Amsterdam: The City of Bikes

Written by: Natalie Yao

Amsterdam is a beautiful and exciting city in the country of Netherlands. It is famous for its winding canals, colorful houses, bicycles, and rich history. Amsterdam is more than 800 years old and is one of the most popular cities in Europe, welcoming millions of visitors every year. Even though it is a busy city, Amsterdam also has many parks, gardens, and peaceful waterways that make it feel calm and relaxing.

One of the most prominent things about Amsterdam is its canals. Canals are narrow waterways that flow through the city like streets made of water. There are more than 60 miles of canals in Amsterdam, with hundreds of bridges crossing over them. Long ago, these canals helped ships carry goods into the city for trade. Today, people ride boats through the canals to explore the city and enjoy the scenery. Amsterdam is often called the “bike capital of the world.” Thousands of people ride bicycles every day to school, work, or the store, and there are even special bike lanes throughout the city to help cyclists travel safely. In fact, there are more bicycles in Amsterdam than people!

The city also has a very fascinating history. During the 1600s, Amsterdam became one of the richest trading cities in the world. Merchants traveled across the oceans to buy and sell spices, fabrics, and other goods. Many of the tall, narrow buildings built during that time still stand today along the canals. Amsterdam is home to many famous museums. One important museum is the Rijksmuseum, which displays famous paintings and artifacts from Dutch history. Another popular museum is the Van Gogh Museum, where visitors can see colorful artwork created by the painter Vincent van Gogh. The city also remembers the story of Anne Frank at the Anne Frank House, where she hid during World War II and wrote her famous diary.

Amsterdam is also known for its delicious foods. People enjoy Dutch pancakes, cheese, waffles, and crispy fries with sauces. Outdoor markets sell fresh flowers, snacks, and souvenirs. One famous market is the floating flower market, where flowers are sold from boats along the canal.

Some more famous foods include:

• Stroopwafel: waffle cookie filled with warm caramel

• Bitterballen: deep fried beef and gravy balls with mustard served with beer

• Stamppot: a comforting mashed potato dish mixed with sauerkraut and a meatball

• Haring: raw herring topped with onions and pickles, often put in a sandwich