Amsterdam: Touring the City

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. As of 1 January 2026, it had a population of 941,873 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area, and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the province of North Holland, Amsterdam is often referred to as the "Venice of the North" because of its extensive canal network, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amsterdam was founded at the mouth of the Amstel River, where a dam was built to control flooding. Originally a small fishing village in the 12th century, it grew into one of the world's leading ports during the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, when the Netherlands was a major economic power. Amsterdam became a prominent center of finance and trade, as well as a hub of art and culture. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded significantly, with many new neighborhoods and suburbs being developed. Amsterdam has long been known for its openness, liberal values, and tolerance. Cycling remains an essential part of the city's identity, supported by an extensive network of bicycle paths and lanes. The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is one of three palaces in the Netherlands placed at the disposal of the monarch by Act of Parliament. It is located on the western side of Dam Square in the heart of Amsterdam, opposite the National Monument and adjacent to the Nieuwe Kerk. The palace was originally built in the mid-17th century as Amsterdam's city hall. It became a royal palace in 1808 when the Netherlands was under French rule during the Napoleonic era. The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, dedicated to Dutch art and history. It is located on Museumplein (Museum Square) in Amsterdam South, near the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Royal Concertgebouw. Founded in The Hague on 19 November 1798, the Rijksmuseum moved to Amsterdam in 1808. It was initially housed in the Royal Palace and later in the Trippenhuis. The current building, designed by Pierre Cuypers, opened in 1885. The museum is the largest art museum in the Netherlands and houses one of the world's most important collections of Dutch art. The museum displays approximately 8,000 objects from a collection of around one million works dating from the years 1200 to 2000. Among its highlights are masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. The Rijksmuseum also features a notable collection of Asian art, displayed in the Asian Pavilion. The Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Located on Museumplein, it stands close to the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Concertgebouw. The museum opened on 2 June 1973, and its buildings were designed by Gerrit Rietveld and Kisho Kurokawa. The museum houses the world's largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings and drawings. It remains one of the most popular museums in the Netherlands and an important destination for art lovers from around the world. In 2019, the museum launched the Meet Vincent van Gogh Experience, an immersive, technology-driven exhibition about Van Gogh's life and work that has since toured internationally. Vondelpark is a 47-hectare (120-acre) urban park in Amsterdam. Located in the borough of Amsterdam-Zuid, it lies west of Leidseplein and Museumplein. The park opened in 1865 under the name Nieuwe Park and was later renamed after the 17th-century playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel. Today, it attracts around 10 million visitors annually. The park features an open-air theatre, playgrounds, gardens, walking and cycling paths, and a variety of cafés and restaurants. 00:00:01 Boat Tour of Amsterdam 00:04:36 Dam Square and the Royal Palace 00:05:53 Rijksmuseum 00:10:05 Van Gogh Museum 00:11:43 Vondelpark 00:12:25 Streets of Amsterdam