Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, calls itself 'Capital of Inspiration'. And indeed it is an inspiring destination: at one moment the visitor feels himself transported to the 17th century, at another moment he is in the hustle and bustle of a modern city. Compact, traditionally cosmopolitan and solidly rooted in its past, but with a strongly international and forward-looking attitude. It is a true Gateway to Europe, thanks to its seaport and the nearby presence of one of the continent's busiest airports. Most of Amsterdam's inhabitants are multilingual. The city itself houses the world's most beautiful works of art, has more canals than Venice, more bridges than Paris, 7,000 historic monuments and scores of ultramodern buildings.
A melting pot of cultures, Amsterdam offers art forms and architecture from ancient to avant-garde. The city's waterways offer unique forms of transport.
