Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Dutch East India
Company (VOC)
Amsterdam's wealth in the 17th
century was in no small measure
due to the success of the VOC.
Founded in 1602, it had a trading
monopoly east of the Cape of
Good Hope. Its legendary fleet
of “East Indiamen”
(see p68)
carried much of Europe's spice
imports until it folded in 1791.
Verzetsmuseum
Following the development
of the Dutch Resistance move-
ment from the German invasion
in May 1940 to the liberation in
May 1945, this exhibition shows
how the Dutch people courage-
ously faced the occupation. Its
fascinating and evocative displays
relate private stories of individual
heroism and place them in their
historical context. Among the
memorabilia are forged identity
papers, old photographs, under-
ground newspapers and deadly
weapons.
d
Plantage Kerklaan 61
•
Map G4
•
020 620 2535
•
www.verzetsmuseum.org
•
Open
10am-5pm Tue-Fri, noon-5pm Sat, Sun
& public holidays
•
Admission charge
De Burcht
gardens, and numerous glass-
houses are crammed into this
small, wedge-shaped botanical
garden. Most of the exotic plants
were collected by the VOC in the
17th and 18th centuries. High-
lights are a 300-year old Cycad
palm, the three-climates glass-
house and a coffee plant, Europe's
first, smuggled out of Ethiopia in
1706.
d
Plantage Middenlaan 2A
•
Map R5
•
020 625 9021
•
www.
dehortus.nl
•
Open Feb-Nov: 9am-5pm
Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, Sun & public
holidays; Dec-Jan: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri,
10am-4pm Sat, Sun & public holidays
•
Admission charge
Hortus Botanicus
About 8,000 different species
of plants, flowers and trees, an
ornamental pond, rock and herb
De Burcht
(Vakbondsmuseum)
Nicknamed “the castle” because
of its crenellated façade, this is
the oldest Trades Union building
in the Netherlands, built in 1900
by H P Berlage of Beurs fame
(see p84)
for the General Dutch
Diamond Workers' Union (ANDB).
Go inside for the stunning tiled
entrance hall and staircase, and
murals by Richard Roland Holst of
the Amsterdam School.
d
Henri
Polaklaan 9
•
Map F4
•
020 624 1166
•
www.deburcht-vakbondsmuseum.nl
•
Open 11am-5pm Tue-Fri, 1-5pm Sun
•
Admission charge
Hortus Botanicus
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