Netherlands | Amsterdam

Located in the province of North Holland on the western side of the country, Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands.

The port of Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds and throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were formed.

The modern city of Amsterdam is the financial and cultural capital of the Netherlands. A significant proportion of large Dutch institutions have their headquarters there, and 7 of the world's top 500 companies, including Philips and ING, are based in the city. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange, which is the oldest stock exchange in the world, is located in the city centre.

The main attractions of Amsterdam include its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, its red-light district, Heineken Brewery, and its many cannabis coffee shops. In total Amsterdam welcomes over 4.2 million tourists annually to the city.

Amsterdam is famous worldwide for its vibrant and diverse nightlife. The two main nightlife areas are the Leidseplein and the Rembrandtplein. Amsterdam has many cafes. They range from large and modern to small and cozy. The typical bruine kroeg (brown cafe) breathe a more old fashioned atmosphere with dimmed lights, candles, and somewhat older clientele. Most cafes have terraces in summertime. A common sight on the Leidseplein during summer is a square full of terraces packed with people drinking beer or wine.

In summary Amsterdam is an exciting city with a rich culture and well worth a visit, so let Jetbird take you and your friends on a fun packed voyage to Amsterdam.

Annual events include: 

  • Queensday, April 30 - the national celebration of the birthday of the Queen Mother
  • Taste of Amsterdam, June
  • Grachtenfestival, August
  • Uitmarkt, August , considered to be the largest cultural event in Amsterdam