Amsterdam presentation

Résumé du document

Nowadays, Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, is a city well-known in all Europe, thanks to its great charm, due to the global architecture of the city and the inhabitants' conception of life. The town, which has been a famous trade center for four centuries, was built around a lot of canals, which surround and delimit districts, which each have some particularities. From the Dam, the Ann Frank Huis, Nieuwekerk, to the Rembrandtplein, visitors can discover a remarkable charming city, which has succeeded to associate the respect of historic heritage with modern aspirations. In the 13th century, the town called "Aemstelledame" developed around a dam on the Amstel River and later, in 1613, three large canals were built there. Now, there are 24 km of canals and 700 bridges in the city, which is sometimes called the Northern Venice. Besides, it was during the 17th century, called the Golden Age, that Amsterdam knew a great prosperity: the large mansions in front of canals and most of the artistic masterpieces date from this period.

Extraits

[...] Today, the number of residents of these particular houses is estimated to 5000. - people are used to gathering in some places like "Dam square", which is the largest square in Amsterdam : in this square, there are the Royal Palace and the National monument, which is a high column built in memory to the WWII's dead men. Every 4th of May, the Queen Beatrix puts some flowers at the foot of this monument, which contains a piece of land from each province of the Netherlands. [...]

[...] Amsterdam presentation Nowadays, Amsterdam, the Dutch capital, is a city well-known in all Europe, thanks to its great charm, due to the global architecture of the city, but also to the inhabitants' conception of life. The town, which has been a famous trade centre for four centuries, was built around a lot of canals, which surround and delimit districts, which each have some particularities. From the Dam, the Ann Frank Huis, Nieuwekerk, to the Rembrandtplein, visitors can discover a remarkable charming city, which has succeeded to associate the respect of historic heritage with modern aspirations. [...]

[...] *Actually, of all the towns of the Republic, Amsterdam profited the most from trade. In the 17th century, the city expanded rapidly and the burgomaster (the major) had even a majestic new town hall built, on the main square. The Netherlands was used to be the hub of global commerce, and Amsterdam was the main harbour, from where Dutchmen sailed the seven seas and traded all kinds of products: spices, scarce raw materials, porcelain and textile. The doll's houses Dating from the 17th century, these kind of doll's houses weren't toys but a serious hobby of wealthy ladies of Amsterdam, belonging to the highest social circles. [...]

[...] In this context, Amsterdam's development was spectacular: the city became a trade centre with a worldwide reputation, where some intellectuals were attracted by, like Spinoza, Huygens, or the architect de Keyser, who was in charge in the construction of the tree protestant churches: Zuidekerk, Noorderkerk and Westerkerk. *Among the paintings and objects of the museum, some are particularly interesting to study, because they really depict Amsterdam during the Golden Age: the way of life of the Amsterdamers, the cultural and political climate they knew, and the evolution of painting in this century when art flourished. [...]

[...] The doll's houses are family homes in miniature that presents a complete picture of life in a fashionable Amsterdam household. Moreover, paintings were popular in the Golden Age. They could be found in every home, in ruling elite's houses, in the middle class' houses or in country folk's ones. There were painters who were specialized only in portraits; other concentrated on depicting everyday scenes (like Vermeer) or specialized in still lifes (=natures mortes). Besides, Rembrandt is without doubt the most celebrated painter of the Golden Age. [...]