History of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, just like most other cities along the seashore, emerged from a small fishing village.
During the 12th century, the fishermen living on the shore of River Amstel built a dam to prevent the settlement from flooding, and this led the city to be called Amsteldam.
The town joined the Hanseatic League in 1358, and it began to stand out as a trading centre in the north of Europe.
Charles V of Spain inherited the “Spanish Netherlands” from his grandmother Mary of Burgundy after her death in 1482. Spain's dependency and the discovery of the New World contributed to the city becoming the most important port in the world after Lisbon.
Amsterdam became specialised in the grain and arms trade, and after the King of Portugal opened a local office in the city, it developed into the base for the resale of spices from India.
Eighty Years’ War
In 1578, Amsterdam gave its support to William I of Orange, most important leader of the revolt against the Spanish Habsburgs. The principal reasons for the Dutch uprising were: the population wanted religious freedom, the growing nationalist movement, and the nobility wanted more political power. Moreover, the repression of the previous revolts by the Grand Duke of Alba and the introduction of the Council of Troubles had led to more unrest.
William the Taciturn drove the uprising which led to the Eighty Years’ War and the final declaration of independence of the Dutch Republic in 1648.
Meanwhile, the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580 drove Portugal and Spain to unite under Philip II of Spain, so Amsterdam had to find new suppliers. Against the prohibition of Spain, the Dutch ships sailed to the Malabar region of southern India, Malacca in Malaysia, the Maluku Islands in Indonesia and the small Antilles.
In 1609, the city of Amsterdam founded one of the earliest banks, very similar to the banks in the north of Italy like Venice. It became essential for the development of the city's trade and commerce. During the 17th century, Amsterdam grew into the most powerful financial centre in the world, and its stock market was one of the first to work daily.
The First Golden Age
The 17th century is considered the city's Golden Age. Amsterdam demonstrated its world power by constructing magnificent buildings in the Old Town, for example, the Town Hall in Dam Square. The city also became home for many European artists and intellectuals, like Rembrandt, Spinoza and Descartes, who fled from the various wars that were ravaging the Old Continent.
The Athenaeum Illustre school was established in 1632.
Dutch tolerance attracted many expelled Jews from Spain and Portugal to Amsterdam and the rest of the Republic. Consequently, it became an international centre of precious stones and metals.
During the Golden Age, the wealthy merchants controlled the city. To defend their interests, the citizens broke Amsterdam’s dikes in two occasions, in opposition to William II and Louis XIV of France.
In 1602, the headquarters of the Dutch East India Company was established in Amsterdam. Its colonial traffic covered half the world and competed against England, Spain and Portugal. In later years, this company transported slaves between Africa and America.
By the end of the century, the Dutch Republic lost a lot of its power over its colonies to England. Moreover, Amsterdam lost political power to The Hague.
The conflicts against England, the Prussian and French troops put an end to the country’s Golden Age.
Amsterdam, Capital of the Netherlands
In 1810, Napoleon invaded the Netherlands, creating the Kingdom of Holland, and Amsterdam became the capital. The country suffered greatly, especially its trade because of the international blockade.
After the defeat of the French troops, the Congress of Vienna in 1815 created the new United Kingdom of the Netherlands, which incorporated Belgium and Luxembourg. Amsterdam remained the capital of the new country.
In 1830, the Belgians revolted and gained their independence. Later, Luxembourg would do the same.
Amsterdam experienced a second Golden Age during the last decades of the 19th century, thanks to the Industrial Revolution. This new wealth changes the cityscape considerably, it was a time of great public works, new museums, the Central Station, the Concertgebouw, and the opening of new canals.
During World War I, the Netherlands remained neutral.
During World War II, the Netherlands tried to remain neutral but was invaded by the Nazis on May 10 1940.
The persecution of the Jews in Amsterdam was one of its darkest days. 100,000 Jews were deported to extermination camps. One of the victims of the occupation was the famous Anne Frank.
Amsterdam Nowadays
Nowadays, Amsterdam has lost its former commercial importance to the port of Rotterdam and political power to The Hague, the current economic capital of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam remains the intellectual centre of the Netherlands; an industrial (diamond cutting) and service city (Schiphol Airport), a multicultural city with a large percentage of immigrants and a universal symbol of tolerance and freedom.
