians may get in your way. Plus, gas is about 8 Euros (11 dollars) per gallon. You can try parking at one of the secured parking garages, for example under Museumplein, or near the Central Station, and then walk around the city centre, or use a tram. Car parking is very expensive in Amsterdam and it's often hard to find a place to park. You can choose to pay by the hour or for the whole day. Parking is free outside the centre on Sunday. There is always a spot available on the Albert Cuypstraat (which is a market during the rest of the week). From there, it is a 5 minute tram ride or 15 minute walk downtown.
Another option is to park your car further outside the city-centre. For € 5,50 you get a full day of parking and a return ticket downtown. The ride takes about 15 minutes. Look for the P+R (Park and Ride) signs.
You can also park for free in some parts of Amsterdam outside the city centre though this may be slowly changing. Parking is still free everywhere in Amsterdam-Noord, and you can just take the bus from the Mosplein stop to the city centre easily. Plenty of buses run through here.
Taxis
Taxis in Amsterdam are plentiful but expensive. Hailing taxis on the street is usually a positive experience, although it is not unheard of for passengers to be cheated by shady drivers.
Some drivers, traditionally at Centraal Station, will refuse short trips, or else they'll quote outrageously high fares, even though all taxis are metered. For reference, no trip within the historic centre should cost more than €10 or so.
The Netherlands (and Amsterdam) is in the middle of a huge taxi liberalization scheme which has been jarring to all involved. After many missteps, the government has introduced an unusual pricing scheme. First you feel sticker shock as the initial fare is now €7,50 (as of Feb 08). Luckily, that includes the first two kilometres of travel and there is no charge for waiting in traffic. If you need to run in somewhere, you need to negotiate a waiting fee with the driver. 50 cents per minute is customary.
Unlicensed, illegal, cabbies operate mainly in Amsterdam Zuidoost. These aren't easily recognized as such, and most certainly don't drive Mercedes cars. They are known as snorders and most easily reached by mobile phone. Rides within Amsterdam Zuidoost (the Bijlmer) range from €2.50 to €5, whereas Zuidoost-Center can run up to €12.50. Snorders have a shady reputation, so consider their services only if you are adventurous.
Tuk-Tuks
A Thai-influenced transportation service using three-wheeled, open-air (but covered) motorized vehicles was introduced in August 2007 and may be a more economical and fast way to get around the city centre compared to taxis. Tuk-tuk pricing is based on a zone system. Within a zone, a ride is €3.50 per person, €5.00 for 2 persons and €6.50 for 3. If you go to another zone, €3.50 is added (irrespective of number of persons). This service is handy if it is past the regular tram/bus/metro service hours (approximately half past midnight) as they take reservations 24 hours a day at 0900 99 333 99 (note to call, there is a fee of €0.55 per conversation).

See
Architectural heritage
Amsterdam has one of the largest historic city centres in Europe, with about 7,000 registered historic buildings. The street pattern is largely unchanged since the 19th century - there was no major bombing during World War II. The centre consists of 90 islands, linked by 400 bridges. Its most prominent feature is the concentric canal ring begun in the 17th century. The city office for architectural heritage (BMA) [22] has an excellent online introduction to the architectural history, and the types of historical buildings. The website includes a cycle route along important examples.
The oldest parts of the city are Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk. Two mediaeval wooden houses survive, at Begijnhof 34 and Zeedijk 1. Other old houses are Warmoesstraat 83 (built circa 1400), Warmoesstraat 5 (circa 1500) and Begijnhof 2-3 (circa. 1425).
The Begijnhof is a late-medieval enclosed courtyard with the houses of beguines, women living in a semi-religious community. Beguinages are found in northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and north-western Germany.
There are several large warehouses for more specific uses. The biggest is the Admirality Arsenal (1656-1657), now the Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) at Kattenburgerplein. Others include the former turf warehouses (1550) along the Nes, now the municipal pawn office; a similar warehouse at Waterlooplein 69-75 (Arsenaal, 1610), now an architectural academy, and the warehouse of the West India Company (1642) at the corner of Prins Hendrikkade and s-Gravenhekje. The 19th-century warehouses, along the Oostelijke Handelskade, are surrounded by new office buildings.
The trading city of Amsterdam was ruled by a merchant-based oligarchy, who built canal houses and mansions in the most prestigious locations, especially along the main canals. The BMA website has a chronological list of the most important:
-Singel 140-142, De Dolphijn (circa 1600).
-Oudezijds Voorburgwal 14, Wapen van Riga (1605).
-Oudezijds Voorburgwal 57, De Gecroonde Raep (1615), in Baroque Amsterdam Renaissance style.
-Herengracht 170-172, Bartolotti House (circa 1617).
-Keizersgracht 123, House with the Heads (1622).
-Herengracht 168 (1638).
-Rokin 145 (1643).
-Kloveniersburgwal 29, Trip House (1662).
-Oudezijds Voorburgwal 187 (1663).
-Singel 104-106 (1743).
-Singel 36, Zeevrugt (1763).
The Jordaan was built around 1650 along with the canal ring, but not for the wealthy merchants. For a long time it was considered the typical working-class area of Amsterdam, and included some notorious slums. It was probably the first example of gentrification in the Netherlands, even before the word was used. The name probably derives from the nickname 'Jordan' for the Prinsengracht. Apart from a few wider canals, the streets are narrow, in an incomplete grid pattern.
19th-century architecture is under-represented in Amsterdam. Immediately outside the Singelgracht (former city moat) is a ring of 19th-century housing. The most prominent buildings from this period are Centraal Station (1889) and the Rijksmuseum (1885), both by P. J. H. Cuypers.
Churches
There are five main churches in the historic centre. The oldest is the Oude Kerk (1306) on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal, in the red-light district. It was followed by the Nieuwe Kerk (15th century) on the Dam. The late-medieval city also had smaller chapels such as the Sint Olofskapel (circa 1440) on Zeedijk, and convent chapels such as the Agnietenkapel on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal 231 (originally 1470), now the University of Amsterdam museum. Around 1600, three new Protestant churches were built:

-Zuiderkerk (1603) at Zuiderkerkhof, now an information centre on housing and planning.
-Noorderkerk (1620/230) at Noordermarkt on the Prinsengracht.
-Westerkerk (1620/31) on Westermarkt is the largest of the three. The church is open (free) for visitors from
Monday to Friday, 11.00 -15.00, from April to September.
You can also climb the tower, only with guide, every half-hour, € 6. In good weather you can see all of Amsterdam, and as far as the coast.

Later churches included the Oosterkerk (1669) in the eastern islands, and the heavily restored Lutheran Church on the Singel (1671), now used by a hotel as a conference centre. Catholic churches were long forbidden, and only built again in the 19th-century: the most prominent is the Neo-Baroque Church of St. Nicholas (1887) opposite Central Station.
The most prominent synagogue is the Portugese-Israelite Synagogue (1675) at Mr. Visserplein, in an austere Classicist style.
Also, try and investigate on some of the "hidden churches" found in Amsterdam, mainly Catholic churches that remained in activity following the Reformation.
Modern architecture
Since there was little large-scale demolition in the historic centre, most 20th-century and recent architecture is outside it. The most prominent in architectural history are the residential complexes by architects of the Amsterdam School, for instance at Zaanstraat / Oostzaanstraat.-Museum of the Amsterdam School. The best-known example of their architecture. Open Wednesday to Sunday 1PM to 5PM, entrance € 2.50.
-Eastern Docklands. The largest concentration of new residential buildings. The zone includes three artificial islands: Borneo, Sporenburg, and Java/KNSM, together with the quayside along Piet Heinkade, and some adjoining projects. Accessible by tram 10, tram 26 to Rietlandpark, or best of all by bicycle.
-The largest concentration of box-like office buildings is in Amsterdam Zuid-Oost (South-East) around Bijlmer station (train and metro), but the area does have some spectacular buildings, such as the Amsterdam ArenA stadium and the new Bijlmer ArenA station (nearing completion and already in use).
-Amsterdam is replacing older sewage plants by a single modern plant, in the port zone. Connecting existing sewers to the new plant requires long main sewers, and the use of sewage booster pumps - a new technique at this scale. The new booster pump stations are a unique type of building, designed by separate architects. The three complete pumps are located at Klaprozenweg in the north, on Spaklerweg (just east of the A10 motorway), and beside and under Postjesweg, in the Rembrandtpark.
Windmills
Windmills were not built in urban areas, since the buildings obstructed the wind. The Amsterdam windmills were all originally outside the city walls. Nearest to the centre are De Gooyer and De Otter: -De Gooyer (1814, restored) on Funenkade currently holds a microbrewery.
-De Otter (1631), a restored and functioning sawmill, opposite Buyskade, west of the Jordaan.
-De Bloem (1878) on the Haarlemmerweg 465 at Nieuwpoortkade.
-De 1200 Roe, Haarlemmerweg 701 near Seineweg.
-De 100 Roe (1674), in the Ookmeer sports fields along Ma Braunpad.
-D'Admiraal (1792), Noordhollandschkanaaldijk 21, on the bank of the Noordhollands Kanaal in the north, ferry from Central Station.
-Riekermolen (1636) on the bank of the Amstel river at Kalfjeslaan.
-De Jonge Dikkert in Amstelveen (corner of Molenweg and Amsterdamseweg) is now a restaurant.
Only the Molen van Sloten and De Gooyer are open for visitors. The Molen van Sloten at Akersluis 10, about 10 minutes walk from the terminus of tram line 2, open daily from 10:00AM to 4PM. De Gooyer at Funenkade, Bus 22, Tram 7, open Wednesday to Sunday from 3PM to 7PM.

Museums
An English-language list at the GVB (public transport) website includes the tram and bus routes for each museum: Museums and attractions.
The Museumkaart (museum card) costs €39.95 (or €22.45 for those under 25 years old). It gives free admission in over 400 museums across the Netherlands. You can buy it at most major museums. It is valid for an entire year, and you will need to write your name, birthday, and gender on it. If you are going to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, those are at least €10 each, so this card can quickly pay for itself.
The tickets to the major museums, including the audio guide; can be bought early from the tourist information desk at no extra cost. -Allard Pierson Museum. The Allard Pierson Museum is the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam . The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Cyprus, the Greek World, Etruria and the Roman Empire are revived in this museum. Art-objects and utensils, dating from 4000 B.C. till 500 A.D. give a good impression of everyday-life, mythology and religion in Antiquity.
-Amsterdams Historisch Museum. The city’s historical museum. Two entrances, at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357 and Kalverstraat 92. Open 10AM to 5PM, opens one hour later on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Entrance € 6 adults, € 3 children.
-Anne Frank House. The house where the Jewish girl Anne Frank wrote her diary while hiding with her family from the Nazis. Don't let the long line (or maybe a very short line if you're lucky) discourage you; it moves quickly and the experience inside the hiding places on the top floors is moving. The museum lacks any exhibits to explain the historical context at the time of Anne's diary, however. Go in the early evening around 5PM to avoid any lines, or alternatively skip the lines entirely by reserving tickets from the official website. The Anne Frank House is open later during the summer. Entrance €7.50 for adults, museumkaart not valid.
-Diamond Museum. This brand new exhibition about the history of diamond trade in Amsterdam is located opposite the Van Gogh Museum.
-Filmmuseum. A non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of contemporary and historical films. Multiple screenings daily. The Filmmuseum is located in the Vondelpark, between park entrances Roemer Visscherstraat and Vondelstraat. Despite the name the "Filmmuseum" this is not a museum, rather just an alternative cinema funded by the government.
-Katten Kabinet. A cat museum. Housed in a beautiful restored palatial home in an upscale area street - very Masterpiece Theater. It was opened by the homeowner after his favourite cat died... and he still lives in the home. Lots of cat-related art, and two real felines. The admission fee is € 5. The exhibition is spread across the first floor of the house.
-Museum Amstelkring. Most locals don't recognize the official name, but will know what you mean if you say "Our Lord in the Attic." This is a Catholic church stuffed into the upper stories of a house built in 1663, when Catholics were persecuted and had to disguise their churches. It's a beautiful place to visit, and amazing to see how they fit worshippers, an organ, and an altar into such a narrow place. Now a museum, open Monday-Saturday 10AM to 5PM, Sunday 1PM to 5PM, admission € 7, under 18 € 1. Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40, in the red-light district.
-NEMO. NEMO is the biggest science centre in the Netherlands; an educational attraction where you can discover a world of science and technology in an entertaining way. NEMO takes you on a voyage of discovery between fantasy and reality. You will discover how scientific phenomena influence your daily life. You will learn about technology and engineering, ICT and bio- and behavioral sciences. This is a great place to take kids and is best for those ages 11 and below - teenagers will probably get bored. Admission € 11.50 adults 6.50 for students. Free for kids 3 and below.
-Rembrandt House. This is where the artist Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn and his wife, Saskia, lived between 1639 and 1658. The house is a reconstruction of the painter’s life at that time and provides interesting insight. You will be able to see 260 of his 290 etchings, find out about how they were created, see where he worked and explore the nooks and crannies of this fascinating building.
-Rijksmuseum - Masterpieces Exhibition. The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands: works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other Dutch masters. The museum is being completely renovated, but the major masterpieces are still on show. Open 9AM to 6PM, open until 10PM on Fridays. Admission € 10 for adults, under 18 free, no discounts for students. In the garden is a small temporary exhibition on the renovation plans.
-Royal Palace. This former City Hall (built in 1651) is currently closed for renovation. (It is mainly used for diplomatic receptions and to welcome visiting heads of state, not as a royal residence).
-Schutters Gallery. Located between Kalverstraat and Begijnhof, shows 17th-century portraits, free.
-Scheepvaart Museum. The Netherlands Maritime Museum is closed until 2009, for complete renovation.
-Sexmuseum. The largest and most prestigious museum for sex art and sex history in the Netherlands. It shows a lot of sex oddities. Open daily 9AM to 10PM ages 16 and up. It charges 3Euros as admission. Located at: Damrak 18, 1012 LH Amsterdam. +31 (0) 20 622 8376
-Stedelijk Museum. The Amsterdam municipal museum of modern art. Temporarily located east of Central Station, 10 minutes walk from there.
-The Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum. Opened for over twenty years, the Hash Museum is dedicated to debunking the lies and demonization about one of our most useful plants, the hemp plant. Although small, busy and seriously overpriced, it is a well-done museum where people go to get informed.
-Tropenmuseum. Ethnographic / cultural museum about Africa, Asia, and South America.
-Van Gogh Museum. This museum is dedicated to this late 19th century Dutch painter. Do not expect to see all of Van Gogh's works however as they only have a portion at this museum, others are at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris and elsewhere. Still worth the visit though as there are many famous examples of his work like the Sunflowers and Potato Eaters. Also, there are selected works of Monet exhibited there. Consider the audio tour at only € 4,00, in the language of your choice, will give you a much better understanding of Van Gogh's life and his paintings. Entry is 12.50 Euros for adults, no student nor group rates. Open late on Fridays.
-Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum). Award-winning museum showing what Amsterdam and Holland were like during the Nazi occupation.
Zoo and botanical garden
-Hortus Botanicus. The 'Hortus' as it is called by locals, was formerly the Botanical Garden of the University of Amsterdam. Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM, Saturday and Sunday 10AM to 5PM, open until 11PM in July and August, admission € 6.
-Artis Zoo. An entry ticket for Artis also provides admission to the Planetarium, the Geological Museum, the Aquarium and the Zoological Museum. Artis is also a botanical garden, with plants and trees gathered from all over the world, just like the animal species.
Parks and countryside
The nearest open countryside is north of the city, about 20 minutes by bike. Cross the IJ by ferry behind Central Station, and follow the cycle signs for the villages of Ransdorp, Zunderdorp, Schellingwoude or Durgerdam. Cycling along the Amstel River for about 30 to 40 minutes will also take you into open countryside, and the village of Oudekerk. -Vondelpark. The only large park in the older part of the city. Especially in the summer it's lively and crowded. Meet the locals there. A lovely place to hang out and if you chose to try magic mushrooms, do them here.
-Rembrandtpark. Not too far west of the Vondelpark, but much bigger and quieter.
-Museumplein. Not exactly a park, but a large grassed open space. Around its edges are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Concertgebouw, and the temporarily closed Stedelijk Museum.
-Wertheimpark. A small park opposite the botanical gardens. Has a Second World War memorial and lies on one of the nicest canals in Amsterdam.
-Westerpark. Newly expanded park, at the western edge of the centre, with cultural activities in a former gas factory. Access from Haarlemmerweg.
-Oosterpark, behind the tropical museum, at the eastern edge of the centre, holds several multicultural festivals throughout the year.
-Sarphatipark, at the southern edge of the centre, is a place where people sunbathe and have picnics in the summer.
-Amsterdamse Bos. A much larger forest-type park on the outskirts of the city. Access from Amstelveenseweg. Horse rental, canoe rental and an open air theatre are part of the attractions.
Beach
The whole coast west of the Netherlands is a single long beach. The nearest stretch is at Zandvoort - 27 minutes by train from Central Station, every 30 minutes. In summer there are extra trains, change trains at Haarlem. Zandvoort is very crowded on warm days in summer: parts of the beach attract the in crowd, others the somewhat less so. The long beaches continue north of IJmuiden, they are more family oriented. For the most accessible of these, take the train to Castricum, and then bus (or minibus) 267. Or, you can take the hydrofoil (Fast Flying Ferries) from behind the Central Station to IJmuiden, and then take a bus to the beach.
There is a temporary artificial beach at Blijburg, surrounded by construction sites, in the new suburb of IJburg. Tram 26 to the last stop, then a few minutes walk, follow the signs.
Attractions and tours
-Former Heineken Brewery (Heineken Experience), Stadhouderskade 78. Not a functioning brewery any more. Tuesdays to Sundays 10AM to 6PM. Shameless promotion for Holland's leading export beer, but they charge tourists € 11 to get in. That includes three drink coupons and a take home a souvenir bottle opener inside a fake Heinken bottle. They no longer offer the souvenir beer mug. It is currently closed until September or October 2008. Heineken doesn't taste any better in Holland.
-Organised city tours. Several operators offer tours, visits to diamond factories, other guided visits, and canal cruises. Unless you really need a guide - for instance if you speak only Chinese - it is cheaper to visit everything yourself.
-New Amsterdam Tours offers a free three-hour guided tour (tips accepted at the end of the tour) of the major Amsterdam sites and history twice a day at 11:00AM and 1:00PM and once a day in Spanish at 11:00AM. Meet in front of the tourist information office across from Amsterdam Centraal Station, near the tour guide in a red "Free Tour" shirt. The company also offers a two-hour guided tour through the Red Light District at 6:45PM that meets at the same location for 10 euros per person (8 euros for students).
-Amsterdam Insider is a tour company offering bike, boat and walking tours. Their guides are artists, musicians and writers. Tours are € 15 per person. E-mail AmsterdamInsider@yahoo.com for more information.
-Amsterdam City Guide Is Amsterdam City Guide with touristic articles, attractions, tips, tours services, concert tickets & accommodation. Customized Amsterdam maps are available as well and answers to most touristic questions.

Red Light District
The Red Light District consists of several canals, and the side streets between them, south of Central Station and east of Damrak. Known as 'De Wallen' (the walls) in Dutch, because the canals were once part of the city defences (walls and moats). Prostitution itself is limited to certain streets, mainly side streets and alleys, but the district is considered to include the canals, and some adjoining streets (such as Warmoesstraat and Zeedijk). The whole area has a heavy police presence, and many security cameras. Nevertheless it is still a residential district and has many bars and restaurants, and also includes historic buildings and museums - this is the oldest part of the city. The oldest church in Amsterdam, the Netherlands-gothic Oude Kerk on the Oudezijds Voorburgwal at Oudekerksplein, is now surrounded by window prostitution. The area has many sexshops and peep show bars. Note: Don't try to take photos of prostitutes even from the streets, or you might lose your camera without any warning. This section of town is a common attraction for bachelors celebrating a stag night, if you ever get hassled, a firm and loud "Leave me alone" will work most of the time.
Entering and exiting the premises is half of the job that might take some strength for first timers as you might hear some chuckles from people you'll never see again in your whole life. This part of town gets very crowded, especially on a normal weekend night, sometimes up until 3AM. A fifty euro bill will get you either oral sex or a girl laying on her back, the rest is up to you. Although every room is booked by the girl herself, some of the sex workers are still being pimped by outsiders.
You can book a tour of the Red Light District via the I amsterdam information booths. The tour starts at 5PM at the VOC Cafe and is found to be very informative and entertaining. Remember that there is so much more to Amsterdam than the red-light district - broaden your horizons.

Do

Several companies offer canal cruises - usually about one hour. Departures from: Prins Hendrikkade opposite Centraal Station; quayside Damrak; Rokin near Spui; Stadhouderskade 25 near Leidseplein.
-The Canal Bus. Runs a fixed route, stopping near major attractions. You can get off or on at each stop and as often as you like, but it is expensive - €18 for a day pass.
-With a canal bike or rented boat, you can cruise the canals yourself, without the commentary.
-Canal Company. Has four rental locations; four-seater canal bikes cost €8/person/hour.
-Rent a boat Amsterdam.
Smoking cannabis in public is something enjoyed by those who would be persecuted for doing so back home, but it is considerate to give some thought as to whether the location is appropriate. Amsterdam, as some tourists seem to forget isn't an adult Disneyland and as such it is appreciated if you for instance don't light up in the quieter residential and family areas outside the centre. Places such as the Damsquare and the Vondelpark on the other hand are fine, and even historically known for this as this is where people gathered in Amsterdam in the sixties to exercise their freedom. Avoid the Bulldog chain of touristy coffeeshops.
-Grey Area.
-The Bluebird - one of the best selections of pot in Amsterdam.
-Global Chillage - Good produce and nice tunes but uncomfortable seating.
-Barney's. Coffeeshop.
-Rokerij. Four coffeeshops.
-Hill Street Blues - lively atmosphere but buy cannabis elsewhere.
-Club Media - Completely organic menu, fair selection, good prices, lovely staff, free fruit!
-Katsu - Just around the corner from Media, good prices + nice atmosphere.
-The Greenhouse - usually pretty crowded but when warm or if you can get a seat definitely one of the nice coffeeshops near the red light. Also has a bar next door.
-Pink Floyd.
-De Kroon.
-Abraxas.
-Homegrown Fantasy.
-Kadinsky.
-Queens Day. The national holiday, nominally in celebration of the Queen's birthday (in fact the previous Queen's birthday) is hard to describe to anyone who's never been there. The city turns into one giant mass of orange-dressed people (all Amsterdam locals, and another 1 million or so from throughout the country visit the parties in the city) with flea markets, bands playing, and many on-street parties, ranging from small cafes placing a few kegs of beer outside to huge open-air stages hosting world-famous DJ's. An experience you'll never forget! April 30th - but if that is a Sunday, it is one day earlier (to avoid offence to orthodox Protestants).
-MEET in Amsterdam. A not-for-profit social group to help expats meet new people away from the bar and dating scene. The site's primary focus is to provide a relaxed, 'non-pickup-scene' social environment for people to enjoy without paying membership fees. For people who have either just moved to Amsterdam or lived there for a while, this group can be a great way to meet new people in the area. Events are arranged by MEETin members and include a variety of activities such as pub crawls, potlucks, movies, concerts, day trips and much more. You have to register and create a profile in order to participate. The group consists mostly of expats from around the world and has grown to more than 1,400 members (January 2008). The site is financed through voluntary donations.
-Canal Pride. Amsterdam gay pride on the first weekend in August. One of the biggest festivals in Amsterdam with parties, performances, workshops and a boat parade on the Prinsengracht on Saturday afternoon which is always well worth seeing.
-City Navigators. Offers handheld GPS tourist maps for rent through participating hotels or online. The GPS devices are pre-programmed to take you to popular attractions or to guide you through walking (or bicycle) tours. E-mail info@citynavigators.com for more information.
-Play Futsal. Football tour organisers Eurofives stage special tournament weekends in Amsterdam at which you can enjoy some Dutch-style five-a-sides.
-Amsterdam Weekly. It is an Entertainment magazine in English on the Internet. You can find weekly Amsterdam events.
-De Poezenboot. You really like cats? The poezenboot (cat boat) is an refuge for cats awaiting adoption. Located in the centre of the city, a must for any cat lover.
-Rialto Cinema. For all arthouse cinema freaks. All films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles. They have late night and classic showings too. Just a short walk from the Albert Cuyp-Market/Heineken Brouwery, in a nice non-touristy neighbourhood.
-Wynand Fockink. Pijlsteeg 31 - 1012 HH Amsterdam - 020 639 26 95 - contact@wynand-fockink.nl Wynand Fockink is a distillery started in 1679. Right near Dam Place, they offer distillery tours (must reserve at least a week in advance as they fill up quickly), great liquors, and a great time in the back alleys of Amsterdam. They have numerous liquors, brandies, and jenevers and encourage you to try them all. It is traditional to stoop and sip the first drink and not spill.
Learn
Amsterdam is home to two universities, both offer summer courses and other short courses (with academic credits).
-Vrije Universiteit (VU University). Founded in 1880, the VU campus is located southwest of the city centre, and approximately 20 minutes away by bicycle. It is the only Protestant general university in the Netherlands.
-Universiteit van Amsterdam. Founded as the Athenaeum Illustre in 1632, in 1877 it became the University of Amsterdam. With about 25 000 students, the UvA is located on three separate campuses in the city centre, plus smaller sites scattered over Amsterdam.
The Volksuniversiteit. Despite the name, it is not a university, but a venerable institute for public education. Among the many courses are Dutch language courses for foreigners.
Work
Many people plan to move to Amsterdam for a year to relax before "settling down". This plan often falls apart at the job phase. Many people will find it difficult to get a suitable job, if they do not speak Dutch. However, hostels and hotels in Amsterdam may need bar staff, night porters etc, who speak English and other languages. There are also specialist websites for English and non-Dutch speakers looking to work in Amsterdam and they are a often a good place to start - Undutchables, Unique and Xpat Jobs are all useful resources.
Immigration matters are dealt with by the Immigration Service IND. Registration is done by both police and municipalities. Immigration policy is restrictive and deliberately bureaucratic. That is especially true for non-EU citizens.
European Union citizens do not require a work permit. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are afforded a one year working-holiday visa. In general the employer must apply for work permits. Immigration is easier for "knowledge migrants" earning a gross annual salary of over € 45 000 (over € 33 000 for those under 30).
Buy
The main central shopping streets run in a line from near Central Station to the Leidseplein: Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, Leidsestraat. The emphasis is on clothes/fashion, but there are plenty of other shops. They are not upmarket shopping streets, and the north end of Nieuwendijk is seedy. Amsterdam’s only upmarket shopping street is the P.C. Hooftstraat (near the Rijksmuseum).
Other concentrations of shops in the centre are Haarlemmerstraat / Haarlemmerdijk, Utrechtsestraat, Spiegelstraat (art/antiques), and around Nieuwmarkt. There is a concentration of Chinese shops at Zeedijk / Nieuwmarkt, but it is not a real Chinatown.
The ‘interesting little shops’ are located in the side streets of the main canals (Prinsengracht / Keizersgracht / Herengracht), and especially in the Jordaan - bounded by Prinsengracht, Elandsgracht, Marnixstraat and Brouwersgracht. The partly gentrified neighbourhood of De Pijp - around Ferdinand Bolstraat and Sarphatipark - is often seen as a 'second Jordaan'.
For general shop info and their openings hours you can visit 'Openingstijden Amsterdam' it shows an overview of the most popular shops and their location on the map. -The Nine Streets, De Negen Straatjes. Nine narrow streets between the main canals from the Prinsengracht to the Singel, south-west of Dam Square. Boutiques, specialist shops, galleries and restaurants.

-Santa Jet, Prinsenstraat 7, tel (020) 427 2070. This little boutique specializes in hand-made imports from Latin America. You can find everything from mini shrines made of tin, to lamps, to kitschy postcards.
-De Beeldenwinkel Sculpture Gallery. This is a gallery for sculpture lovers, with bronze statues, pottery, abstract sculpture, raku-fired statues and marble figures sculpture to suit every budget and taste.
-Jordaan. One of the most picturesque 'village' areas of Amsterdam, the Jordaan has always been a centre for artisans, artists and creatives, today, this area has a wonderful selection of goldsmiths and jewellers, fashion boutiques, galleries, designer florists, and specialist shops.
-Museum Quarter. Located in Amsterdam Zuid, this is considered the chic area for shopping in Amsterdam, close to the Museum district, the PC Hooftstraat and the Cornelis Schuytstraat have some of the finest designer shops in the city, including designer shoes, health and well-being specialists, massage, fashion boutiques, designer interiors, designer florists and specialist shops.
In the older areas surrounding the centre, the main shopping streets are the Kinkerstraat, the Ferdinand Bolstraat, the Van Woustraat, and the Javastraat. The most 'ethnic' shopping street in Amsterdam is the Javastraat. There are toy stores and clothing shops for kids in the centre, but most are in the shopping streets further out, because that's where families with children live.
You can find plus size clothing in the center of Amsterdam. C&A, and H&M are both on the main shopping streets from the Central station. A bit further from the city center you can find Mateloos, Promiss, Ulla Popken as well as several stores by chain M&S mode.
A give-away shop can be found at Singel 267, open Tuesdays and Thursdays 1700-1900 and Saturdays 1200-1700.
For books, your best bet is The Book Exchange at Kloveniersburgwal 58 (tel (020) 6266 266), diagonally across from the youth hostel. It is a second-hand bookstore specialising in English books, and has a large selection, with an especially good selection of travel writing, detectives, and SF/fantasy. Open Mon- Sun 10AM- 4PM, Sun 11:30-4:30PM. For English literature and books, you can also try The American Book Center store on Spui square. Large Dutch bookstores also carry a selection of foreign language books. -Cracked Kettle. Located at Raamsteeg 3, 1012VZ Amsterdam, this beer, wine, and spirits shop carries independent, unique, and rare bottles. The staff are friendly, but the space is quite confined and obtaining bottles from the very top shelves requires assistance and a dust rag. 12.00 - 22.00 everyday

Street markets
Street markets originally sold mainly food, and most still sell food and clothing, but they have become more specialised. A complete list of Amsterdam markets (with opening times and the number of stalls) can be found at online at Hollandse Markten and Amsterdam.info in English.
-Ten Cate Market. 3rd Largest in Amsterdam. Monday to Saturday from about 8AM until around 5PM.
-Albert Cuyp. Largest in Amsterdam, best-known street market in the country. Monday to Saturday from about 9AM until around 5PM.
-Dappermarkt. In the east, behind the zoo, and was voted best market in the Netherlands. Monday to Saturday from about 8AM until around 5PM.
-Waterlooplein. Well-known but overrated flea market. Monday to Saturday until about 5PM.
-Lindengracht. In the Jordaan, selling a wide range of goods, fruit and vegetables, fish and various household items. Saturday only. 9AM to 4PM. Tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein, and a short walk along the Lijnbaansgracht.
-Spui. Fridays: Books. Sundays: Art and Antiques.
-Bloemenmarkt. Flower market, open daily on Singel, near Muntplein. Buy pre-approved bulbs if taking them to the US or Canada. It was becoming a tourist trap market but the council told the stall owners to stop selling tourist junk.
-Lapjesmarkt. Westerstraat, in the Jordaan. A specialist market concentrating on selling cloth and material for making clothes, curtains etc. Mondays only. 9AM to 1PM. Tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein.
-Noordermarkt. In the historical Jordaan area of the city. On Monday morning (9AM to 1PM) the Noordermarkt is a flea market selling fabrics, records, second-hand clothing etc, and forms part of the Lapjesmarkt mentioned above. On Saturday (9AM to 4PM), the Noordermarkt is a biological food market, selling a wide range of ecological products like organic fruits and vegetables, herbs, cheese, mushrooms etc, there is also a small flea market. Tram 3 or 10 to Marnixplein, and a short walk down the Westerstraat.
Eat
For food during the day, the Albert Heijn supermarkets (largest national chain) usually have cheap ready-to-go meals on hand, from pre-packaged sandwiches and salads to microwavable single-serving meals. There is one right behind the Royal Palace on Dam Square, on the Nieuwmarkt, on Koningsplein and in the Vijzelstraat.
For vegetarians, the Maoz chain of falafels is a blessing. The falafels are excellent, offering a variety of options to load onto the falafel and pita bread. One of the Maoz is in the north end of Amstel street.
Take advantage of the diversity of restaurants, especially Asian. The influence of the Dutch colonial past is apparent; Indonesian food is usually excellent, while Indian is often expensive and of poor quality. Surinamese food is widely available and worth a try. The highest concentration of Surinamese restaurants can be found in the Albert Cuypstraat. For Chinese food (generally good and cheap), check out the Zeedijk/Nieuwmarkt area. Also very good value are the numerous falafel bars scattered around town, often sporting a "all you can pile" salad bar. And the Vlaamse Frites -- large french fries served with mayonnaise -- are great. Eetcafe's are pubs serving dinner too. Many restaurants of all kinds can be found in the Haarlemmerstraat and the Haarlemmerdijk, and in the narrow streets crossing the two. Also worth trying is the Van Woustraat in the Pijp, or continue to the Rijnstraat in the Rivierenbuurt. Exquisite but expensive restaurants can be found in the Utrechtse Straat.
Local cheese is marvellous, buy some at the Albert Cuyp market, or at specialist cheese shops found around central Amsterdam. Dutch cheese is traditionally firm, and is made in large wax-covered wheels, and falls into two main categories - Young and Old. Within those categories, there exists a rich variety. Among the more unusual young cheeses is cumin (Komijn) cheese, which is particular to the Netherlands. Sheep (Schapen) and goat (Geiten) cheeses are also common. Old (Oud) cheese can be made of any sort of milk, and is often reminiscent of Italian parmesan in consistency and sharpness of flavour.
Don't forget to taste the main culinary contribution of the Amsterdammers to the world: Heineken - oh, except you've already done that, and it doesn't taste any better in Holland. Try some of the other excellent beers you can get from this part of the world - including "witbeer" (White beer). Also check out "bitterballen", a kind of fried meatball, and the "kroketten" (the same, but shaped like a cylinder). Last but not least, don't forget to try the "broodje haring" (herring sandwich), available from the dozens of fish stalls that scatter the city (and if they ask "with onions and gherkins?", just say "of course"!). If you're visiting in late November or December, you can enjoy oliebollen, which are round blobs of sweet fried dough embedded with raisins (sultanas) and dusted with powdered sugar.
Avoid at all costs any steak house in the centre - they are well known tourist traps. You will also never be hungry enough to make Febo a good idea.
For much more detailed restaurant listings, see the Iens restaurant guide online, the web version of a published restaurant guide, similar to Zagat. The English breaks down occasionally, and you may not always agree with the opinions, but the listings are exhaustive. -Pancakes! Amsterdam, Berenstraat 38, 1016 GH Amsterdam, Tel: (0)20 528 9797. Amazing variety of both sweet and savory pancakes. Quaint atmosphere and the street side tables are great to people watch. The only downfall is that street side tables attract too many tourists asking for directions.
-Greetje, Peperstraat 23-25, 1011 TJ Amsterdam, Tel: (020) 779 7450 Restaurant Greetje. Interesting, traditional Dutch dishes which you will not find elsewhere, alongside French classics. Excellent food combined with friendly, professional service. Located in an historic building on a quiet side street near Central Station; it's off the beaten track so most of the diners are local. Open 6 days a week (not Mondays); a reservation is usually necessary.
-Damsteeg, Reestraat 28-32, 1016 DN Amsterdam. They specialise in fish dishes, but they also have a wide variety of meat and vegetarian meals to choose from. With bar.
-Restaurant Dosa, Overtoom 146, 1054 HN Amsterdam, Tel: 020-6164838. They specialise in traditional Southern Indian cuisine, especially the eponymous 'Dosa' (a rice an lentil pancake with a variety of fillings). The food is outstanding and well worth hunting out. The dosa's are exceptional and a treat worthy of a visit by themselves.
-En Route, Hobbemakade 63, tel 020-6711263. En Route offers the French cuisine for very reasonable prices (euro 22,50 for three courses). The chef changes his surprisingly good and creative dishes every week. Just opened, still fresh and comfortable!
-Proust, Noordermarkt 4, Tel 020-6239145. Proust is a little off the beaten path, near the intersection of Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht, but it's worth a visit for the inexpensive and satisfying meals as well as the company: it's a favourite with locals.
-Sari Citra, Ferdinand Bolstraat 52, Tel 020-6754102. Located just off the far end of the De Pijp neighborhood's famous the Albert Cuyp Market, Sari Citra is one of the most delicious and most affordable Indonesian restaurants in town. Be sure to try several of the selections as the friendly staff builds a plate for you. Don't show up right at 5PM unless you feel like waiting in line behind a lot of hungry locals just getting off work. Open during the week from 2PM-9PM, and from 3PM-9PM on weekends.
-Dimitrij, Prinsenstraat 3. Offering dozens of interesting sandwiches and salads. Dimitrij is a must for at least one lunch, and it's on a street which is packed with an ever-changing line-up of fun boutiques.
-La Margarita, Reguliersdwarsstraat 49, near the flower market, Tel 020 623 07 07, open 5PM to 11PM, reservations accepted. This Caribbean restaurant offers a huge range of plates, including three different vegetarian options. Every dish comes with ample sides of white rice, black beans, plantains, and vegetables. In addition to having great food, the restaurant is decked out with a range of fantastic and magic-realist art. If you like your food hot, be sure to ask for the special home-made hot sauce. 20-30 Euro per person, with drinks.
-Vliegende Schotel, Nieuwe Leliestraat. Since Green Planet is closing, you better look for alternative vegetarian hang-outs. Believe it or not, but Vliegende Schotel is even better than its Australia-moving competitor. It has big portions of unbelievably good vegetarian food, in an unpretentious but authentic atmosphere. Minimalistic service and a little walk from the centre, but seriously worth it. Small selection of organic and fair trade wines and a non-smoking room. Mains €9-15, daily special €8. Bottle of wine €13.
-Gary's Muffins. A pleasant, warm cafe with oversized cups of coffee, muffins and bagels galore. It's a combination of a New York deli and a California cafe where American-style products are baked on location and available to eat there or to take away. Muffins, brownies, giant cookies, cheesecake and bagels spread with various toppings are served at reasonable prices to a clientele that is a mix of locals, tourists, and expatriates hungry for a taste of home. There are 3 locations in the city.
-Rembrandt Corner, Jodenbreestr. Around the corner of the "Rembrandt Huis" is a very nice "Eetcafe" with fresh food, wireless hot spots and internet workplaces. Try the dish of the day or the mussels, this always seems to be a good choice!
-Q’s Café, Ruysdaelkade, De Pijp (Opposite the flower boat). Q's is worth a visit with its pleasant canal setting just around the corner from the Albert Cuyp Market. It does a wide variety of sandwiches (hot and cold) at extremely reasonable prices, as well as pancakes, soups and all day cooked breakfast. It also stocks a really good beer from the south of Holland and is the only place in the city that serves it. Definitely at least worth one of their excellent coffees which come in a variety of flavours.
-Nam Tin, Jodenbreestraat 11, near Waterlooplein, just opposite Rembrandt's house. A huge Chinese restaurant. Very authentic food: about half of the customers are Chinese tourists or expats. They serve cheap but delicious dim-sum at lunchtime.
-De Orient, Van Baerlestraat 21, near Museumplein. Small restaurant serving authentic Indonesian cuisine. Open daily from 5PM to 11PM.
-Dim Sum Court. Two locations, one at Zeedijk 109 and one at Rokin 152. To get to the one on Rokin (the better location), take tram 4 from Amsterdam Centraal Station to the Muntplein stop, and the restaurant will be on your right just before the stop. Both locations offer an all-you-can-eat (maximum one hour) Chinese buffet for 7.5 euros (beverages not included, but available for an additional fee). Vegetarian and vegan options are available, just ask the cashier/waitress about the contents of individual dishes.
-Akbar, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 15, near Leidseplein. Indian restaurant, Muslim (halal) / Hindu (no beef). Good quality dishes from different regions of India. Main courses €15-20.
-Barney's, Haarlemerstraat 98, 1013 EW. A gorgeous brassiere with outside seating which has the best breakfasts in Amsterdam for very reasonable prices. Their strawberry milkshakes are to die for.
-Koffiehuis van den Volksbond, Kadijksplein 4, 1018 AB. Former coffeehouse for harbour labourers. Now a small atmospheric restaurant in the east of the city centre. Mainly visited by locals. Different menu every evening, ranging from 10 to 15 euro for a main course. Not possible to make reservations and you may have to share a table with other guests.
-Los Lations South American grill Steak House. Damrak 32.
-Burger-Bar. Home of the tastiest burgers in the 'dam.
-De Bamboeseur, Plantage Parklaan 10, 1018 ST. 020-625 47 21. Fabulous little bar in the traditional "brown cafe" style in a fairly residential district near Artis Zoo. All the food is homemade daily; you really can't go wrong with any part of the menu. No reservations necessary, but seating is limited to a small bar and 8 tables of varying sizes upstairs. Great place to spend an evening. Open for lunch and dinner, 11AM to 1AM.
Drink
Check out local "brown bars" with their gorgeous wood panelling and booths.
-Feijoa, Corner of Vijselstraat and Reguliersdwarsstraat. Near Rembrantsplein. Cocktail bar with a lovely atmosphere, pleasant music and friendly staff, including one of the Netherlands leading cocktail barmen. Will make any cocktail you ask for.
-Mulligans Irish Music Bar, Amstel 100. The oldest Irish bar in Amsterdam, Mulligans has live music most nights. This is where the traditional music crowd gathers.
-Hard Rock Cafe. This is close to, or right next to the Holland Casino also close to the Leidseplein. Great service, great food, and plenty of drinks.
-Schuim, Spuistraat 189, +31 20 638 93 57. The super comfy cafe is a great place to spend entire rainy days at a time. It heats up quite a bit at night. Pot smoking seems to be tolerated even though Schuim is definitely not a "coffee shop".
-Dan Murphy's, Leidseplein 7. One of the many Irish pubs in the city. People from all over the world meet here and watch football, rugby and typical Irish sports like hurling and Gaelic football while drinking a pint of Guinness.
-Vrankrijk, Spuistraat 216. The most well-known and permanent squat café in Amsterdam has been a fixture on Spuistraat for over eighteen years. You have to ring at the door to be let in (the black door on the right with a single buzzer, please don't bother the people living in the building at the yellow-and-black checkered door on the left!). Once inside, you will find a super-cozy bar with an all-volunteer staff and the best prices in the inner city. All profits go to support various good causes. Open every night of the week, special nights are Monday night: queer night; Tuesday night: fancy cocktails to support refugees; Saturday night: dance night, the café's cavernous disco hall is opened for a mix of 80s, ska, and new wave; Sunday night: film night. Sunday through Thursday: 9PM - 1AM; Friday and Saturday: 10PM - 3AM.
-In De Wildeman, Kolksteeg 3. A very well stocked beer café, or actually beer tasting room (bierproeflokaal) in the centre of the inner city. 17 beers (usually from various countries) and a cider on draught, and about 250 different bottled beers offered. There is no music played, which makes for a very friendly and talkative atmosphere, and it even has a separate non-smoking room.
-Gollem, Raamsteeg 4. A special beer café, serving many beers, especially from Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic and other countries.
-De Bierkoning, Paleisstraat 125. Not a café, but a 'supermarket' specialized in beer.
-Cafe de Jaren, Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22. A minimal art-deco interior next to Hotel d'Europe and a great view of where all the main canals come together.
-Brouwerij 't IJ, The IJ Brewery. Its label with an ostrich egg is a visual pun, as IJ and 'ei' - the word for egg - sound the same in Dutch. East of the centre, close to Artis Zoo, in a former bath house beside a windmill. A small scale brewery where delicious beer in several varieties and strengths is brewed and sold - at a bar - on the premises. Open Wednesday to Sunday, from 3PM to 8PM. The beer is available at some specialist beer shops, and of high quality and, in some cases, alcohol content. Internationally renowned!
-Café l'Opera, Rembrandtplein 27-29. A friendly spot for coffee, a beer, or something stronger. You may at first only notice the outside seating and the enclosed terrace, but there is also an elegant, (usually) quieter indoor area. Food, too, but you don't see many eaters.
-Café Belgique, Gravenstraat 2, +31 (0)20-6251974. Easily one of the smallest bars in Amsterdam, there is seating for at most 15 people, but if you can get in you will enjoy it thoroughly. Specializing in Belgian beers, Belgique's menu is extensive and it includes some hard to find beers on tap. This place is smoke friendly so don't be surprised to see people rolling joints as they drink.
-'Café Cuba. Great bar, really nice atmosphere, close to red light with a nice terrace in the summer. Good selection of cheap cocktails, best long island ice teas in the world! No smoking naughty stuff though.
-The Soundgarden. Top metal/grungy/punky pub, most relaxed drinking atmosphere in town. Really nice, secluded terrace for drinking beer in the sun. can smoke, but not buy, puff.
-Whisky Cafe L&B, Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 82-84, ☎ 06-24554162. If you like whisky, this small, laid-back and friendly cafe is the ideal place to visit. Many unusual whiskies from independent bottlers and closed distilleries are available. The menu stretches along one wall and is about 2 meters in height, the cafe having had 1001 whiskies available since they opened. Just be warned the stairs to the toilets are pretty steep!
Music
-Melkweg . Multimedia centre in Amsterdam with live music, theater, photography, cinema, special events and parties.
-Paradiso. Legendary music venue in a beautiful former church, but with relatively bad acoustics in the main room.
-Heineken Music Hall. Larger-scale music venue, best reached by train (train station Amsterdam Bijlmer) or metro/subway.
-Concertgebouw. Famous for its orchestra and its acoustics (among the top ten in the world), this is the world's most frequently visited concert hall. Classical music is the main fare, but they also bring other kinds of music on stage. They have a free "lunch concert" Wednesdays from 12:30PM to 1PM. In the same building is the "Kleine Zaal" or "Small Hall" for more intimate performances, often top-notch also. The building is near the major three museums on the Museum Square.
-Bimhuis. Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR. World class jazz and improvised music venue, five minutes by foot from Central Station. Tickets 14 to 18 euro.
-Waterhole. Light rock/funk jam sessions in a dingy but atmospheric bar with pooltables.
-Maloe Melo. Live 50's rockabilly bar. Drinks are cheap and the crowd are mostly Dutch rockers, but the music is good.
-Jimmy Woo. The most glamorous club in Amsterdam offers a selection of house and r&b, with a spectacularly lit dance floor downstairs. Entry policy is strict so dress sharp to get in.
-Cineac. Club nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Tiesto's new club guarantee good music. Drinks are expensive and the crowd is mostly young professionals, but the music is good.

Sleep
Amsterdam has over 400 registered hotels of varying standards from budget tourist to some of the most expensive hotels in Europe. Advance booking is recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. Most hotels are in the centre of the canal ring, especially south of Centraal Station, or near Museumplein. Hostels are also found around the Warmoesstraat, in the red light district. Prices: a bed in a hostel starts around €15 in weekday winter time and might be up to €30 on a summer weekend. A twin room in a budget hotel, 1-2 stars, might cost around €40 in winter time on weekdays, and up to €100 on summer weekends. In a three and four star hotel, the prices would range from €100 to €200, depending on season, and five stars hotels can cost between €150 and €400 a night.
Most of the small hostels/hotels will not have elevators and have the usual steep staircases; so if you suffer from vertigo, do get an assurance that you would be getting a first/second floor room or that the hotel has an elevator.
Budget
-Amsterdam The Crown between Red Light District and CS, tel: 0031 20 626 9664.
-Amsterdam Bicycle Hotel, in the De Pijp province, tel: 0031-20-679 34 52. A walk or short tram ride from the centre of the action, yet far enough away to feel safe. Surrounded by fantastic architecture with reasonable rates, even on peak. Rooms from single to quadruple and optional en suite. Comes with free coffee, breakfast and wireless internet access. Great for students.
-Bob's Youth Hostel, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 92, Phone +31 20 623 00 63. Cheap hotel close to Dam Square. Breakfast, shower, and dorm bed at €18 a night. Private rooms with a kitchen and television are €70 for two and €80 for three people.
-Bulldog, Oudezijds Voorburgwal 220, Phone +31 20 620 38 22. Friendly, cheap hostel right in the heart of the red light district. Breakfast, sheets, shower and a locker starting at €22. The Bulldog Coffeeshop is conveniently located on the ground floor (also where you get your breakfast).
-Flying Pig, there are two Flying Pigs, Vossiusstraat 46 (The Uptown) and Nieuwendijk 100 (Downtown). Lots of students/young adults stay here. Wide range of prices and accommodations, from €13,90 for a dorm bed to €70 for a private room. The Uptown is supposed to be the nicer (and cleaner) compared to the Downtown location. Do not stay in a 32 bedroom dormitory.
-Hotel ABBA, Overtoom 118-122, tel: 0031 20 618 30 58. Cheap but clean hotel, close to the Van Gogh and Rijksmuseum.
-Hotel Brian, Singel 69, tel: 0031 20 624 46 61. Very basic hotel, but free breakfast and free internet included.
-Hotel Beursstraat, 0031 20 626 37 01. Hotel Beursstraat is a simple and clean hotel, mostly visited by (young) people who are looking for an inexpensive accommodation.
-Hans Brinker Hostel, Kerkstraat 136-138, tram number 1, Phone: +31 (0)20 - 622 06 87. No frills hotel but with a nice bar inside. From US$32.10/€24.00/£17.09 per person.
-Hotel Tamara, N.Z Voorburgwal 144. Cheap "hotel" in a great location. Very close to the center, basic but clean rooms (single/double/triple/quad/dorm). From €23 shared, €49 private.
-Oranje Tulp Budget Hotel. On Amsterdam's main street, between CS and Dam Square. Cheap and functional.
-St Christopher’s Amsterdam Hostel (Amsterdam Hostel), Warmoesstraat 129, 1012 JA Amsterdam, Netherlands, ☎ +31 206 231 380 (amsterdam@st-christophers.co.uk, fax: +31 206 392 308). checkin: 2PM; checkout: 11AM. Also known as St Christopher's @ The Winston, this part hostel, part hotel is located in the heart of Amsterdam. Each room is designed by local Dutch artists. €20 with breakfast included.
-Stayokay Stadsdoelen, Kloveniersburgwal 97, Phone +31 (0)20 624 68 32. Stayokay operates a network of 30 hostels in the Netherlands, this hostel is the Amsterdam city centre location. A little smaller than Stayokay Vondelpark, this location does not take groups.
-Stayokay Vondelpark, Zandpad 5, Phone +31 (0)20 589 89 96. Fairly large youth hostel, very clean and professional. Next to the pleasant Vondelpark, puts you on the southern side of downtown and just a few blocks from the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. The breakfast is filling and has a social atmosphere. This location is popular with school groups. Bring a padlock for your locker, or purchase one at the desk.
-The Shelter, Barndesteeg 21 and Bloemstraat 179, Phone +31 (0) 20 - 62 44 717. Two alcohol & drug free Christian youth hostels in the heart of Amsterdam, the city-centre hostel has a curfew. Great value for money. Single-sex dormitories (including breakfast, bed linen) from € 17, € 19 in July and August.
-The White Tulip, Warmoesstraat 87 Phone +31 (0)20 6255974 (Fax +31 (0)20 4201299). About a 5 minute walk from the main station. Dorms and a few rooms right in the middle of things. Really a basic crash-pad, but quiet and relaxed due to their 'No large groups' policy. From € 20 per person.
Mid-Range
-Amsterdam Orange Tulip Hotel info@oranjetulp.nl. Cheap 2 star hotel, 3 minutes walk from Central Station.
-Amsterdam Season Star Hotel info@seasonstar.com. Three star hotel, 2 minutes walk from Central Station. Free breakfast and wi fi, with reasonable prices.
-Amsterdam Hotel de Paris. Three star hotel situated in the centre of Amsterdam, near the Leidseplein.
-Amsterdam Hotel La Boheme, Marnixstraat 415, tel: +31 (0)20 624 2828. Two star hotel with very friendly staff in the centre of Amsterdam, 200 meters from the Leidseplein. Clean rooms and free wi fi.
-Amsterdam Mozart Hotel. Renovated in April 2006. 47 en-suite rooms.
-Bastion Hotels. Comfortable but lacking in charm, 4 star hotel near OverAmstel metro, 10 minutes walk then 10 minutes train ride to Centraal Station. But without pedestrian access to the road - you have to take your chance with the traffic. Doubles €70.
-Borgmann Villa Hotel. An old brick villa with large windows, 15 rooms, beside Vondelpark, near museums and Leidseplein. Parking in front (€12 per day). Wi fi access.
-NH Caransa. The hotel overlooks the lively Rembrandtplein in the centre. Spacious modern rooms with bath and possibility to have breakfast on the sunny first floor terrace. (There are another 12 NH hotels in Amsterdam to choose from).
-citizenM hotel Amsterdam Airport, Jan Plezierweg 2, 1118 BB, Phone: +31 (0)20 40 80 498. The brand new citizenM hotel, located at a walking distance from the terminals of Schiphol Airport, opens in the spring of 2008. citizenM claims to offer affordable but luxurious rooms. Rooms are including free wi fi and movies, rainshower and XL kingsize bed. From 69 - 120 euro. Connected to the city center by the 24h a day train transportation, it makes it a perfect choice for a city centered trip.
-Delta Hotel, Damrak 42-43. Close to the central station and Dam square. Clean rooms and friendly staff. Doubles €65-160.
-Gresham Memphis hotel Amsterdam, De Lairessestraat 87. Near the Museum square and the Vondel Park.
-Hotel Citadel, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 100. Close to the central station and Dam square. Doubles €65-160.
-Hotel Nicolaas Witsen, Nicolaas Witsenstraat 4-8, tel: +31 20 6236143 fax: +31 20 6205113 info@hotelnicolaaswitsen.nl. Tram 4 to Frederiksplein and walk the short distance from there to the hotel. From €75.
-Hotel Y Boulevard, Prins Hendrikkade 145. Nice rooms, classy atmosphere, includes a free breakfast.
-Marnix Hotel, next to Leidseplein. 2 star hotel with dorm beds located on the Marnixstraat, city center. Prices from 20 € a bed and 60 € for a room.
-Rembrandtplein Hotel, Amsterdam, Groenbrugwal 27. Beautiful but sometimes tiny, mid-priced (€70-90 including breakfast) near the flower market. Friendly staff, bar open all night.
-RHo Hotel- Although the hotel is in the city centre, rooms are quiet. Parking available. Friendly staff.
-Roemer Hotel Vondelstraat 28, tel: +31 20 6120120. Trendy boutique hotel, housed in a converted from an 18th-century town house adjacent to central Leidseplein Square.
-Rokin Hotel. Nice place in 2 star renovated 17th century mansions. Very clean and good atmosphere, own parking.

www.21stcenturyamsterdam.com/amsterdam-vacati...

Splurge
-Estherea, Singel 303-309 - Four star hotel on one of the main canals in the centre, 300 metres from the Dam Square and the Royal Palace. 17th century facade, 75 recently renovated rooms.
-Hotel Ambassade, Herengracht 341, tel: +31 20 555 0 222 - Four star hotel on one of the main canals. Writers that stayed here left signed copies of their books in the hotel's library.
-Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam, Dam 9 Amsterdam - A somewhat seedy location for a 5-star hotel - the entrance may be on the main square but the hotel backs onto the red-light district, with a view of sex-shops and peepshows.
-Hotel Okura, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, tel: +31 20 671 23 44 - Five star Japanese-owned and operated hotel with an excellent range of Japanese food, clothing, and book shops in the basement, and wireless internet in the lobby, bar, and conference rooms. The only drawback is that it's relatively distant from the central station (15 minutes by tram), but worth considering if work is paying and you don't mind taking cabs.
-Hotel Pulitzer - 25 restored 17th and 18th century canal houses overlooking two of the city's most picturesque canals, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, and made famous in Ocean's 12.
-Hilton Amsterdam - Site of John Lennon's and Yoko Ono's bed-in. Located in an upscale, older neighbourhood outside of the city centre (Oud-Zuid) but close to the Rijksmuseum and Vondel Park. Nationally famous for being the site where Dutch artist Herman Brood commited suicide by jumping from the roof.
-Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel, Kattengat 1 (just off Nieuwe Zijds Voorburgwal) tel: +31 20 621 22 23 - Four star hotel with conference center, wireless internet access in the lobby and café.
-Park Hotel Amsterdam, Stadhouderskade 25, tel: +31 (0)20 671 1222, Bang in the middle of Amsterdam between Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum and P.C. Hooftstraat. Four star hotel spread over several historical buildings. Parking. Very friendly staff.
-Victoria Hotel Amsterdam, Damrak 1-5 - Historic building directly opposite Centraal Station, and currently also directly opposite the construction site for the metro.
Apartment and Canal Boat rentals
Some agencies rent furnished apartments or canal boats. Short-stay tenancies are permitted in Amsterdam, but the minimum is one week. Apartments (or houseboats) let for less than one week are officially an "illegal hotel". The city and boroughs have begun an enforcement campaign to close them. This is not applicable to bed and breakfasts and private accommodation with a main tenant. -CityMundo, Schinkelkade 30, tel: +31 (0) 20 4705 705, fax: +31 (0) 20 676 52 71.
-Perfect Visit BV, Prins Hendrikkade 139, tel: +31 (20) 524 1144, fax: +31 (20) 524 1206.
-1689 Amsterdam Apartments, Bethaniendwarsstraat 11, tel: +31 (0) 20 7706 180.
-Apartments Amsterdam, Zaagmolenstraat 3, +31208080747 (email=info@only-apartments.com)
-Amsterdam Apartments, Prinsengracht 95, 1015 DT Amsterdam (email=info@apartments-for-rent.com)
-Amsterdam Apartments, Singel 3, 1012 VC Amsterdam (email=info@eday.nl)

"Dónde estará mi bicicleta?"

Contact
The telephone country code for the Netherlands is 31, and Amsterdam's city code is 020. If making local calls to reserve hotel rooms or restaurants, or calls to other cities in the country, you will need a phone card (5 Euro minimum) as many green KPN telephone booths do not accept coins. Blue/orange Telfort booths accept both coins and cards. The KPN booths are currently being replaced by newer models, which will accept coins again.
There are phone centres/shops ('belwinkel') all over the city. Outside the city centre, they mostly serve immigrants calling their home country at cheap rates.
Tip: If you have a Simlock-free European GSM mobile phone( suitable for GSM 900/1800 networks ). Consider buying a prepaid simcard. You can buy these in any electronics store, and it's often on the same price level as buying a KPN phonebooth card, and you're mobile.
Internet
There are internet cafés in the centre, and almost every phone centre has internet access, even if only one terminal. The Public Library ('Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam' -- oba) offers free internet access (however, limited to web-only) and is located near the Central Station. -Amsterdam Network Collective- Has wi fi.
Stay safe
General
You should take normal precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate. Street begging is no longer common in Amsterdam, because the police take a harder line. Some beggars are addicts, some are homeless, and some are both.
What looks like a footpath, especially along a canal bank, may be a bike lane. Bike lanes are normally marked by red/purple tiles or asphalt, and a bike icon on the ground. However, the colour fades over time, so you might miss the difference. Don't expect cyclists to be kind to pedestrians: some consider the side-walk an extension of the road, to be used when it suits them. Never stay or walk on the bike path or street for extended periods of time, as you will only be greeted by angry bell ringing. Keep in mind that for many Amsterdammers, the bike is their main means of transportation. For the bike theft problem see above, Get Around.
Watch out for trams when crossing the street. Taxis are also allowed to use some tram lanes, and even if not allowed, they often use them anyway.
Visitors from outside the Euro zone should also take care they are not short-changed in shops. Unscrupulous vendors sometimes try to take advantage of those who are not familiar with the currency.
Groups of women visiting the Red Light District at night might feel harassed in the aggressive environment, though this is said to be the safest area because of the police presence. Keep to main streets and groups. Do not take photographs of the prostitutes!
Cannabis and other drugs
It cannot be denied that many tourists come to Amsterdam for the coffeeshops. Coffeeshops (in English but written as one word) only sell soft drugs such as marijuana, hash and mushrooms - asking for other drugs is pointless because coffeeshops are watched closely by the authorities, and nothing will get them closed faster than having hard drugs for sale. 'Café' is the general name for a place licenced to sell alcohol, i.e. a bar. Since April 1, 2007 coffeeshops are no longer allowed to sell alcohol.
Quality varies! Coffeeshops aimed at tourists are more likely to have overpriced and poor quality products. A simple rule of thumb is: if the place looks good and well-kept chances are their wares will be good as well. Don't just enter a coffeeshop being overwhelmed that it's possible at all to buy and consume cannabis openly - be discerning as to the quality.
If you're not a smoker, and you really want to try it, start with something light, make sure you don't have an empty stomach, and don't combine it with alcohol. Be forthright with the counter person about your inexperience, they see it all the time. Go with an experienced person if you can. Regardless of the strength, your first experience can be quite a sensation at first, but will quickly decrease in intensity. You may want to plan to return to your hotel and "hole up" for a couple hours until you become comfortable with the feeling. If you do find yourself too strongly under the influence - feeling nauseous, woozey or faint - drink orange juice or eat something sweet like cookies or candy, and get fresh air. Dutch-grown nederwiet (a.k.a. super skunk) is much stronger than you might expect, even if you are experienced. The THC level can be as high as 15%, twice the norm (source: Trimbos Institute).
You will be approached by people offering to sell you hard drugs in the street, especially as you are walking through the Red Light District. Ignorance or failing that a firm refusal is enough - they will not pester you. The selling of drugs in the street is illegal and often dangerous; moreover the drugs sold to strangers are usually fake. When they invite you to see the goods, they can lure you into a narrow street and rob you.
So-called smartshops do not sell any illegal products, but a range of dietary supplements, including 'herbal exstacy' - a legal attempt at an XTC alternative which is a complete waste of money, various more or less obscure psychedelic herbs, and magic mushrooms. It is the latter which causes problems as people often underestimate their strength. Magic mushrooms have few physical risks attached to them, but can have a very strong short-cting psychological effect, which can either be great or very distressing, depending on your own mindset (e.g. if you are relaxed, have any serious worries, history of mental illness, etc.) and your surroundings (e.g. if you feel comfortable and safe in them). The first time you try this should always be in a familiar and trusted environment, not on the streets of an unfamiliar city. If you do decide to try it please get informed first. Conscious Dreams, the company who invented the entire concept of a 'smartshop' back in 1994 does this clearly (without downplaying the possible risks just to sell more like some other shops do) and responsibly. Also plan well ahead, make sure you have thought out where you will be, most recommended is going to a large park like the Vondelpark, the Rembrandtpark or the Amsterdamse Bos where it is quiet, and there is no risk from traffic. Make sure that being intoxicated will not endanger your safety, or that of anybody else. Be sure to make your purchase in the Smartshops rather than a regular coffeeshop. They are better regulated and information is available from the attendants that work there. They are also of better quality and stronger potency than at the coffeeshops.
If you're not sure of how much to take, take a small dose. Then you'll know what your "tolerance" level is. People who have bad trips are those who take a dosage over their own tolerance level. Never take more than one packet of mushrooms - usually half is good for your first time. A good smart shop can give you more info about this.
Do keep in mind that all hemp related products (except the seeds) are still illegal. This can be confusing for most tourists, who do think hemp products are legal since they are sold in coffeeshops. Hemp products are not legal, rather they are "tolerated" under the Dutch Opium Act. Read more about the legalities in the article about the Netherlands.
Get out
Direct trains connect Amsterdam to Paris, to major Belgian cities like Brussels and Antwerp, and to German cities like Cologne, Frankfurt or Berlin. The ticket machines sell tickets to nearby destinations in Belgium and Germany. Citynightline trains (reservation compulsory) run directly from Amsterdam Central Station to Milan, Vienna, Copenhagen, Prague, Warsaw and Moscow (possibly including others). For longer journeys, you will need the international ticket office which is located on Platform 2.
Almost everywhere in the Netherlands can be reached within 3 hours travel from Amsterdam, by public transport. To make more sense, day trips can be divided into those very close to the city (about 30 minutes by public transport) and further afield.
Under 45 minutes away
Haarlem is the closest of the historic cities, and only 15 minutes by train. Smaller towns just outside Amsterdam (all within cycling distance) include: ´-Weesp, nearest small fortified town (14 minutes by train), with a quiet historic centre on the Vecht river and windmills.
-Muiden, formerly a small port at the mouth of the Vecht river, with the best-known castle in the Netherlands Muiderslot .
-Naarden, surrounded by a complete ring of 17th-century fortifications. Train to Naarden-Bussum station, then about 30 minutes walk or take bus 110 in the direction of Weesp (ask the driver where to get off).
-Zaanse Schans, Historic windmills, tradesmen's workshops and open-air museum. 20 minutes by train to Koog-Zaandijk station, then a 10 minutes walk.
-Monnickendam, a small 17th-century port town, 20-25 minutes by bus lines 111 or 115, every 15 minutes from Amsterdam. Bus 111 also stops at the 'picturesque' village of Broek in Waterland, a tourist destination since the 19th century.
-Volendam— Once a fishing village, it is now the most commercialised tourist destination in the Netherlands, and can be quite disappointing. 30 minutes by bus, but fortunately they all continue to Edam.
-The historic cities of Utrecht, Amersfoort, and Leiden, and the smaller historic town of Alkmaar, are 30 to 35 minutes away by train. So is Zandvoort, the nearest beach resort. The historic port of Hoorn is 40 minutes away by train, and the smaller historic port of Edam is 40 minutes by bus (lines 110, 112, 114, 116, 117, 118).
About one hour away
Rotterdam, The Hague, Delft, Den Bosch, Apeldoorn, and Arnhem all take about one hour by train. A slightly longer journey, 80 minutes, takes you to the historic cities of Zwolle and Deventer, by then you are already in the Eastern Netherlands.
The smaller historic town of Enkhuizen is also one hour away by train, it has a large open-air museum showing how people used to live around the former sea, Zuiderzee. Several other smaller historic towns are within an hour by train.
-The bulb fields are a seasonal attraction, in the spring (end of March to the end of May). The main bulb-growing area is on the sandy soil behind the dunes, between Haarlem and Leiden. If you just want to see the flowers briefly, you can do that from the train between Haarlem and Leiden. There are also signposted cycle routes through the bulb fields, such as the Leidse Bollenroute, a 37 km route, starting at the rear of Leiden Station. If you want to see many more flowers, the Keukenhof is an elaborate park and floral exhibition. It is a promotion for the Netherlands flower industry, but you still have to pay to get in - € 13.50, children € 5.50. From Leiden Centraal Station, take bus 54, from Haarlem station bus 50 or 51. Combination tickets for the bus ride and entrance are on sale at the bus ticket offices, outside both stations. After the resounding success of last year’s trial, bus 58 will again be running directly between Schiphol train station and Keukenhof.
-Go Birdwatching in the Oostvaardersplassen, 40 km from Amsterdam.
-Kennemerland National Park, about 30 km west of Amsterdam. Are you sick of the city? Just west of Amsterdam there is a very unique national park, made of dunes formed over the centuries. A great place to go in the summer with the long days. Take the train to Overveen (the entrance is a short walk from the station). It's then about a 20km walk to Zandvoort where you can take the train back to Amsterdam.
(Wikitravel)

Pubs, cafés y clubs en Amsterdam

Publicado por Black Label en Holanda

Amsterdam es una ciudad con una vida nocturna muy interesante y movida. Hay muchos lugares a donde puedes ir, pero te daremos algunas ideas.
* No te pierdas de pasar por algún “brown bar” o bar marrón, con sus magníficos paneles y bancos de madera.
* Feijoa Corner de Vijdelstraat y Reguliersdwarsstraat, cerca de Rembrantsplein. Bar con una encantadora atmósfera, música agradable y amistoso personal, los barman harán el cóctel que tu pidas.
* Mulligans Irish Music Bar, Amstel 100, el bar irlandés más antiguo en Amsterdam, tiene música en vivo la mayoría de las noches. Aquí es donde los que buscan música tradicional se reúnen.
* Hard Rock Cafe, justo al lado de Holland Casino, también cerca de la plaza Leidseplein. Gran servicio, excelente comida y un montón de bebidas.
* Schuim, Spuistraat 189, 31 20 638 93 57. Un café muy cómodo, se calienta por las noches, se puede fumar marihuana, aunque no es un coffee shop.
* Dan Murphy’s, Leidseplein 7. Uno de los muchos pubs irlandeses en la ciudad. Gente de todo el mundo se reúne aquí, a ver fútbol, rugby, y otros deportes típicos como el hurling y fútbol gaélico, mientras se bebe una Guiness.
* Vrankrijk, Spuistraat 216. Un café muy conocido en Amsterdam. Tienes que tocar la puerta para entrar, la puerta negra a la derecha, no te confundas y molestes a los vecinos de la izquierda. Una vez adentro, encontrarás un bar muy acogedor con un personal voluntario y los mejores precios dentro de la ciudad. Todas las ganancias van para buenas y diversas causas. Abierto todas las noches de la semana, cada noche tiene una programación especial, averigua cuál actividad te es más afín.
* In De Wildeman, Kolksteeg 3. Un café muy bien surtido de cerveza en el centro de la ciudad. No se ofrece música, por lo que tiene una atmósfera muy locuaz e incluso lugar separado para no fumadores.
* Gollem, Raamsteeg 4. Otro bar con muchas cervezas, especialmente de Bélgica, Alemania, República Checa y otros países.
* De Bierkoning, Paleisstraat 125. No es una cafetería, sino un ’supermercado’ especializado en la cerveza.
* Cafe de Jaren - Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22, con una decoración art-deco, junto al Hotel d’Europe, y una gran vista de la unión de los principales canales.
* Café de l’Opera, Rembrandtplein 27-29. Un agradable lugar para un café, una cerveza, o algo más fuerte. Es posible que al principio sólo veas los asientos y la terraza adjunta, pero también hay una elegante, (normalmente) más silenciosa zona interior. Alimentación, también, pero no ves muchos comedores.
* Boom Chicago , en la plaza Leidseplein. Este es un gran lugar para ver un show de comedia americana. Ha estado en Amsterdam desde hace muchos años. Buenos alimentos y bebidas.
(poreuropa.com)
Más sobre Amsterdam:
El Zoo Artis, una buena opción para toda la familia en Amsterdam, Museo Willet-Holthuysen, “Heineken Experience”, un recorrido por el mundo de la cerveza, Alojamiento en Amsterdam, Amsterdam: alojamiento filosófico

[Nettus]

Amsterdam
Amsterdam.info - Amsterdam map, Street map of Amsterdam
Map of Amsterdam
Amsterdam Satellite Map, Hotels, Coffeeshops, Museums and Reviews -
Amsterdam Map
Amsterdam Nederländerna

Coordenadas: 52°22′N 4°53′E / 52.367, 4.88352°22′N 4°53′E / 52.367, 4.883
Provincia: Holanda Septentrional (North Holland)
Área- Ciudad: 130 km² - Población - Ciudad: ~ 750.000
Densidad: ~ 4.484 hab./km² - Código postal: 10xx - Web: www.amsterdam.nl/

Ámsterdam o Amsterdam es la capital oficial de los Países Bajos. La ciudad está situada entre la bahía del IJ al norte y a las orillas del río Amstel al sureste. Fue fundada en el siglo XII como un pequeño pueblo pesquero. Sin embargo, en la actualidad es la ciudad más grande del país, y un gran centro financiero y cultural a un nivel internacional.
Tiene una población de unos 750.000 habitantes, y en su área metropolitana residen aproximadamente 1,5 millones. Cabe destacar que Ámsterdam forma parte de la gran conurbación holandesa, llamada Randstad (junto con las ciudades de La Haya y Róterdam), que cuenta con más de 6,5 millones de habitantes. Este núcleo es una de las conurbanizaciones más grandes de Europa.
El centro histórico de la ciudad fue construido en gran parte en el siglo XVII, y es hoy en día uno de los centros históricos más grandes de Europa. En aquella época se construyeron una serie de canales semicirculares alrededor del casco antiguo ya existente de la ciudad. Después se edificaron las nuevas calles que ahora habían sido creadas con casas y almacenes en un estilo típico holandés que es una de las imágenes más famosas de Ámsterdam y del país. Es conocida coloquialmente como la «Venecia del norte».

El Keizersgracht de noche.

Aunque durante casi toda su historia (excepto entre 1808–1810) haya sido la capital oficial de Holanda, nunca ha sido la sede de la justicia, el gobierno o el parlamento holandés, ya que todos estos órganos se encuentran en la ciudad de La Haya, que por tanto es la principal ciudad del país con respecto a política y justicia. Ámsterdam tampoco es la capital de la provincia de Holanda Septentrional, que siempre ha sido Haarlem.
Ámsterdam, y toda Holanda, tiene fama por la tolerancia, el liberalismo, la diversidad, y la «mente abierta» de su población (aunque actualmente estas virtudes estén en entredicho).
Historia
En los principios de su existencia, Ámsterdam no era nada más que un pueblo de pescadores. Según las leyendas, la ciudad fue fundada por dos pescadores de la provincia norteña de Frisia, que por casualidad acabaron en las orillas del río Amstel en un barquito, junto a su perro.
La fecha tradicional de la fundación de la ciudad es el día 27 de octubre del año 1275, cuando a sus habitantes se les retiró la obligación de pagar peajes, que por entonces estaban asociados con los puentes neerlandeses. En el año 1300 se le concedieron los derechos oficiales de ciudad, y a partir del siglo XIV Ámsterdam empezó a florecer como centro comercial, mayoritariamente en base al comercio con otras ciudades nerlandesas y alemanas, conocidas como la Liga Hanseática.
En el siglo XVI, comenzó el conflicto entre los neerlandeses y Felipe II de España. Esta confrontación causó una guerra que duró 80 años, y que finalmente le dio a los Países Bajos su independencia. Ya por esa época, después de la ruptura con España, la república neerlandesa iba ganando fama por su tolerancia con respecto a las religiones. Entre otros, buscaban refugio en Ámsterdam judíos sefardíes de Portugal y España, comerciantes de Amberes, y hugonotes de Francia, que en sus países eran perseguidos por su religión.
El siglo XVII se considera el Siglo de Oro de Ámsterdam. A principios de ese siglo, Ámsterdam se convirtió en una de las ciudades más ricas del mundo. Desde su puerto, salían embarcaciones hacia el mar Báltico, Norteamérica, África y las tierras que ahora representan Indonesia y Brasil. De ésta forma fue creada la base de una red comercial mundial. Los comerciantes de Ámsterdam poseían la mayor parte de la Compañía Holandesa de las Indias Orientales o VOC. Esta organización se instaló en los países que luego pasarían a ser colonias de Holanda. En esa época Ámsterdam era el principal puerto comercial de Europa y el centro financiero más grande del mundo. La Bolsa de Ámsterdam fue la primera que funcionó a diario.
La población de la ciudad creció ligeramente de 10.000 en el año 1500, a 30.000 alrededor del año 1570. En el año 1700 este número ya había alcanzado 200.000. Durante los siglos XVIII y XIX y hasta antes de la Primera y Segunda Guerra Mundial, el número de habitantes incrementó a no menos de un 300%, alcanzando los 800.000 habitantes. A partir de entonces, y hasta la actualidad, el número ha sido relativamente constante.

Promoción turística «I am sterdam», frente al Rijksmuseum

Tras las guerras entre la república de Holanda y el Reino Unido y Francia, durante el siglo XVIII y a principios del siglo XIX, la prosperidad de Ámsterdam dejó de florecer. Sobre todo las Guerras Napoleónicas arrebataron las fortunas de Ámsterdam. Pese a ello, cuando se estableció oficialmente el Reino de los Países Bajos en el año 1815, la situación empezó a mejorar. En este período una de las personas clave de las nuevas iniciativas fue Samuel Sarphati, un médico y planificador urbano, que trajo su inspiración desde París.
Las últimas décadas del siglo XIX se suelen denominar como el «segundo Siglo de Oro de Ámsterdam», porque entre otros, se construyeron nuevos museos, una estación de tren y el Concertgebouw, que es el teatro musical de la ciudad. En el mismo período llegó a la ciudad la Revolución Industrial. Se contruyeron nuevos canales y vías marítimas para así mejorar la conexión entre Ámsterdam y el resto de Europa.
Justo antes de que empezara la Primera Guerra Mundial, la ciudad se comenzó a expandir, construyendo nuevos barrios residenciales y en las afueras. Durante la Primera Guerra Mundial, Holanda tomó una posición neutral, pero aún así la población sufrió mucha hambre y una grave falta de suministro de gas.
Alemania invadió Países Bajos el día 10 de mayo de 1940, tomando el control del país después de cinco días de lucha. Los alemanes instalaron un gobierno civil nazi en Ámsterdam, que se encargaba de la persecución de los judíos. También los neerlandeses que ayudaban y protegían a las víctimas, fueron perseguidos. Más de 100.000 judíos fueron deportados a campos de concentración. Entre ellos se encontraba Anne Frank. Solo 5.000 judíos sobrevivieron la guerra. Durante los últimos meses de la guerra, en 1945, la comunicación con el resto del país se cortó y la población sufrió una grave escasez de comida y energía. Muchos habitantes de Ámsterdam tuvieron que ir al campo en búsqueda de algún tipo de alimentación. Para sobrevivir, se consumieron perros, gatos o los bulbos de las flores. Muchos árboles de Ámsterdam se usaron para obtener energía, igual que la madera de las casas de los que habían desaparecido.
El escudo de Ámsterdam consiste en tres cruces denominadas las «cruces de San Andrés» en honor al apóstol Andrés que fue asesinado en este tipo de cruces. En el siglo XVI se añadieron los leones. Hay historiadores que creen que las cruces representan los tres peligros que más afectaron a Ámsterdam: inundación, incendio y pestilencia.
El lema oficial de la ciudad es: «Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig» ('Valiente, decidida y misericordiosa'). Estas tres palabras provienen de la denominación oficial concedida por la reina Guillermina de los Países Bajos en 1947, en honor al coraje de la ciudad durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
La Corona Imperial de Austria fue obsequiada a la ciudad en el año 1489 por Maximiliano I de Habsburgo para así agradecer los servicios y préstamos que Ámsterdam le había ofrecido. La corona significaba protección imperial y les servía a los comerciantes holandeses cuando se movían por el extranjero.

Clima
La ciudad tiene un clima moderado, bajo fuerte influencia del Océano Atlántico al oeste y los vientos que proviene de él. Los inviernos suelen ser fríos, pero no extremos, aunque temperaturas bajo cero son muy frecuentes. Suele nevar dos o tres días al año. Los veranos son calurosos con temperaturas alrededor de los 25 grados Celsius, pero tampoco extremos, salvo alguna ola de calor. Lo que sucede es que se trata de un clima extremadamente húmedo por lo que 25 grados pueden resultar muy agobiantes.
Aunque la ciudad sufre muchos días lluviosos, no recibe más de 760 mm de precipitaciones al año y casi siempre se trata de chubascos muy moderados. Esto es porque el tiempo es muy inestable y en un mismo día se pueden dar todas las posibilidades: sol, lluvia, nubes, granizo, etc.
Economía
Ámsterdam es la capital de Holanda con respecto a los negocios y las finanzas, y ha sido varias veces la quinta ciudad europea en importancia en el mundo de los negocios, tras Londres, Frankfurt, París y Bruselas. Muchas empresas y bancos holandeses tienen sus principales oficinas en Ámsterdam, como ABN Amro, Heineken, ING, Ahold, Delta Lloyd, Royal Dutch Shell y Philips.
El AEX, la bolsa de Ámsterdam forma parte de Euronext y es la bolsa más antigua del mundo entero, hoy en día sigue siendo una de las más importantes de Europa.

Transporte público
El transporte público de Ámsterdam consiste en:-conexiones de tren a cualquier parte de Holanda y a destinos internacionales como Amberes, Bruselas, París y Hamburgo.
-4 líneas de metro, y 1 línea nueva que se estrenará en 2011.
-16 líneas de tranvías.
-55 líneas de bus urbano.
-Varias líneas de bus regional.
-Varios ferrys (también para ciclistas).
Transporte privado
La bicicleta
Ámsterdam es famosa por la enorme cantidad de bicicletas y es el centro mundial de la cultura de la bicicleta. Casi todas las calles principales tienen vías para ciclistas, y se puede dejar la bicicleta en cualquier sitio; en Ámsterdam hay unos 700.000 ciclistas, más de 7 millones de bicicletas y 750.000 habitantes. Cada año, alrededor de 80.000 son robadas y 25.000 acaban en los canales de la ciudad. En el centro, conducir en coche es complicado, las tarifas de aparcamiento son muy altas, y muchas calles son peatonales o para ciclistas. La autopista A10 es la gran arteria de Ámsterdam y conecta con la A1, A2, A4 y la A8 para ir a cualquier sitio del país.
Aeropuerto
El Aeropuerto de Schiphol se encuentra a unos 3 metros por debajo del nivel del mar, siendo por esto el aeropuerto más bajo del mundo. Por tráfico de personas, es el mayor aeropuerto de Holanda por pasajeros con diferencia, el quinto de Europa (tras Londres Heathrow, Frankfurt, París Charles de Gaulle y Madrid-Barajas) y es el décimo aeropuerto del mundo. Es el tercer aeropuerto de Europa con mayor cantidad de operaciones de cargo (1.450 toneladas en 2005, tras París y Frankfurt). Cada año pasan unos 44 millones de viajeros por Schiphol. Es la base principal de las compañías aéreas Air France-KLM, Martinair y Transavia y también de la compañía estadounidense Northwest Airlines.

Es el principal aeropuerto que conecta Norteamérica con Europa, hay vuelos directos diarios a Atlanta, Boston, Calgary, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Philadelphia, Hartford, Houston, Los Ángeles, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Montreal, Nueva York, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver y Washington D.C. y a Canadá. Además, el Aeropuerto de Schiphol es el principal aeropuerto entre Europa y Asia.
El recinto del aeropuerto cuenta con una estación de tren en el subsuelo que facilita la conexión con la estación central de la ciudad de Ámsterdam, con una frecuencia de 15 minutos y las principales ciudades del país. Es parada, además del tren de alta velocidad Ámsterdam–Bruselas–París, del denominado Thalys.
Lugares de interés turístico
En Ámsterdam se encuentran muchos museos de fama internacional, como el Rijksmuseum, el museo de arte moderno Stedelijk Museum y el Museum het Rembrandthuis o 'Museo de la Casa Rembrandt', que fue el hogar y taller de Rembrandt, y exhibe una interesante colección de aguafuertes de su autoría. A continuación el Museo van Gogh posee la mayor colección de pinturas de Van Gogh en el mundo.
También la Casa de Anne Frank es un destino turístico muy popular, así como el Museo Amstelkring en cuya buhardilla se encuentra una iglesia católica clandestina del siglo XVII.
El Hortus Botanicus, fundado a comienzos de la década de 1660, es uno de los más antiguos jardines botánicos del mundo, con muchas antiguas y raras especies, entre las cuales está la planta de café de la cual salió el esqueje que sirvió como base de las plantaciones en América Central y América del Sur. (El esqueje fue un regalo a Luis XIV de Francia y fue llevado a la colonia francesa de Martinica en 1714, donde fructificó).
También en esta ciudad se encuentra la conocida fábrica de cerveza Heineken, que también tiene su museo.
El club deportivo Ajax Amsterdam tiene su sede y su estadio Amsterdam ArenA en esta ciudad.
También la prestigiosa sala de conciertos Concertgebouw es sede de la igualmente famosa orquesta sinfónicaOrquesta Real del Concertgebouw, que dio su primer concierto el 3 de noviembre de 1888.
Hay numerosos edificios, iglesias, plazas, puentes y otros, que merecen una visita, de igual manera los numerosos eventos que se realizan a través de todo el año. Una fecha más que interesante para visitar la ciudad es el Día de la Reina, o Koninginnedag, cada 30 de abril. Ese día todos los habitantes de la ciudad sacan a vender a la calle todo tipo de cosas, principalmente objetos de la casa que ya no utilizan. La ciudad se vuelve un mercadillo y una verdadera fiesta y las calles están abarrotadas de gente vestida y disfrazada con el color de la casa real, el naranja.
Vida nocturna
Ámsterdam tiene una vida nocturna impresionante y es famosa por la gran cantidad de clubes lounge o chillout que se encuentran allí. Es considerada una de las mejores ciudades de Europa para salir de noche, al igual que París, Madrid, Barcelona y Berlín.
Mucha gente joven de todo el país y de fuera viene a visitar, entre otros, el Hotel Arena, Escape, Powerzone, Supperclub, Club More, Chemistry, Panama, Melkweg, Paradiso o Club 11. Están ubicados por toda la ciudad, además de grandes concentraciones de bares y ocio nocturno que se encuentran en las plazas Rembrandtplein y Leidseplein.

Ciudad liberal
El ambiente homo
Ámsterdam tiene bastante ambiente homo (gay), sobre todo alrededor de la calle Reguliersdwarsstraat, al lado del Rembrandtplein.
Desde 1989 está el Club iT, uno de los club homo más grande de Europa. Pese a que hoy en día muchas otras ciudades europeas como Londres, Bruselas, Berlín, Barcelona y Sitges tienen fama por su tolerancia a los homos, Amsterdam sigue siendo la ciudad homo más importante de Europa, y todavía es una de las ciudades más diversas del mundo, pese a su tamaño relativamente pequeño.
Eso porque la revolución sexual empezó muy pronto en Holanda y más que nada en Ámsterdam. A finales de la década de 1960, cuando era una de las principales ciudades de los hippies (con Londres y San Francisco), muchos tabúes de esa época desaparecieron, como la desigualdad entre hombres y mujeres, y se luchó por la libertad de expresión en general y en particular por el derecho a usar preservativos, o el derecho a la inseminación artificial para mujeres solteras; asuntos que en la década de 1960 todavía eran grandes tabú en toda Europa.
Aceptar a los homos y lesbianas, para muchos holandeses (aunque no todos) ya es cosa del pasado. Quizás debido a la poca importancia que los holandeses dan a asuntos como la orientación sexual de las personas, ya que se considera algo que no interesa. Por todo ello, en Ámsterdam es habitual ver a una pareja homo abrazada, o con uno o más hijos, ya que tanto el matrimonio homo, como la adopción de niños por parejas homo están legal y completamente aprobados.
Existe un monumento conmemorativo en el centro de Ámsterdam, el Homomonument, consistente en tres losas triangulares de granito rosado, que simbolizan los triángulos rosa que los prisioneros homosexuales del nazismo durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, eran obligados a coser en sus uniformes. Se calcula que aproximadamente 50.000 homosexuales holandeses murieron en los campos de concentración.

El Barrio rojo por la noche
www.jaunted.com/story/2006/12/5/154031/139/tr...
At behest and via the courtesy of the Netherlands Board of Tourism, Jaunted went to Amsterdam to check out what is happneing in AMS right now. Tough gig, we know. Remember, we do this all for you. Enjoy.
We know you're dying to see our pics from the Red Light District in Amsterdam but these lovely ladies of the night don't allow their picture to be taken. Although, maybe if you slipped them some Euros they will oblige.
We were able to take a pic of the Prostitute Information Center which serves as both an information center for prostitutes and the public. You can learn about the "business"--not so much how to get in it as how it works--which is all legalized and highly regulated from the mirrors and alarms outside the brothel doors for protection to the taxes prostitutes have to pay. The place also offers Sunday morning walking tours which may sound paradoxical but so is the fact that many prostitute windows are next to churches. If you're not brave enough to enter a brothel yourself then you can visit the PIC which showcases a replica of a window brothel where you can pick up a regular sort of souvenir instead of the kind prostitutes may give you.

And just so you know, there are women of all ages in the business. Don't expect pretty young things in every window like we did.

There's more to Amsterdam then the Red Light District, so check out Trippist for other things to do, like the Sex Musuem.

El Distrito Rojo
Entre las zonas más populares de la ciudad se encuentra el barrio chino, conocido como el Distrito Rojo o Red Light District por el color de las luces que iluminan los locales donde se muestran, a través de escaparates, las prostitutas que trabajan en esta zona de la ciudad. La prostitución en Holanda está completamente legalizada en zonas designadas para ella. El Distrito Rojo, denominado coloquialmente «De Wallen» en referencia a dos canales o wal que lo cruzan, está ubicado en pleno centro de Ámsterdam, entre las calles Warmoesstraat, Zeedijk, Nieuwmarkt, Kloveniersburgwal y Damstraat. Otras ciudades como Utrecht, La Haya, Groninga y Haarlem también tienen sus propios distritos rojos.
Los coffee shops
En el Distrito Rojo, como también en otras partes de la ciudad, los llamados coffee shops venden pequeñas cantidades de marihuana, en general de muy alta calidad ecológica. En teoría, esto no es legal, pero se tolera mientras sean cantidades pequeñas (hasta 5 gramos diarios), y comprador y vendedor sean mayores de edad. Esta controvertida situación es llamada gedoogbeleid o «política de tolerancia».
Nuevos barrios
En 1975 las autoridades decidieron urbanizar la parte oriental del puerto, creando cuatro islas unidas al resto de la ciudad por puentes: KNSM, Java, Borneo y Sporenburg. En primer lugar se hizo la infraestructura, construyendo callesy puentes y dotándolas de transporte público; se aprobó una densidad de 100 viviendas por Ha. Hay diferencias entre las distintas islas:-KNSM, diseñada como un conjunto por el arquitecto Jo Coenenc en 1987, tiene grandes bloques de viviendas separadas por amplios espacios.
-Java, diseñada por Sjoerd Soeters, está dividida por canales y tiene dos tipos de construcciones: bloques destinados cada uno a habitantes concretos: familias, residentes de la 3ª edad, solteros... y algunas viviendas unifamiliares.
-Borneo y Sporenburg tienen, en su mayor parte, viviendas unifamiliares, sin ningún comercio entre ellas.

Amstel, the river to which Amsterdam owes it's existence.

Visita Ámsterdam con el Google Earth
Amsterdam in Site — Fotos: visita virtual (en español)
Amsterdam — Información para viajar a Ámsterdam (en español)
Fotos de Ámsterdam — Fotos de Ámsterdam
Videos de Amsterdam, Videos de Amsterdam y Holanda
(Wikipedia)

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Amsterdam
La mágica Ciudad de Amsterdam combina sus extensos canales y numerosos puentes con la original arquitectura de los siglos XVI y XVII concentrados en una pequeña superficie. Las obras de famosos artistas como Rembrandt y Van Gogh se pueden admirar en los Museos de Amsterdam y caminando la ciudad Amsterdam nos ofrece la historia viva de una de las ciudades mas bellas y románticas de Europa.
Amsterdam es una ciudad abierta y tolerante, combina una sólida cultura con gentes de hábitos sencillos. Esta Ciudad conserva y ofrece su historia, tiene una oferta permanente de variados entretenimientos y hace su visita fácil con un eficiente sistema urbano de transporte. Aquí todo esta cerca y es común ver a las princesas locales viajar en bicicleta. Disfrute en su visita de un largo paseo navegando por los mágicos canales y descubra los secretos de la ciudad que hizo del agua un recurso valioso.
Amsterdam en cifras:
Población: 735.000 habitantes.
Hora local: CET (GMT +1 hora)
Código telefónico: +20. Posición geográfica: 52˚ 22’ N, 4˚ 54’ E Idioma: Holandés.
País: Los Paises Bajos (Holanda)
Descubra Amsterdam:
Usted debe incluir en sus paseos la degustación de algunas de las delicias locales: la tarta de manzanas, las patatas fritas, los panqueques gigantes en diversos sabores, el arenque marinado y sin olvidar la variada oferta de cervezas y ginebras que se sirven en bares originales de los años 1.600.
Los Museos son una importante visita en Amsterdam, puede comenzar conociendo los tesoros del Rijksmuseum, hacer cita con el genial Vincent en el Museo Van Gogh, y luego el Stedelijk Museum con obras de Cézanne, Monet, Picasso, Chagall y otros no menos importantes. Los Museos de Amsterdam son mas de cincuenta y se calcula por millones los turistas que los visitan por año.
Los ciudadanos de Amsterdam suelen proveerse de lo necesario en varios mercados, que en algunos dias de la semana, se instalan en sus calles. Son coloridos, originales, hay buenos precios y gran variedad de artículos, frutas, verdura, carne, pescado, flores, antigüedades, ropa nueva y de segunda mano, cuadros, libros. Son una fiesta donde no faltan los músicos y artistas. Visítelos con su cámara en mano.
Y si ha llegado la noche, salga a recorrer Amsterdam y encontrará muy buenos bares y restaurantes y buena música para escuchar o bailar. Hay para todos los gustos, karaokes, salseras, tango, disco. Conozca gente divertida y regrese al hotel a la hora de desayunar.
CoffeeshopsToda persona mayor de 18 años puede comprar hasta 5 gramos de marihuana o hachís en los locales llamados “Coffee shops” que se hallan bajo el control legal e impositivo del Gobierno Holandés. Las drogas llamadas “duras” estan prohibidas y se penaliza fuertemente a quienes las trafican. Fotos de los coffee shops.
Hoteles en AmsterdamNuestro servicio de reservación de hotel en Amsterdam es una selección que incluye 310 comodidades que Usted puede elegir y reservar en línea. El servicio carece de costos extras o comisiones, el sistema de reservaciones 24/7. Reservaciones directas de albergues.

Vuelos a Amsterdam - Información Básica - Visitas y paseos -
Atracciones - Museos - Alojamiento - Transporte - Entretenimiento - Paseo de compras - Consejos útiles
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