Amsterdam, center, southwest

• State:
• Country: Netherlands
  Archaeological finds in Amsterdam date from Roman times, but there is no evidence of a substantial settlement. About 1100 AD Amsterdam's fist permanent settlers, dambuilders, farming and fisherman, tamed the marshlands around the Amstel with ditches and dikes. The city grew rapidly after 1300 becoming a trading center between the North and Baltic Seas and Mediterranean Europe. The city prospered beyond expectations but due to the wealth of the merchants and craftsmen and with the Reformation, Calvinism sweep Amsterdam's citizenry, with its emphasis on sobriety, hard work and community-based worship. William of Orange and these Calvinists took on the imperial power of Spain's Catholic Philip II, and in 1578 they captured Amsterdam. The following year Amsterdam plus seven northern provinces declared themselves the independent republic of Holland. Amsterdam's golden age (1580-1740) began after Antwerp was captured by Spain and its access to the sea restricted. By 1600, Amsterdam's ships dominated maritime trade