Page 70 - A History of the World in 25 Cities

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In the seventeenth century, the city of Amsterdam became the most successful trading and financial centre in Europe. Ships from Holland carried more cargo around the globe than those from all other European countries combined, with merchants trading in spices and other rare goods and making
huge profits. The city’s canal system transported the goods to buyers around Amsterdam and beyond.
Has encircled the city since the Middle Ages, acting as a defensive moat.
Built as a
town hall for the city, using yellow sandstone.
The widest of the major canals in the city, dug in 1615.
Also known as the Patricians’ Canal or Lords’ Canal.
Includes the ‘Golden Bend’ with its
impressive mansions.
The main city square and
site of the first dam across the
Amstel river.
Rope was essential to
a bustling port city, and
making it required long, narrow production areas
for twisting the strands.
Named after the Prince of Orange and built in 1612. This is
the longest of the main canals.
In 1602, Amsterdam became home to the world’s first stock exchange, where investments were made and shares were traded. This made the rich people in the city very, very rich. Their success paid for the growth of Amsterdam and its network of beautiful canals. This period was known as the Dutch ‘Golden Age’.
Built to protect the city against invasion.
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