Amsterdam and the Industrial Revolution

355 Words2 Pages
The Netherlands – Amsterdam and Industrial Revolution Amsterdam became the largest city of Holland, the north-western part of the Netherlands in the 16th century. At this time, Amsterdam was the most important trading center of the country. The city was developed as a market and storage place of wood, corn, iron ore, fish and salt. The market also encouraged services such as banking, insurance, and printing. In the 18th century, the Dutch republic lost status as a world power to England and France. As a result, the growth of Amsterdam stagnated; however, it remained rich and important. The Netherlands as a whole missed the Industrial Revolution and became impoverished and old-fashioned. However in 1870, Amsterdam enjoyed a “second Golden Age” which connected once again with colonial trade. The opening of the Suez Canal allowed a faster and easier trading route with the East Indies, and German unification was a significant factor to the economy. The Amsterdam harbor was made even more accessible by sea when the North Sea Canal was opened. The economic growth increased rapid population growth as well. The increasing population growth resulted in the city walls being destroyed to allow city extensions beyond the outermost canal around the inner city. Areas such as Oud Zuid were established as luxury extensions. Population growth continued into the early 1960’s. It was only hindered by the events of World War II. Nearly the entire Jewish population was deported by the Nazi’s. Only 5,000 of Amsterdam’s 80,000 Jews survived the war. The Jewish community in Amsterdam never recovered. In the 1960s and 1970s mass urbanization drastically changed, inner-city living had a very negative image in the densely built extension areas that had started to decay. Modernist city planners almost destroyed the city with plans to fill canals and demolish
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