I amsterdam - Water in History

Source of Inspiration
Between the IJ River, which literally means ‘life’, and the Amstel river, the city’s first inhabitants found an area rich in fish, an excellent haven for boats, and a means for extracting tolls from the other boats passing through from the Eastern Sea Trade. But while the water provided a source of wealth, it was also a constant threat to the first inhabitants. Controlling its deadly moods involved innovation and science. The Zuiderzee could get pretty wild and the small dikes constructed by the inhabitants to protect themselves occasion­ally proved inadequate against the waves. If the 13th-century residents didn't lose their lives, they did often see their homes and possessions washed away by the sea. Through time and experience, the inhabitants began to gain hold of the water’s might by mastering the science of water management to create a complex system of dikes and canals.

Source of Wealth
Water was the main inspiration for Amsterdam's wealth in the Golden Age of 17th century, when the city had became the most powerful trading city in the world. Thanks to the prime location, the city began to act as a central point for welcoming and sending off ships from the Spice Routes, attracting merchants, tradesmen and craftsmen from around the world. Merchant houses and warehouses began dotting the canals of the city centre and smaller boats would be seen bringing goods to and from the larger trading ships, using these canals as their transport routes. The city further created a system of bridges and sluices -- many of which are still used today.

Source of Learning
Because the city had played such an active role in the Spice Trade, it began to be recognised for nautical and maritime ingenuity. In fact, Russia’s Czar Peter the Great came to Amsterdam in 1697 to take on incognito work at a shipyard in order to learn the renowned shipbuilding methods. He was so impressed that he used the Dutch flag as inspiration for his country’s flag. Today, many nautical terms in Russian are borrowed from the Dutch language. For example, a trap, which means ‘stairs’ in Dutch, is a term used in Russian for the stairs on a ship.

Source of Life
The intimate relationship between Amsterdam and the water still lives on today. Amsterdam remains one of the top European ports and clearly plays a major role in contemporary culture. A stroll through the city and you will have already crossed a dozen picturesque arched bridges over the canals, seen tour boats and canal bikes, found a plethora of real house boats, and, in the warmer months, Amsterdammers can be found floating around the canals on their own private boats of all sizes. Other evidence of the age-old relationship between Amsterdam and the water are, for example, the floating flower market on the Singel, the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam's nautical quarter, and the countless paintings in the museums commemorating sea battles and heroes. Special events take place year-round on the water, from the Prinsengracht Concert up to Dragon Boat Races and rowing regattas. 2005 is the year of water in the city, and you can read more about the theme events Amsterdam is hosting year round in a special section dedicated to this theme, ‘City on the Water’. Of course, the city will always struggle with the weather as it has throughout history – umbrellas and rain gear do big business here!