The city of Amsterdam

[Benn]

I personally know nothing about this city. My friends say it is very beautiful. I decided to dedicate this topic to Amsterdam. Post pictures of different sights, so that we would be able to learn sth about it.
Amsterdam has a broad spectrum of recreational and cultural sights that range from fascinating old buildings, like the Oude Kerk, to oddities such as the Hash Marihuana Museum.
Other sights are: Dam square, Begijnhof, Amsterdam's canals, Magere Brug, Jordaan, Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein, Red Light District, Albert Cuyp market, Artis ZOO, Vondelpark, Hortus Botanicus - the Botanical Garden.

[Peach]

The Begijnhof is the only inner court in Amsterdam which was founded during the Middle Ages, and therefore lies within the Singel — the innermost canal of Amsterdam's circular canal system. The Begijnhof is at medieval street level, which means a metre below the rest of the old city centre.

It is unclear when exactly the Begijnhof (Beguines' court) was founded. In 1346, the beguines still lived in a house (a document of that time mentioned one beghynhuys). A courtyard was only first mentioned in 1389, probably after the religious status of the city rose due to the Amsterdam Eucharistic Miracle of 1345.

Originally the Begijnhof was entirely encircled by water (the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal, the Spui and the Begijnensloot or "Beguines' Ditch"), with the sole entrance located at the Begijnensteeg ("Beguines' Alley"), which had a bridge across the Begijnensloot. The back facades were therefore water-locked. The Spui entrance only dates back to the 19th century.

[Riser]

The Magere Brug ("Skinny Bridge") is a bridge over the river Amstel in the city centre of Amsterdam. It connects the banks of the river at Kerkstraat street, between the Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht canals.

The Magere Brug is a bascule bridge made of white-painted wood. The present bridge was built in 1934. The first bridge at this site was built in 1691 as Kerkstraatbrug and had 13 arches. Because this bridge was very narrow, the locals called it magere brug, which literally means "skinny bridge". In 1871 the state of the bridge was so bad that it was demolished and replaced by a nine-arched wooden bridge. Fifty years later this bridge also needed to be replaced. Architect Piet Kramer made several designs for a steel and stone bridge, but the city decided to replace it with a new bridge that looked the same as the previous, only slightly bigger. In 1934 the bridge was demolished and replaced. The last major renovation was in 1969. Until 1994 the bridge was opened by hand, but now is opened automatically.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magere_Brug">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magere_Brug</a><!-- m -->

[Nathan]

The Jordaan is home to many art galleries, particularly for modern art. The neighbourhood is also dotted with speciality shops and restaurants, and markets are held regularly at Noordermarkt, the Westerstraat (the Lapjesmarkt textile market) and Lindengracht.

The most common theory on the origin of the name is as a derivation of the French word jardin, meaning garden. Most streets and canals in the Jordaan are named after trees and flowers. Another theory is that the Prinsengracht canal was once nicknamed Jordaan (the Dutch name for the river Jordan), and that the neighbourhood beyond the canal came to be called this as well.

[Riser]

The Leidseplein is a square in central Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Lying in the southwest of the central (canal) district of Amsterdam, the Leidseplein is immediately northeast of the Singelgracht canal. It is situated on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, the Marnixstraat, and the Leidsestraat. The Leidsestraat was originally named for being the road to Leiden. Several other streets in the vicinity of the square also refer back to the city of Leiden, but this is more because these streets cross the area. Such as the Lange (Long) and the Korte (Short) Leidsedwarsstraat (Leiden Side Street) .

[M.Helen]

One of the largest and best known of Amsterdam's many outdoor markets, the Albert Cuyp market is a fun visit, particularly on a sunny day. It is also a good starting point from which to explore the Pijp district of Amsterdam, with its village bustle and lively streets. The market is centrally located just beyond the Museum Quarter and is open 6 days a week (except Sundays).

[Faw_Peter]

Vondelpark is the largest city park in Amsterdam, and certainly the most famous park in the Netherlands, which welcomes about 10 million visitors every year. The Vondelpark is located south of Leidseplein and quite near of the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum.

[alberty2k]

Hi viewers!
lets come to know about Amsterdam

In 2009 Amsterdam is an Art City. The city is brimming over with cultural attractions. There are a tremendous range of remarkable exhibitions for you to visit. The Hermitage Amsterdam reopened and the new Stedelijk Museum will be opening its doors to the public in 2010.

Amsterdam has always been a leading cultural centre, with top attractions such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. The opening of the Hermitage Amsterdam and the impressive range of exclusive exhibitions will make a visit to Amsterdam an absolute must in 2009. Hermitage Amsterdam is the most important branch of the internationally renowned museum of the same name in Saint Petersburg.

Click here to visit more pictures

---------------------------
Albert

[alberty2k]

Hi
Its a big city and a beautiful one
many touristers visits it, amsterdam has a broad spectrum of recreational and cultural sights that range from fascinating old buildings, Hash Marihuana Museum.

To find more details click here .....

[hellodear]

Realisme Art Fair, Amsterdam

Art AmsterdamBeing an important center of the avant-garde art in Northern Europe, Amsterdam has also another, much older and richer tradition – that of realism. Dutch painters were famous since Renaissance through the 18, 19 and 20 century. In the middle of the 20c., a movement called magic realism contributed with important figurative paintings depicting figurative scenes in a fantastic, mysterious scenery.

Today this long tradition is still being continued by several artists and many Amsterdam art galleries as Galerie Mokum, Jaski Art Gallery, Galerie Petit, Galerie Lieve Hemel, Galerie Rademakers, just to name a few. Since 2003, once a year, an art fair dedicated to the figurative art is being organized in Amsterdam called Realisme (Realism). During this event, 30 most important galleries from the Netherlands and Belgium show their realistic art collections, lectures are being organized (free, in Dutch) and a possibility to draw and paint in a realistic way is presented to the visitors.

During the opening of the fair, the medal is being given each year to one figurative artist, selected by the jury. This award has been named after late Ms. Sacha Tanja, who led for many years an important figurative art collection of the ING Bank.

[hellodear]

Holland Festival
Art Amsterdam exhibition Every year - end of May – June. In 2008 dates are: May 31 – June 22.
Holland Festival is the biggest in the Netherlands performing arts festival of international character. It brings events from all over the world on the fields of music, opera, theatre and dance, also draws attention to chosen films and art shows. Holland Festival also organises interesting conferences and workshops. The 2008 Festival theme is CIELO E TERRA (Heaven and Earth).
<!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.hollandfestival.nl">www.hollandfestival.nl</a><!-- w -->

[hellodear]

Grachtenfestival
Grachtenfestival16 - 27 August 2008
For five days, special locations in the heart of Amsterdam form the backdrop for more than 80 classical concerts. The concerts can be enjoyed in houses and gardens of hospitable local inhabitants and in concert halls, historic buildings, museums and out of doors in the area around Prinsengracht.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.grachtenfestival.nl">http://www.grachtenfestival.nl</a><!-- m -->    

[shane]

City of Amsterdam is run by the city council and a college of aldermen. The council is the highest authority in the city of Amsterdam and is responsible for all important decisions. Among other responsibilities, the council sets the city's annual budget.

[Lorry]

Amsterdam has always been a leading cultural centre, with top attractions such as the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. It is also famous thanks to its beautiful gardens and parks. There are over thirty parks in Amsterdam, including the Vondelpark, which attracts some nine million people each year. I think that one who really loves nature and green lands will really enjoy visiting this wonderful places.

[samuel5028]

Thank you for sharing. The famously liberal culture of Amsterdam has given life to a cosmopolitan population that’s reflected in the cuisine; few cities are immune to the global spread of international eating, but Amsterdam goes well beyond pizza joints and sushi bars. Turn down any street, and you’re as likely to find an Argentinean steakhouse or a Lebanese cafe, as you are a restaurant specializing in Malaysian or Egyptian fare.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
USCIS| US Immigration Forms