Amsterdam, Netherlands — City Information
City Facts
- Location
- Noord-Holland, The Netherlands.
- Time Zone
- GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).
- Electricity
- 220 volts AC, 50Hz; two-pin European-style plugs are in use.
- Language
- The official language of The Netherlands is Dutch (also known as Netherlandish), which is spoken by 14 million people. There are also nearly 6 million Dutch speakers in Belgium, mostly based in Flanders. English is widely (and well) spoken in Amsterdam as it is taught in schools from an early age. Many people also speak German and French. Amsterdam itself has had a profound impact on the formation of Standard Dutch. This is due to the fact that large numbers of people moved from the Southern Provinces to the North, mainly settling in Amsterdam, as a result of the religious upheavals throughout the Low Countries in the latter part of the sixteenth century. These immigrants tended to be wealthy and educated, and inevitably the language they brought with them attained a level of social prestige equal to its speakers. As the language of Amsterdam’s upper classes increasingly became the written norm, so the original dialects of Holland remained entrenched in the spoken language. To this day, there can still be significant differences between the written and spoken forms of Dutch. Phrases Yes - Ja No - Nee Hello - Hallo Goodbye - Tot ziens Please - Alstublieft Thank you - Dank u wel My name is ... - Mijn naam is ... / ik heet ... How are you? - Hoe gaat het? I’m very well - Met mij gaat het goed I feel ill - Ik voel me ziek How much does it cost? - Hoeveel kost het? Do you speak English? - Spreekt u Engels? I don’t understand - Ik begrijp het niet Where is ...? - Waar is ...? Entrance - Ingang Exit - Uitgang Danger - Gevaar Open - Geopend Closed - Gesloten Toilets - Toiletten / WC Doctor - Dokter Hotel - Hotel Restaurant - Restaurant Beer - Bier Wine - Wijn Menu - Menu Today - Vandaag Tomorrow - Morgen Monday - Maandag Tuesday - Dinsdag Wednesday - Woensdag Thursday - DonderdagFriday - VrijdagSaturday - ZaterdagSunday - ZondagOne - EenTwo - TweeThree - DrieFour - VierFive - VijfSix - ZesSeven - ZevenEight - AchtNine - NegenTen - TienTwenty - TwintigThirty - DertigForty - VeertigFifty - VijftigSixty - ZestigSeventy - ZeventigEighty - TachtigNinety - NegentigOne Hundred - HonderdOne Thousand - Duizend
Cost of Living
| 1.00 GBP = 1.13 EUR |
| 1.00 USD = 0.7 EUR |
| Currency conversion rates as of 19 July 2011 |
Special Events
Remembrance Day
March
Some 20,000 locals remember the war dead with the Dutch Royal Family.
Dam Square
National Museum Weekend
April
Free entry to many of Amsterdam's museums.
Throughout the city
Website: www.museumweekend.nl
Queen's Day
April
One of the world's largest street parties, with parades, fireworks and celebrations.
Throughout the city
National Biking Day
May
Locals take to the streets on their bikes.
Throughout the city
Holland Festival
June
The Netherlands' biggest summer festival features music, dance and drama.
Various venues
Website: www.hollandfestival.nl
Canal Run
June
Race around the canals.
Prinsengracht and Vijzelgracht canals
Over Het IJ Festival
July
Festival of experimental theater.
NDSM wharf, Amsterdam-Noord
Website: www.overhetij.nl
Grachtenfestival
August
Over 70 classical concerts.
Various venues
Website: www.grachtenfestival.nl
Amsterdam Gay Pride
August
Gay festival with a canal-side parade.
Various venues
Website: www.amsterdampride.nl
Flower Parade
September
Colorful and fragrant parade through the city streets to celebrate the Dutch's love of flowers.
Museumnacht
November
Special presentations and performances in over 30 museums, which open their doors 1900-0200 that night.
Throughout the city
Website: www.n8.nl
