Amsterdam is the capitol of The Netherlands. In contrast to other cosmopolitain cities Amsterdam is not that big and famous, but this way it has kept its own traditional charme besides its international development. Well-known are the historical canals of Amsterdam, the so called "Grachten", which pass through the city and characterize the whole townscape.
Amsterdam is especially regarded as a cultural metropolis of music, dance and extensive nightlife. Many ballet and orchestra performances, theatre plays, muscials, cinema shows, pop concerts and clubbing events can be visited every day. But Amsterdam also offers a lot of art galleries and museums. For example, in the Rijksmuseum, the country's largest art collection, in the Vincent van Goghmuseum or in the Amsterdams Historisch Museum one can find hundreds of exhibits and paintings from the famous Dutch artists and informations about the history of the capital.
Shopping is another popular possibility in Amsterdam. The most boutiques, stores, souvenir shops and street markets are located round about the Nieuwendijk-Kalverstraat. There can also be found one of the special appearances in Amsterdam, the coffee shops, where little amounts of Cannabis can be bought and smoked legally. And modern restaurants for every international taste as well as traditional cafés, the so called "Pancake Houses", invite tourists to take a break in the lively downtown swirling.
