Amsterdam the Netherlands Cruise Port Guide

Amsterdam has always had strong 60 miles of canals and 1,000 bridges. As early as the 13th century, tiny ships sailed from this port into the challenging Zuider Sea. A direct connection to the North Sea was made with the construction of a canal in the early 19th century.

The most dramatic alteration of the landscape came in 1932 with the building of a 22-mile dam that sealed off part of the Zuider Sea, allowing Amsterdam gained renown in the 15th century when it became a major trading center, steadily assuming commercial leadership and thus controlling the country's finances, a trend that remains to this day.

Amsterdam is most famous for its narrow, gabled houses lining the canals. The historical center is full of interesting attractions such as the medieval weighhouse, the Royal Palace on Dam Square, and the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church which was built in 1468. from the time of Rembrandt, Amsterdam has been revered as an artistic center. Today the city is renowned for its celebrated museums - the Rijks, Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museums to name but a few. It also is a shopper's city, featuring everything from the famous flower market to glassware, Delft porcelain, cheese and wooden shoes. Its most glamorous industry is the diamond trade.

Within a relatively short distance from Amsterdam are the flower centers of Aalsmeer, the picturesque fishing villages of Volendam and Marken, cheese markets at Edam and Gouda, and historic Haarlem which is the main center of the bulb-growing industry.

You may explore Amsterdam's center on foot or join the thousands of residents who favor riding their bicycles. One of the most delightful ways to enjoy the city's famous sights is from a glass-topped sightseeing boat.

Gliding through the canals, the boat passes the characteristic gabled houses and negotiates picturesque arched bridges.