Panoramic view of Amsterdam Centre, Prins Hendrikkade by Rietje Bulthuis

Panoramic photo of Amsterdam Centre, Prins Hendrikkade.
Amsterdam is the country of the Netherlands. The city, also called Mokum in Amsterdam, is located in the province of North Holland, on the IJ and the mouth of the Amstel river.
Amsterdam owes its name to its location near a dam in the Amstel river, built in the 13th century. Shortly after 1300 the town was granted city rights and in the Golden Age it became one of the most important port and trading cities in the world. An influx of foreigners, especially from the Southern Netherlands, Germany and the Scandinavian countries, led to urban expansion from the end of the 16th century onwards, including the last canals of the fortification which is now known as the ring of canals and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010.
The inner city of Amsterdam is located south of the IJ. The oldest area of the city is the Red Light District, nowadays famous as a prostitution area. Around the oldest core the ring of canals developed in a crescent shape until the 17th century. The city centre has several protected cityscapes: Within the Singelgracht and the Nieuwmarkt area.