Amsterdam

Amsterdam, founded in the 12th century as a small fishing village, grew into a major trading hub during the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age. Its strategic location on the Amstel River and near the North Sea made it a center for global trade and finance, symbolized by its iconic canals and the Dutch East India Company.
Beyond trade, Amsterdam became a beacon of liberalism and progress, influencing European social and political thought. It played a crucial role in the Enlightenment and was a site of resistance during World War II. Today, it remains a cultural and historical landmark with global significance.