Water is never just water in Amsterdam. It marks the be- ginning and end of every story, limit and liberty, obstacle and driver. And it was precise- ly around a dam on the River Amstel, on 12 th October 1275, that the history of this city be- gan unfolding — when it was mentioned as Amestelledam- me in the charter issued by Count Floris V that exempted local fishermen from paying tolls. That old parchment is to- day considered the birth cer- tificate of Amsterdam, which has existed in harmony wi- th water, wind and the people who created it for seven and a half centuries. From swamp to metropolis The site of today’s city cen- tre was once a swamp, occu- pied by a number of modest settlements that struggled to cope with floods and high ti- des. When the first inhabi - tants built a dam on the Am- stel, they could have had no idea that they were laying the foundations of a city that wo-
Jubilee year Celebrations commemora- ting this great anniversary be- gan last month and ran un- til 27 th October, which marked exactly 750 years since the ci- ty was first mentioned in an official document. Amster - dam has been a stage for con- certs, exhibitions, performan- ces and art projects — ranging from central events to small neighbourhood initiatives – throughout the entire year, and this will continue in November. So, be sure to check it out for yourself! City that celebrates the future Amsterdam isn’t only celebra- ting the past, but also what’s yet to come. This jubilee ye- ar has seen the launch of nu- merous initiatives that explo- re what the city will look like in the next 50 and 100 years - how it will preserve its herita- ge while remaining open, inc- lusive and sustainable. That’s because Amsterdam is a ci- ty that doesn’t stand still, even after seven and a half centu- ries. It continues to flow – like the water on which it was cre- ated. But while we await futu-
uld become one of Europe’s most important commercial and cultural centres. And it was that combination of per- sistence, ingenious enginee- ring and free spirit that gave birth to Amsterdam — a city of canals, bridges and ships, artists and dreamers, toleran- ce and unbridled creativity.
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