Amsterdam

In the Middle Ages, it seemed rather unlikely that a small village in Holland would one day become a trade capital of Europe, a seat of colonial power, and establish the world’s first stock exchange. Still today, with it’s short and skinny townhouses along scenic canals, it’s a bit surprising to learn that Amsterdam was in the 17th century the wealthiest city in Europe.

Relative to other European cities, Amsterdam is young, and still quite small. It has a population about 1/8th that of say, Paris, and was quite a modest town up until the end of the 16th century. In the 17th century, with the spread of international trade, intelligent Dutch entrepreneurs established the first ever multinational corporations, bringing boatloads (both literally and figuratively) of wealth to Amsterdam and the Netherlands. What began as a small town with a moat, became a bustling trade center with kilometers of navigable canals.

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, and still has the bustle and entrepreneurial sprit of its golden age. It remains a modest in many ways, with more charm than grandeur. It’s a progressive city of personal freedom amongst the art, tulips, and cyclists.

Click here to skip on to the gallery =)