Around the World with the Griffin Post

The city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands is one of the most floral cities in Europe. It is one of the biggest producers of flowers in the world and is one of the most well-known parts of the city, especially for tulips. As the capital of the Netherlands, it's known for many things, as well as being a port on the west coast and being connected to the IJsselmeer (a lake in northern Holland) and the North Sea. It is the city with the most money and one of the oldest cities in the country, as it declared rights in the year 1275, so it is officially 750 years old currently.  It's known for a bustling metropolis, which is beset by environmental pollution. But with a population of 933,000 in a space of around 85 square miles, some pollution is bound to happen. 

The history of Amsterdam is interesting; it was originally created to stop a fishing village from flooding on the Amstel River, which is why it's named Amsterdam. In the beginning it was a fishing city that was used for trade and commerce throughout northern Europe, going as far as the Baltic Sea. It connected northern Europe with Flanders, which was what we know as Belgium and Northern France. The city was named unofficially back in 1275, but a full charter was introduced to name the city Amsterdam in 1306. The city’s economy was booming. In 1489, as a sign of gratitude to the Burgundian-Austrians, Maximilian I, the then current emperor, was allowed to adorn the city with the imperial crown. Amsterdam was finally getting on the radar. After Dutch rule passed to the Spanish in the 16th century, there was an eventual revolt against the Spanish led by William I, the Prince of Orange. Amsterdam was hesitant, but joined in. There was no bloodshed, but many priests of the Roman Catholic Church were deported, eventually creating the Dutch Reformed Church. The revolt had started, as the Spanish took Antwerp, which was one of the biggest ports in the Netherlands at the time. The Netherlands responded by blocking off access to the sea. Many refugees took shelter in Amsterdam, which enriched the culture.  Eventually, Germans and Portuguese soon joined the migration to Amsterdam. The Netherlands made colonies around the world in this timeframe in the Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia), South Africa, and in South America. Soon, Amsterdam became the trading capital of the world. Various kings and queens would get lent money, setting an influx to the region. There was an economic decline in the 1600s, eventually leading to a rapid power decline, yet they still helped colonial America sneak tea and other goods past Britain. There were regents that ruled the city. They taxed basic needs heavily, and naturally, by 1748, there were revolts. The regents acted with violence and crime; they hung ringleaders after the houses of tax-gatherers were raided. The regents lost, and then around 60 years later, Napoleon invaded Amsterdam, and his brother Louis claimed it as his residence. Thankfully, when Napoleon fell, so did the French rule of Amsterdam. Then for another 60 years, everything was fine again. Then in 1870, an industrial revolution ensued. It eventually lasted until 1900. They had a big diamond industry, and they gained sea access and many economic improvements. In 1901, they released the Housing Act, which improved the lives of many by getting rid of unsafe living conditions inside of slums, making minimum building standards. They made the quality of life better everywhere by making neighborhoods with low rent and acceptable living conditions. Only 39 years later, on May 10, 1940, the Nazis attacked Amsterdam and the Netherlands, taking it quickly.  Many awful things happened, like Jewish deportation. Yet after the war, the Netherlands made a comeback. They rebuilt it into the country it is today. 

It is now known as one of the most popular cities in Europe, with a fascinating history.