Amsterdam is a seaport and the largest city of The Netherlands.

Amsterdam is located in Noord-Holland (North Holland) Province, on the IJ (an arm of the IJsselmeer), near The Hague. It is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of The Netherlands, as well as the country’s official capital; however, the real center of national government is in The Hague.

Amsterdam is a remarkably flat city. Most of the metropolis rests on a foundation of piles driven through peat and sand to a firm substratum of clay.

More than 160 canals divide the city into about 90 islands, which are joined by more than 1,000 bridges. The many canals are a famed attraction for visitors, as are the city’s thousands of historic buildings and homes, world-class museums, and tolerant social attitudes.