Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam is not the capital of The Netherlands, as most people think, that is Den Haag. Amsterdam is the former capital of Holland, but the place most tourists go.
The Dam Square, or simply Dam, is the center of Amsterdam with the National Monument and the former Royal Castle. It is a popular meeting place at the outskirt of Old Amsterdam.
Oude Kerk or The Old Church is the oldest church in Amsterdam, located in Old Amsterdam and inside the Red Light District. Many of the houses around the church have red neon lights in their windows, indicating the kind of services available inside.
The houses in the oldest part of Amsterdam are right next to the canals like in Venice, while the houses along the Singelkanal, Herenkanal and Keizerkanal have a road between canal and the houses. This is the Ouderzijds Achterburgwal, just East of and behind the Saint Nicholas Church.
On Rembrandtplein or Rembrandt Square the famous painting "The Night Watch" by Rembrandt has been recreated through statues of the characters and their location relative to each other in the painting.
Amsterdam is well known for its canals, and a canal tour is a must. Most tours pass through one of the oldest locks that used to separate the canals from the sea in the Singel Canal on their tour around Inner Amsterdam.
The Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge is one of the best known bridges in Amsterdam. It is a double swipe bridge and crosses the Amstel River on the East side of Inner Amsterdam. Its design is very typical of the Amsterdam bridges.
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