Before Hotels, There Were Inns Long before Amsterdam became a city of boutique hotels, canal cruises and carefully planned weekend trips, travellers arrived with much simpler expectations. After days on the road or weeks at sea, most people were looking for the same three things: a warm meal, a safe place to sleep and a […]

A City That Gathered Around Beer Ask people what drink belongs to Amsterdam and most will probably mention coffee. It is easy to understand why. The city is full of cafés, terraces and coffee bars where conversations begin, plans are made and afternoons disappear a little faster than expected. A few centuries ago, however, Amsterdam […]

A Neighbourhood Built on Togetherness Today, the Jordaan is one of Amsterdam’s most beloved neighbourhoods. Visitors wander through its narrow streets, stop for coffee along the canals and admire the historic houses that seem to lean gently towards one another. It feels cosy, welcoming and full of character. But the Jordaan was never designed to […]

The Men Who Printed More Than Books When people talk about the history of Amsterdam, they usually talk about merchants. About ships returning from distant ports, warehouses filled with spices and traders building grand houses along the canals. And fair enough. Trade helped shape the city we know today. But Amsterdam was built by more […]

Before Amsterdam Was Rich, There Was Herring Long before Amsterdam became a city of canals, merchants and grand canal houses, it was a city that depended on the water. Ships came and went, markets grew busier every year and trade slowly transformed a modest settlement into one of Europe’s most important ports. But before spices, […]

A City That Took Potatoes Very Seriously Ask a Dutch person what truly makes a meal feel complete and there is a good chance a potato will appear somewhere. Boiled, mashed, fried, stamped, baked, we have been doing almost everything with potatoes for generations, except writing romantic poetry about them. Although, to be fair, we […]