Amsterdam

Amsterdam - the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. Is the capital of the kingdom since 1814. Located in the province of North Holland in the west to the mouth of the river Amstel and the Hey. Amsterdam is connected to the North Sea Canal.

Amsterdam - the beautiful river channels where there is a city. Canals of Amsterdam this magnificent spectacle, which is breathtaking. But, even more beautiful canals in the city of Delft. The channels extend through the entire city. Settled on the banks of small brick houses. In the summer the town in bright colors and greens in the winter, it looks no less impressive.

The historic center of Amsterdam features a large number of well-preserved medieval buildings: churches, houses and merchants' houses. Because of the large and extensive network of canals, many built to hold heavy timber stilts, over time, some rot at home and begin to "dance" to keep from destruction of adjacent. On some fronts can be found cross-beams sticking out. With the help of ropes and blocks, these beams are used for lifting goods from the sides of the sea and river vessels directly into the storage space in attics. The sculptural decoration of the pediments often made in the form of molded frame square or round shape in combination with ornaments that symbolize the occupation of the house (tools, figurines bakers, fishermen, tailors, etc.)

Amsterdam is famous for its nightlife and clubs, which are mainly concentrated in three locations: at the Leidseplein, the "Street red-light" and in the area Rembrandtplein. On the square is open Vaterloopleyn cute "flea market", where you can find all sorts of things: a bicycle bell, made in the seventies of last century, to the rare music on vinyl records. On weekends in the city parks organize various interesting things to the trade fair of organic products to the public skating on roller skates.

One of the fun in Amsterdam - just sit at a table in an outdoor cafe and watch the crowd passing by. Such a number of extravagant personalities a little more where you will meet

The city is located in the temperate zone, a significant impact on who has the proximity to the North Sea in the west with a predominance of northwesterly winds and squally gusts. Winters are mild, the temperature rarely drops below 0 C. Frosts occur only when you move the cold air masses from the depths of the continent, namely, the Scandinavian countries and Russia, including even from Siberia. And even then, due to the fact that Amsterdam is surrounded on three sides by large masses of water, as well as in large measure due to the existing urban heat island effect, nighttime temperatures rarely fall below -5 C, while in Hilversum, 25 km south-east, in such cases, they drop to -12 C. Summers are moderately warm but not hot.

Amsterdam - not only the continental capital freedom, but also one of the major European centers for shopping, which is able to please both its scale and attractive seasonal discounts. Shopping in Amsterdam - is an excellent example of combining business with pleasure walk through a beautiful and free of vehicles other than the center of Amsterdam, and shopping. Amsterdam has long been known as a city where you can buy the best antiques, books and jewelry, but less sophisticated buyers of the city is also sure to impress - it's full of different department stores and shopping centers. Most shops are open from 9-10 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Friday, except Thursday, when you can "shopitsya" up to about 21-00. On Mondays, stores open late - in the afternoon and on Saturdays close early - at 5 pm, many do not work. Something where the shops are open on Sundays, for example, in the streets or Kalverstraat Leidsestraat.