Amsterdam Old Stock Exchange, founded by Dutch East India Company in 1602, is the first stock exchange in the world. Today, it is the rehearsal place and concert hall of the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra, and also hosts various exhibitions. On September 22nd, 2000, Amsterdam Stock Exchange merged with Brussels Stock Exchange and Paris Stock Exchange to form Euronext. The Amsterdam Stock Exchange (AEX) has now joined the European Stock Exchange, which is the oldest stock exchange in the world and one of the largest in Europe. It is located next to the Dam Square in the city center. It is also the center of Amsterdam.
On the "castle" of the old stock exchange, a trident flag flies high. The flag of the Netherlands is a tricolor flag, while the city flag of Amsterdam is a trident flag. These three forks represent water, fire and plague respectively. As a lowland city with such a developed water vein, floods have brought disasters to this city, as well as fires and the Black Death. Now the fork representing these three destructive forces is taken as the symbol of the city, which is intended to reflect the determination of the city not to forget the old pain, unite as one and fight against various disasters. Only the Dutch can use this meaning as the city flag. Anyway, no city in China can use it. That's why I saw a trident sign on a house before, and I imagined it was the mayor's residence, because the trident flag is the city flag of Amsterdam.
This street leads to Amsterdam Dam Square, which belongs to the city center, so it is also a very prosperous commercial street. There is a famous French fries shop in this street, and many people queue up to buy French fries every day.
The French fries shop is opposite the old stock exchange. One does big business and the other does small business, but they don't affect each other.
Although the streets are crowded with people, trams still jingle past and pedestrians here will walk freely in the driveway. On a road, people can walk and cars can walk. Without traffic police, auxiliary police and traffic volunteers, the road is safe.
Because there is no zebra crossing and no traffic lights on this road, pedestrians just cross the road. Amsterdam, a free kingdom, is really free.
Shopping centers in the bustling business district.
The police here ride motorcycles and the police in Amsterdam ride horses. How handsome!
Look at this style of painting. How do you feel?
This is not on duty, it is clearly two people riding a horse and pressing the road.
Look at this dam square, there is a road across the middle, which makes people come to race horses.
This is the most famous dam square in Amsterdam, and the building behind the square is the palace. In fact, it was the city hall in Amsterdam when it was built. Later, during the French occupation, Napoleon's younger brother turned this place into a palace. However, the Dutch royal family does not live here. This palace is sometimes used as a reception place for heads of state and is open to the public in summer.
Dam Square was originally built at the end of 12. The north of a dam square on the Amsto River is now the old city. Houses in this area used to be shops, which were very lively. There is also a famous person here-zacarias Zhan Sen, inventor of the telescope.
Amsterdam Palace is one of the four royal palaces in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. According to an act of Parliament, Queen Beya Trix once used this palace. This palace was built in the golden age of Holland in the17th century, when it was the city hall of Amsterdam. 1655 was unveiled on July 20th, with a history of more than 350 years. Later it became the Dutch Palace in louis bonaparte. Napoleon once lived in this palace. This beautiful palace, which represents the traditional architecture in the Netherlands, was designed by Jacques Wang Kangpeng from 1648 to 1655. 1808, Napoleon became the king of the Netherlands, and it was used as a palace until he retired two years ago. The facade of the palace gives the impression that it is neat and square. The triangular eyebrow sculpture on the top of the window on the fifth floor is the work of the sculptor A Kreneng, who was born in Anweisha. The sculpture tells the prosperous scene of Amsterdam surrounded by sea gods and sea spirits. The octagonal tower with dome on the house matches the appearance. It is located on the west side of Dam Square in the center of Amsterdam, facing the War Memorial Hall and adjacent to the new church.
This beautiful palace, which represents the traditional architecture in the Netherlands, was designed by Jacques Wang Kangpeng from 1648 to 1655. 1808, Napoleon became the king of the Netherlands, and it was used as a palace until he retired two years ago. The facade of the palace gives the impression that it is neat and square. The triangular eyebrow sculpture on the top of the window on the fifth floor is the work of the sculptor A Kreneng, who was born in Anweisha. The sculpture tells the prosperous scene of Amsterdam surrounded by sea gods and sea spirits. The octagonal tower with dome on the house matches the appearance.
War Monument, another important symbol of Dam Square. The White National Monument in the center of the square was built at 1956 to commemorate the victims of World War II.
This monument is also the most politically significant building in Amsterdam.
Now it has become an entertainment center for citizens and tourists, and this political significance has been ignored at this time.
For centuries, Dam Square has been the political and commercial center of the whole city. The former city hall, the Bureau of Metrology and the surplus market were all stationed here, and political turmoil of various reasons was also held here, such as provocative movements, anti-Vietnam wars and so on. However, Dam Square is just a bustling business district where people gather.
People who play here are also eclectic. Sit anywhere, nobody cares.
The policeman on horseback also chatted with this beautiful little friend.
The seemingly chaotic square is also safe.
This is a pedestrian street adjacent to Dam Square, with various shops and restaurants on both sides of the street. The guide put us here and let us arrange our own dinner. I felt that there was not enough time, so I bought a sandwich and started street shooting. Rare free time, I have to pay close attention to sightseeing and taking photos, and I can't spend my time eating.
At the end of this street is a canal, which runs through every part of the city.
According to the tour guide, the red light district in Amsterdam is on both sides of the canal here.
In Amsterdam, the red light district is legal. The red light district here is a network of roads and alleys. In these streets, there are hundreds of small single-room apartments rented by female sex workers, who provide services behind windows or glass doors specially lit with red lights. There are also many sex shops, sex theaters, westerns, a sex museum, a marijuana museum, and many marijuana cafes that offer all kinds of marijuana products. Although 26% tourists will come to this area to "see", the number of brothels is still declining, so that the Chamber of Commerce issued a warning.
Because I was not curious about these things and didn't want to visit them, I didn't go in at all, only took a few photos of the customs on both sides of the canal bridge.
There are many legal places in the red light district. Some people will take advantage of the opportunity of outbound travel to patronize exclusively and provide it on demand. This is the law of the market. As for the consequences, adults will have to bear it themselves.
Now it is a tolerant society, what's more, in a city like Amsterdam, anyone can choose their favorite lifestyle. Freedom, openness and tolerance are the city cards of Amsterdam.
Returning to the Dam Square again, it is still a crowded scene.
The van selling hot dogs still sells his hot dogs in the same place, completely ignoring the people around and the environment.
In the shop window next to Dam Square, there is such a poster, which makes people look very kind. This must be the designated shopping shop of the tour group. The "custom" that our China tourists love shopping is welcomed by people all over the world!