Fun facts about Amsterdam for kids and curious adults! Amsterdam facts about history, geography, food and much more
One of the things I love the most about planning a trip with my kids is researching fun facts about our destination.
I like how this exercise makes them (and me!) learn about a place.
I like even more when these fun facts become an excuse to observe our surroundings more, while away.
Looking for clues to prove what we learned turns even a simple stroll into an educational and fun scavenger hunt!
I guess this comes as no surprise, considering this site is called Learning Escapes!
For Amsterdam, this exercise was exceptionally rewarding and fun!
We have traveled to Amsterdam with kids many times.
Before and during these trips, we have made a special effort to learn about the city, gather facts about Amsterdam, hist story, geography and culture from the web, school books, local guides and personal observations.
Based on our travels and research, these are some fun facts about Amsterdam for kids.
Table of Contents
Essential Amsterdam Facts: Amsterdam in numbers
- Amsterdam Location: North Holland (Noord Holland), The Netherlands, Northern Europe
- Poulation: 1,174,000 in 2023
- Language spoken: Dutch
- City crest: 3 black crosses on red and white background
- Weather: temperate climate, with 4 seasons: winter, summer, spring and fall
- Amsterdam Timezone: GMT+1
- Currency: Euro
- Amsterdam most famous landmarks: Amsterdam Canal Ring, Rijksmuseum, Dam Square, Anne Franke House, Van Gogh Museum, Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo, Bloemen Markt
- Football team: Ajax Amsterdam
Fun facts about Amsterdam for kids and curious adults
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Where is Amsterdam?
Amsterdam in a city in Europe. More precisely, it is located in the country of The Netherland, in the province of North Holland.
Does Amsterdam have a river?
Yes, Amsterdam has a river. Amsterdam’s river is called The Amstel.
Does Amsterdam have mountains?
No, Amsterdam doesn’t have mountains.
The Netherlands are known for being very flat land and very low, so low to be below sea level!
Historically, large parts of te Netherlands were under water but work and dam technology allowed the Dutch to reclaim the land and build a thriving nation.
Where does the name Amsterdam come from?
Many sources report that the name ‘Amsterdam’ derives from the expression ‘Amstel – dam ‘ or ‘the dam on the river Amstel around which Amsterdam was originally built. However, this may not be the case!
According to many historians, the name has a slightly different story.
The name derives from the old Frisian ‘aem’ which means ‘river’ and ‘stelle’ which meant ‘suitable place to stay’.
So in this version of the story, the river took the name from the settlement rather than the other way round and ‘Amsterdam’ means: ‘people who have settled at the dike along the river’.
Schiphol airport is under sea level
Amsterdam Airport is 5 metres below sea level.
While this fact conjures up images of an underwater world of planes, this peculiar location is however not visible from Schiphol itself which is unremarkably similar to many other airports.
However, you can get a sense of this peculiar location by looking out of your plan window while landing from the north.
If you come from above Friesland, try see if you can spot the famous Dutch dams keeping the Netherlands dry!
Amsterdam is a capital without a parliament
According to the Nederlands constitution, Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands.
However, the Dutch parliament and the supreme court, are not in the city but in The Hague, the administrative capital of the Netherlands.
Does Amsterdam have a king?
The Netherlands are a parliamentary democracy but also have a King. King’s Day (Or Queens’ Day, depending on the ruler in charge) is celebrated in Amsterdam every year on the 27th of April.
Does the king live in Amsterdam?
The king and his family have several residences, including the royal palace in Dam Square in Amsterdam, and in The Hague.
The Dutch state now owns the buildings.
What is Amsterdam famous for?
Amsterdam is famous for many reasons:
- Amsterdam is a city on canals, and they are so unique and historically significant, to be UNESCO World Heritage Site
- The city has very peculiar architecture with houses that look a little like gingerbread biscuits, and that attract many visitors from all over the world
- Amsterdam has one of the most famous art museums in he world, such as the Rijks Museum, famous for preserving paintings form the great Dutch Masters
Amsterdam is famous for being an exceptionally bike friendly city. It is even said that Amsterdam has more biked than people (see blow!)
How many canals in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is built over 165 canals of fresh and sea water, which run for over 60 miles.
Together, they are called the Grachtengordel, the Canal Ring.
The most prominent canals are Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht & Singel.
The canal ring is now Amsterdam city centre.
The Herengracht is often considered the most important in the city.
In the 17th century, the richest merchants and the city’s most influential regents and mayors lived on this canal.
Is it true Amsterdam has more canals than Venice?
Yes, it is!
The number of canals in Amsterdam is higher than those in Venice.
Despite this, the city is often dubbed ‘The Venice of the North’ ( a title sometimes shared with Stockholm too).
The canals are not only pretty, but were of crucial economic importance for the city.
Amsterdam is built on what used to be swamp land.
The Dutch reclaimed the land from the water, creating what effectively became islands surrounded by canals.
The canals are nowadays commonly used waterway and they are about 3 metres deep.
Is Amsterdam Unesco world heritage site?
Amsterdam canals entered the UNESCO world heritage sites in 2010.
They are only one of the several UNESCO sites in the Netherlands which also include Schokland, Kinderdijk, Willemstad in Curacao and more (you can find the complete list here)
Is it true in Amsterdam there are more bikes than people?
Indeed, when the last report on bikes in the city was drafted, the results say that Amsterdam counts 881.000 bikes and about 850.000 people in Amsterdam proper.
This means the city technically has more bikes than people!
Indeed, the presence of bikes in Amsterdam is noticeable and sometimes overwhelming.
Bikes often fall into the canals and report says over 12.000 of them get fishes out every year!
My Amsterdam guide said this number is so high that locals joke that the canal bed is now made of mud and bike steel!
Amsterdam houses are tall and slim
Amsterdam traditional house are remarkably tall and slim, especially when overlooking a canal: this is intentional.
When Amsterdam city centre was built, the canals were the main waterways.
Therefore, it was important to ensure that as many people as possible had easy access to them.
Having slim houses meant you could fit more in and allow easy canal access for most.
Other sources report that the reason for the tall and slim houses dates back to a tax regulation that charged on the basis of the size of the facade overlooking the water.
While it is true that such a regulation existed, it cannot be the reason for the narrow shape of the house since the canal ring was built before the regulation came to life
Amsterdam houses lean forward
Amsterdam canal houses lean forward to such an extent the crooked appearance is noticeable even by the most distracted passer by.
They are not however about to collapse but designed this way: Amsterdam’s canal houses used to to be both shops and residences.
The shop owners would keep their stock upstairs and having the house lean forward meant it was easier to hot up good without scraping the facade.
As well as the leaning appearance, houses also bear another sign witness of those times: the hoist just at the top of their roofs, still clearly visible above their facades.
Many houses in Amsterdam don’t use curtains and you can look in
One remarkable trait of Amsterdam houses is their lack of curtains.
As you walk along the streets of Amsterdam city centre it is not unusual to find yourself just in front of someone’ window, able to get a good look inside their house and their daily lives.
The most common explanation for this peculiar choice is said to derive form the Calvinist roots of this area.
Having no curtains and allowing people to peek in was the ultimate way to show you had nothing to hide and were living a pure life.
TThis, or maybe the Dutch wanted to make the most of the light, sometimes scarce in winter.
Why are they selling herring everywhere?
One of the most popular street foods you find in Amsterdam is herring an this food is more than just a popular snack.
Herring has been fished and cured in the Netherlands for over 1000 years and it is the trading and curing of this fish that has allowed the dutch to create the incredible maritime empire that sprawled across the globe.
The herring is till a popular street food now and it is usually eaten in a very relaxed and somewhat awkward fashion: holding it by the tail, you dangle it onto your mouth and give a bite.
Street food at its best if salted oily fish is your type of thing!
Looking for more traditional kids’ fare? Check out these family friendly restaurants in Amsterdam.
There is a houseboat for cats
Amsterdam has several house boats and one of them is now a refuge for cats! While cats are not particularly fond of water, this one is a special place for them where they find care, food and attentions.
You can visit the house boat at designated times and support the cats and their caretaker. You can find their official site here.
The symbol of Amsterdam are three black crosses
The symbol of Amsterdam are three black crosses.
You see flags with them almost anywhere in the city and many adults associate them with the liberal legislation and adult entertainment the city is known for.
However, they are St Andrew’s crosses and current legislation has nothing to do with them!
Orange is not, as such, the colour of the Netherlands
Many people believe orange is the colour of the Netherlands but it is not. Rather, orange is not the colour of the Dutch royal family.
Nowadays you can see it in the colours of the Dutch sports team (football but not only) and absolutely everywhere on Kings Day, when the city celebrates the Kings’s birthday (the day changes its name to queens day when the sovereign is a queen)
I hope you enjoyed this fun facts about Amsterdam. Safe travels!
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This post was originally published in 2018. It has now been fully updated with current statistics and new photos from spring 2023.
