The museum of bags and purses is a unique museum with a collection covering the Western bag that rangers from the Middle Ages (16th century) trough to the present. It is the only museum in the world that can boast so extensive and specialized a collection..... read more

The earliest recorded use of the name "Amsterdam" is from a certificate dated 27 October 1275,when the inhabitants, who had built a bridge with a dam across the Amstel, were exempted from paying a bridge toll by Count Floris V. The certificate describes the inhabitants as homines manentes apud Amestelledamme (people living near Amestelledamme). By 1327, the name had developed into Aemsterdam. A local romance account has the city being founded by two fishermen, who landed on the shores of the Amstel in a small boat with their dog. Amsterdam's founding is relatively recent compared with much older Dutch cities such as Nijmegen, Rotterdam, and Utrecht. In October 2008 historical geographer Chris de Bont suggested that the land around Amsterdam was being reclaimed as early as the late 10th century. This does not necessarily mean there was already a settlement then. The reclamation of the land may not have been for farming - it may have been for peat, used as fuel..... read more

Amsterdam is the city of hospitality, it is a fascinating city with International allure in a small scale. For centuries Amsterdam’s friendliness, hospitality and openness has attracted people from all over the world. And all the hotels of the city, from the largest till the smallest one, are carrying on that fine tradition..... read more

Everything is for sale on the Albert Cuyp market In nearly every district of Amsterdam there is a market where everything is for sale. Merchandise ranges from chickens to suits off the peg, to name a couple of extremes. Of these, the Albert Cuyp is the most international and certainly, one of the liveliest..... read more

About 600 years ago the Dutch use wooden shoes as one of the first. Why especially in Holland?.... read more

Kalverstraat is probably the oldest and most famous shopping street of Holland. It’s history goes back to the 14th century when this part was transformed into a cow market. The Kalverstraat and it’s surrounding streets Heiligeweg and Spui offer everything in trendy and fashionable clothing, shoes, perfumes, and special gifts and souvenirs..... read more

Since 1985 when the Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum opened in Amsterdam, well over a million interested visitors have viewed this permanent exhibition. Located at 148 Oudezijds Achterburgwal, in the heart of the Green Light District, the Hash Marihuana Museum continues to inform and educate visitors from all around the world. Each year, some 80.000 people visit this exceptional centre for cannabis related culture and knowledge. The museum is completely dedicated to the cannabis plant and its many uses. The Hash Marihuana & Hemp Museum is unique in the world, and is a voyage of discovery that fits perfectly into any tour of Amsterdam..... read more

A list of companies directstay.com works with.... read more

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. The city, which had a population of 747,290 on 1 January 2008, comprises the northern part of the Randstad, the 6th-largest metropolitan area in Europe, with a population of around 6.7 million..... read more

The end of the 19th century is sometimes called Amsterdam's second Golden Age. New museums, a train station, and the Concertgebouw were built, while during this time, the Industrial Revolution reached the city. The Amsterdam-Rhine Canal was dug to give Amsterdam a direct connection to the Rhine, and the North Sea Canal was dug to give the port a shorter connection to the North Sea. Both projects dramatically improved commerce with the rest of Europe and the world. In 1906, Joseph Conrad gave a brief description of Amsterdam as seen from the seaside, in The Mirror of the Sea. Shortly before World War I, the city began expanding, and new suburbs were built. Even though the Netherlands remained neutral in this war, Amsterdam suffered a food shortage, and heating fuel became scarce. The shortages sparked riots in which several people were killed. These riots are known as the Aardappeloproer (Potato rebellion). People started looting stores and warehouses in order to get supplies, mainly food..... read more