High Resolution JPEG Picture of Houseboats on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam with the Westertoren in the distance. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The city, also called Mokum in Amsterdam, is located in the province of Noord-Holland, on the IJ and the mouth of the river Amstel. Amsterdam owes its name to its location at a dam built in the 13th century in the Amstel. The site was granted shortly after 1300 city rights and grew into one of the most important port and trade cities in the world in the Golden Age. An influx of foreigners from mainly the Southern Netherlands, Germany and the Scandinavian countries led from the end of the 16th century to urban expansions, under which the canals are known and in 2010 has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city center of Amsterdam is located south of the IJ. Around the oldest core, the canal belt developed into a crescent shape until the 17th century. [1055451110] stock photo
