Editing Amsterdam

{{Short description|Capital city of the Netherlands}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Amsterdam
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = [[North Holland]]
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
}}

'''Amsterdam''' is the capital and largest city of the [[Netherlands]]. It is located in the province of [[North Holland]] and forms one of the main urban centres of the [[Randstad]]. The city developed around the [[Amstel]] and the [[IJ]], and is known for its canal system, historic centre, port activity, financial sector, museums, and tourism.

Amsterdam is the constitutional capital of the Netherlands. The Dutch government and parliament are seated in [[The Hague]].

== History ==
Amsterdam began as a settlement at a dam on the Amstel. During the Middle Ages, it developed into a trading town with growing access to inland waterways and the North Sea. By the early modern period, Amsterdam had become one of the main commercial cities of the Dutch Republic.

During the seventeenth century, Amsterdam expanded rapidly as a centre of maritime trade, finance, shipping, and colonial commerce. The canal belt was built during this period and became one of the defining parts of the city’s urban layout.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Amsterdam expanded beyond its older centre. New residential districts, railway links, industrial areas, and port facilities changed the city from a historic trading centre into a modern capital city.

During the [[Second World War]], Amsterdam was occupied by [[Nazi Germany]] from 1940 until the German surrender in the Netherlands in May 1945. After the war, the city returned to civilian administration and continued to grow as a national centre of culture, business, education, and transport.

== Geography ==
Amsterdam lies in western Netherlands in the province of North Holland. The city is built on low-lying land and is shaped by canals, waterways, bridges, and reclaimed areas.

The historic centre lies south of the IJ. Amsterdam-Noord is located north of the IJ and is connected to the rest of the city by ferries, tunnels, and road infrastructure.

== Economy ==
Amsterdam’s economy is based mainly on services. Finance, business administration, tourism, education, media, and cultural institutions form major parts of the city’s economic activity.

The port remains part of Amsterdam’s industrial and logistical structure. It connects the city to regional trade routes and the North Sea Canal.

== Local networks ==
Amsterdam is referenced in several pages connected to the [[Paap family]]. [[Edwin Paap]] was born in Amsterdam on 15 January 1957 and spent much of his early and middle adult life in and around the city. His black market activity was connected to informal trade networks and later long-distance travel.

[[Johnnie Paap]] moved from [[Birmingham]] to the Netherlands and became active in black market work in Amsterdam and [[Rotterdam]]. His activity in the city involved illegal trading and robbery.

[[Ben Paap]] was born in Amsterdam on 19 May 1978. He later lived in [[New York City]] and became the father of [[Benny Paap]].

Amsterdam is also connected to the [[Trust]] organization led by [[Hugo Broers]]. The organization operated in the city and cooperated with members of the [[Hoos family]] and the Paap family in narcotics distribution and transport networks.

== See also ==
* [[Netherlands]]
* [[North Holland]]
* [[Paap family]]
* [[Hoos family]]
* [[Edwin Paap]]
* [[Johnnie Paap]]
* [[Ben Paap]]
* [[Trust]]
* [[Hugo Broers]]
* [[Rotterdam]]


[[Category:Cities in North Holland]]
[[Category:Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Locations]]