VISIT TO EUROPE - NETHERLANDS - AMSTERDAM - I

CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY
C/O COL GKS REDDY

Secunderabad - 500015


Visit Netherlands (23 & 24 Sep 2013)

          The Netherlands (i/ˈnɛðərləndz/; Dutch: Nederland [ˈneːdərˌlɑnt] ( listen)) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, consisting of twelve provinces in North-West Europe and three islands in the Caribbean. The European part of the Netherlands borders theNorth Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders[9] with Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom. It is a parliamentary democracy organised as a unitary state. The capital is Amsterdam and the seat of government is The Hague. The Netherlands in its entirety is often referred to as "Holland", although North and South Holland are actually only two of its provinces.

          The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying country, with about 20% of its area and 21% of its population located below sea level, and 50% of its land lying less than one metre above sea level. This distinct feature contributes to the country's name: in Dutch (Nederland), English, and in many other European languages, its name literally means "(The) Low Countries" or "Low Country". Most of the areas below sea level are man-made, caused by centuries of extensive and poorly controlled peat extraction, lowering the surface by several metres. Even in flooded areas peat extraction continued through turf dredging. From the late 16th century land reclamation started and large polder areas are now preserved through elaborate drainage systems with dikes, canals and pumping stations. Much of the Netherlands is formed by the estuary of three important European rivers, which together with their distributaries form the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta. Most of the country is very flat, with the exception of foothills in the far south-east and several low hill ranges in the central parts.

On arrival at Amsterdam Central Station by Train from Brussels (Belgium)

Visit Amsterdam (23 Sep 2013)

          Amsterdam (English /ˈæmstərdæm/; Dutch: [ˌɑmstərˈdɑm] ( listen)) is the capital city of and most populous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Its status as the Dutch capital is mandated by the Constitution of the Netherlands though it is not the seat of the Dutch government, which is at The Hague (Den Haag). Amsterdam has a population of 805,166 within the city-proper, 1,563,141 in the urban region and 2,349,870 in the greater metropolitan area. The city is located in the province of North Holland in the west of the country. It comprises much of the northern part of the Randstad, one of the larger conurbations in Europe, with a population of approximately 7 million 

          Amsterdam's name derives from Amstelredamme, indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. Originating as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age, a result of its innovative developments in trade. During that time, the city was the leading center for finance and diamonds. In the 19th and 20th centuries,the city expanded, and many new neighborhoods and suburbs were planned and built. The 17th-century canals of Amsterdam and the 19–20th century Defence Line of Amsterdam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Amsterdam Railway Station

          Amsterdam Centraal (code: Asd) is the central railway station of Amsterdam. It is also one of the main railway hubs of the Netherlands and is used by 250,000 passengers a day, excluding transferring passengers. It is the starting point of Amsterdam Metro lines 51, 53 and 54. 

          Amsterdam building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and A. L. van Gendt. It first opened in 1889 and features a roof span of approximately 40 metres fabricated in cast iron by Andrew Handyside of Derby, England. The station is currently under reconstruction due to the construction of the North/South metro line (metro line 52). 

          Amsterdam Centraal is twinned with Liverpool Street station in London, in the United Kingdom, the other terminus of the Dutchflyer rail-ferry service. 

A view of Amsterdam Central Railway Station

A closer view of Amsterdam Central Railway Station

Intel Hotel Amsterdam, where we checked in

Near the Amsterdam City, Sight seeing Bus

Inside the sight seeing Bus

Visit to Anne Frank House

          The Anne Frank House located on the Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is a museum dedicated to Jewish wartime diaristAnne Frank, who hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the building. As well as the preservation of the hiding place — known in Dutch as the Achterhuis — and an exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, the museum acts as an exhibition space to highlight all forms of persecution and discrimination.

          It opened on 3 May 1960 with the aid of public subscription, three years after a foundation was established to protect the property from developers who wanted to demolish the block.

Statue of Anne Frank, In front of Anne Frank House, Amsterdam

In Queue for purchase of entry tickets to Anne Frank House

Ticket counter at the entrance of Anne Frank House

The only photograph we had taken inside the Museum, before being told that, 

Photography was prohibited

A view of Anne Frank House

Westerkerk – Amsterdam

          The Westerkerk was one of the first purposely built Protestant churches. Today the Westerkerk remains the largest church in the Netherlands that was built for Protestants.

          The Westerkerk was built in 1620-1631 after a design by the late Renaissance architect Hendrick de Keyser  in the Dutch Renaissance style and in the form of a patriarchal cross.

          The spire, called the Westertoren ("Western tower"), is the highest church tower in Amsterdam, at 85 meters (279 feet). The crown topping the spire is the Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximilian I. The church bells were made by François Hemony in 1648.

A view of Westerkerk, Amsterdam

Another view of Westerkerk

NEMO Science Centre

          Science Center Nemo is a science center in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is located at the Oosterdok in Amsterdam-Centrum, situated between the Oosterdokseiland and Kattenburg and built in the shape of a ship. The museum has its origins in 1923, and is housed in a building designed by Renzo Piano since 1997. It contains five floors of hands-on science exhibitions and is the largest science center in the Netherlands. It attracts annually over 500,000 visitors, which makes it the fifth most visited museum in the Netherlands.

NEMO Science Centre (Museum), the Blue Building constructed in the shape 

of a ship and located near Maritime Museum

A closeup of NEMO Science Centre (Museum)

Amsterdam Maritime Musem

         The National Maritime Museum (Dutch: Het Scheepvaartmuseum) is a maritime museum in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The museum is housed in a former naval storehouse, 's Lands Zeemagazijn or Admiraliteits Magazijn, designed by the Dutch architect Daniël Stalpaert and constructed in 1656. The museum moved to this building in 1973.

            The museum is dedicated to maritime history and contains many artifacts associated with shipping and sailing. The collection contains, among other things, paintings, scale models, weapons and world maps. The paintings depict Dutch naval officers such as Michiel de Ruyter and impressive historical sea battles.

          Moored outside the museum is a replica of the Amsterdam, an 18th-century ship which sailed between the Netherlands and the East Indies. The replica was built in the years 1985-1990. After an extensive renovation in 2007-2011, Het Scheepvaartmuseum reopened on October 2nd 2011.

A view of Amsterdam Maritime Museum

A replica of the Amsterdam, the famous 18th Century Ship, which sailed between Netherlands and 

the East Indies, Moored just behind the Maritime Museum

A closer view of "The Amsterdam"

Gooyer Windmill Amsterdam

          visit de Gooyer or Fuenmolen located on Fuenenkade 7. East of Amsterdam, this windmill houses Bierbrouwerij ‘t Ij, a brewery that still sells the traditional Dutch Y-lake (Ijmeer) beer. Of all of the 8 mills, this is probably the easiest to get as it is within walking distance of the Maritime museum. If you happen to be in the city on the first Saturday of the month, you might just catch the windmill in action.

A view of Gooyer Windmill, Amsterdam from across the Road

A view of Gooyer Windmill from the same side of the Road

A closer view of the Gooyer Windmill

Gassan Diamonds

          The diamond factory of Gassan Diamonds is situated in a monumental steam-driven diamond-cutting factory that dates back to 1878, close to the Waterlooplein.

          Find out how rough diamonds are turned into dazzling exquisitely stones. During a free guided tour you can admire the diamond polishers at workwhile staff explains where diamonds are found and what stages a diamond goes through before it is transformed into a brilliant cut diamond.

          Experience the optimal reflection of the Gassan 121, a cut developed in this diamond house and world wide patented. Subsequently an explanation is given to determine the quality of diamonds and their related value. Loose polished diamonds are shown in various sizes and qualities.

A view of Gassan Diamond Factory, Amsterdam

At the Lobby inside the Gassan Diamond Factory

Diamond cutting tools inside the workshop. All cutting is done manually

Basilica of St Nicholas, Amsterdam

          The Basilica of St. Nicholas (or Sint-Nicolaasbasiliek in Dutch) is located in the Old Centre district of Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the city's major Catholic church. 

          Officially the church was called St. Nicholas inside the Walls, i.e. the oldest part of the Amsterdam defence works. The architect, Adrianus Bleijs(1842-1912) designed the church basing himself on a combination of several revival styles of which Neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance are the most prominent models.

          The facade is crowned by two towers with a rose window in between. The centre of this window is formed by a bas relief depicting Christ and the four Evangelists, made in the Van den Bossche and Crevels workshop in 1886.

A view of Basilica of St Nicholas, Amsterdam

A closer view of the Basilica

Victoria Hotel, Amsterdam

          Built in 1890, the 4-star deluxe Victoria Hotel Amsterdam features contemporary as well as monumental rooms. All 306 well appointed rooms include superior rooms, executive rooms, suites, non-smoking and disabled friendly rooms. All rooms have Internet access, wireless LAN and modem hook-ups. You can also make use of the Seasons Garden Restaurant, Lobby Lounge Bar and Park Plaza Brasserie.

          Conveniently located in the Amsterdam centre and opposite the Central Station of Amsterdam. Situated in the heart of the bustling shopping and business district. Just 15 minutes away from Schiphol Airport by train and 45 minutes by car.

A view of the famous Victoria Hotel at Amsterdam Central

Beaurs Van Berlage

          The Beurs van Berlage is a building on the Damrak, in the centre of Amsterdam. It was designed as a commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage and constructed between 1896 and 1903. It influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists and the Amsterdam School. It is now used as a venue for concerts, exhibitions and conferences.

          The building is constructed of red brick, with an iron and glass roof and stone piers, lintels and corbels. Its entrance is under a 40m high clock tower, while inside lie three large multi-storey halls formerly used as trading floors, with offices and communal facilities grouped around them.

A view of the Beurs Van Berlage complex from the Central Square Amsterdam

A closer view of the complex from the Central Square

A frontal view of the Beaurs Van Berlage complex

A closer Frontal view of the complex

The Main Entrance to the Complex

Note:- The information about the places visited has been Extracted from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia