Amsterdam along the IJ
Summary
Holland, or
the Netherlands as the country should be called, is one of the flattest countries in Europe. The Dutch, and the capital Amsterdam in particular, are known to be laid back and relaxed so you can be assured that your vacation in Amsterdam will be peaceful. Like most European cities Amsterdam is built spanning an important river, the IJ, which divides the various areas of the city into distinct regions.
Author: E. Alan
Article
Nowadays there is no better place when talking about Amsterdam
than the northern part of the city. Each time I have to cross
the IJ by ferry, the river which divides the northern part of
Amsterdam from the old center, I notice all over again how
joyful it is to watch the sun through the small waves of the
river. Unfortunately, this enjoyment does not take long. Exactly
at the moment of feeling the rhythm of the waves the journey
ends: you have to leave the ferry.
Getting from the north of the city to the center takes about 3
to 4 minutes. The IJ is a small river. When you are on the
northern part you can easily hear the voices coming from the
Central Station on the other end. Nevertheless, when living in
North Amsterdam you don't really have the feeling of living in
the center or even in Amsterdam itself.
Although the city has a worldwide known name, nobody abroad
believes that it has only a population of eight hundred thousand
people. Nearly everybody expects a city with a billion of
inhabitants likewise other cities with known names. But the
citizens of Amsterdam know that their city is not comparable to
London or Paris. Modestly, they call their city 'a big village'.
I wonder whether this is an appropriate nomination. You would
expect villagers to stay closer to each other, even those living
in a big one. The given example of the North denies this.
Recently, on July 2nd, the council of the city organized for
the first time '
the day of Amsterdam' on the Dam Square, aiming
'to bring the different cultures of the city closer to each
other'. There was music and audition of some popular artists and
famous faces of the city. In spite of many announcements there
were not more then some hundred people, half of them tourists
anyway, when the council general declared that he was in love
with the city. The council quickly found a culprit for the
disinterest: the sun was shining, so people would prefer other
places than the Dam square.
Some of the online readers of a popular rightwing newspaper have
given another explanation for the failure: "Amsterdam exists for
the bigger part by illegal foreigners and tourists. The real
citizens of Amsterdam have flied years ago."
Amsterdam has recently started with multiple projects around the
IJ to get off its 17th century image and to create a new basis
for its growth outside the tired city center. New cultural
buildings, living units and business centers arise behind the
Central Station which used to be one of the most impoverished
parts of the center. Over 4 to 5 years all the projects will be
finished; Amsterdam could be around the IJ like London around
the Thames or Paris around the Seine.
The changing climate will positively stimulate the life along
the upcoming IJ Boulevard in its own way. But whether the
distance between the North and the center will get shorter, or
whether the ferry trip will deliver the same pleasure as now, is
difficult to assess. But nevertheless, nobody will call
Amsterdam 'a big village' anymore.
(published at: http://www.tobook.com/newsletter/newsletter.asp)
About the author:
E. Alan has studied history and economics in the Netherlands.
Works since 2003 as freelance ecommerce advisor in the travel
industry.
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