Celebrating 750 Years of Amsterdam

As Amsterdam gears up to celebrate its 750th anniversary in 2025, the city’s rich and storied past will take center stage. Amsterdam’s history is filled with moments of triumph, innovation, and resilience, all of which have shaped the city into the iconic European destination it is today. Whether you’re planning to join the celebrations or are simply curious about its fascinating journey, let’s take a stroll through time and explore some of the most captivating moments and little-known facts from Amsterdam’s 750-year story.

Where did Amsterdam start?

Did you know that Amsterdam started out as a tiny fishing village? In 1275, the city was officially granted the right to charge tolls on the Amstel River, marking its first recorded mention in history. The original settlers built a dam to protect their homes from flooding, which is how the city got its name—"Amstel-dam."

From there, things quickly took off. By the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam had transformed into one of the wealthiest cities in the world. At its height, Amsterdam was the center of global trade, with ships from all corners of the world bringing in spices, silk, and exotic goods. The city was also home to the Dutch East India Company, the world’s first multinational corporation and the first to issue stock—a true powerhouse of global commerce.

Amsterdam’s famous canals

One of the most iconic features of Amsterdam is its intricate canal system, which was built to manage the constant threat of flooding and allow for the city's rapid expansion. What most people don’t know is that the canals form a perfect concentric ring, which not only looks stunning from above but also helped create a seamless transport network. In fact, Amsterdam has over 165 canals, totaling more than 100 kilometers in length—more waterways than Venice! This ingenious design earned the Canal Ring UNESCO World Heritage status, and it remains one of the best-preserved examples of 17th-century urban planning.