Explore Amsterdam Series · Part 1 of 9 · Facts About Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city full of surprises, and many of these interesting facts about Amsterdam will surprise you! With both a rich history and a progressive attitude, Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination in Europe.

In this post, there are 26 interesting facts about Amsterdam to further your understanding of this unique and amazing Dutch city.

26 Interesting Facts About Amsterdam

1.There are more bikes than people

Considered one of the world’s great bicycling cities, one of the first things you will notice when exploring Amsterdam is the number of bikes. The population continues to creep up, 920,000 in 2023, yet there are over 1 million bikes.

2. Dutch people love to cycle

I think the Dutch learned to bike before they learned to walk! There are bike paths all around Amsterdam which are flooded with cyclists. There are more than 400 kilometers of cycle paths in Amsterdam. Cyclists are everywhere, so be careful when walking in Amsterdam!

2. The canals are full of bikes

Bikes fall or are thrown into the canals in droves. Waternet, Amsterdam’s Water Authority, goes through the canals and collects between 12,000 to 15,000 bikes a year.

3. Amsterdam is below sea level

Amsterdam sits six feet below sea level! It is built on 11 million wooden poles to keep it above sea level. Periodically the poles shift. This movement causes places to sink which is evident in the lopsided houses that sit at odd angles. In fact, Schiphol Airport is 11 feet below sea level and poles are even put in place to stop trees in Vondelpark from drowning.

4. Dutch people are tall

On average, Dutch people are the tallest in the world. You will notice right away when visiting the city that there are a ton of super tall people roaming the streets. The average height is 6 feet for men and 5 feet 6 inches for women.

5. Amsterdam is cosmopolitan

Amsterdam is a city packed with many nationalities. While the population is less than a million, it is home to 180 different nationalities. Consequently, Amsterdam welcomes little to no language barriers.

6. Amsterdam loves coffee

People in Amsterdam LOVE coffee…they drink an average of 3.2 cups per day. Amsterdam is the second largest consumer of coffee in the world.

7. Amsterdam has more canals than Venice

Amsterdam is often referred to as the Venice of the North. However, Amsterdam is home to 165 canals with a total length of 60 miles. Venice has 150 canals which span 26 miles. Since 2010, Amsterdam’s canals are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

8. Bike theft is the most common crime

Bike theft is one of Amsterdam’s most common crimes, even though it is often not reported to the police. Most people take it as a loss and go on about their day. In 2023, an estimate of 80,000 bikes were stolen.

9. The narrower the house, the lower the taxes

There are a ton of super narrow houses in Amsterdam. They were constructed this way because taxes for a house were based width of the property. In Amsterdam, the house with the most slender profile and only one room per floor, the length of 6 feet 8 inches, is located at Oude Hoogstraat 22.

10. The Red Light District also has blue lights

In the Netherlands, prostitution is legal and regulated. The famous Red Light District in Amsterdam displays both red and blue illuminated windows. The blue lights around a window indicate a transgender worker. It is forbidden to photograph any sex-worker.

11. Amsterdam has many houseboats

There are more than 2,500 houseboats housing approximately 5,500 people in Amsterdam. These houseboats are located along the canals throughout the city. They became popular as a solution to the housing shortage.

12. Amsterdam has a houseboat for cats

In Poezenboot there is a houseboat for stray cats. The Catboat was founded in the 60s. It welcomes visitors three days a week to spend time with the cats.

13. XXX is a sign of Amsterdam

This symbol does not stand for the Red Light District. Instead XXX on Amsterdam’s flag represents the cross St. Andrew, a first-century fisherman, was tortured on.

14. Amsterdam welcomes tourists

Statistics state that Amsterdam welcomes around 20 million tourists per year. The hospitality and tourism sector is one of its leading industries.

15. Orange is the color the color of Amsterdam

The Royal Family originates from the House of Orange. If you happen to be in Amsterdam for King’s Day, April 27, you will see the city flooded with people in a sea of orange!

15. Amsterdam is loaded with parks

Amsterdam delivers over 40 parks. Vondelpark is the largest with a playground, open-air theater, and food service establishments.

16. Parakeets flock in Amsterdam

In Vondelpark, about 4,000 parakeets call Amsterdam home. An urban legend has it that a truck carrying parakeets overturned, its cargo escaped and settled in the park.

17. The port of Amsterdam is the 3rd largest cruise port in Europe

Close to 700,000 cruise passengers visit each year, traveling on approximately 140 sea cruise ships and 1,500 river cruise ships.

18. Only one windmill in Amsterdam is still open to the public

Amsterdam used to be filled with windmills serving different purposes. As the city grew, many were relocated or dismantled. Today, only eight remain. The only open to visitors is Molen van Sloten, functioning since 1847.

19. Coffeeshops in Amsterdam sell more than coffee

These 160+ establishments do serve coffee but they mainly sell marijuana. Coffeeshops are not allowed to advertise, but they are easily identified by an official green and white sticker. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

20. The Netherlands is the #1 cheese-exporting nation

Edam, Gouda, Leyden, Maasdam, or Limburger cheese are all Dutch! The country’s cheese-making traditions date back to 400 AD.

21. Amsterdam has one of the most popular beer

Heineken, founded in Amsterdam, is among the top 3 largest beer breweries in the world. Founded in 1864, Heineken churns out almost 200 million hectoliters (5.2 billion gallons) every year.

22. The Rijksmuseum displays more than 8,000 objects

There are masterworks of Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. Yearly, more than two million people visit the museum, making it the most visited museum in Amsterdam.

23. Amsterdam Flower Market is the only floating flower market

This unique marketplace has existed for over 160 years. The flower stalls stand directly on houseboats. Bloemenmarkt is a colorful landmark that smells as good as it looks. It can be enjoyed year-round, rain or shine, every day except Sundays.

24. Albert Cuypmarkt is the largest outdoor market in Europe

Vendors display their goods on 260 stands located within approximately 2,000 square feet. At this market you will find exotic fruits, flowers, fish, books, leather goods, clothing, and lots more. The vendors love to throw a joke or two at you.

25. Amsterdam Stock Exchange is the world’s oldest

The Amsterdam Stock Exchange opened in 1602. Today it is known as Euronext after a merger with the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges. The large bronze bull, similar to the Charging Bull statute outside the New York Stock Exchange, by artist Arturo Di Modica, stands outside.

26. Anne Frank’s diary is translated into 70 languages.

Thirteen-year-old Anne Frank’s famous diary tells the story of their life at Prinsengracht 263 from 1942 to 1944. The diary is so captivating that it has been translated into 70 different languages.

Wrap Up

These Amsterdam facts are just a quick picture of everything this vibrant city has to offer. Amsterdam is modern and unique with an interesting history.

Which fact about Amsterdam surprised you the most?

Until next time…

· izzy

izzy-living.com

Explore Amsterdam Series · Part 1 of 9 · Facts About Amsterdam

26 Interesting Facts About Amsterdam

Wrap Up

Explore Amsterdam: 9 Part Series

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