The Golden Book of Amsterdam [antikvár]

THE HISTORY OF AMSTERDAM Practically nothing is known about Amsterdam's history in the prehistoric and Román periods: it is not until the Middle Ages that the name of the city appears for the first time in an official document. However, there is a legend about its foundation, according to which two fishermen, surprised by a violent storm while fishing at sea with their dog, were shipwrecked and built a refuge in the swamps, where the River Amstel flows into the estuary of the Zuider Zee, also called the IJ. This settlement, founded by the two fishermen and their families who joined them later, is said to be the origin of what was to be Amsterdam. They built a village at the mouth of the Amstel River and also made a dam to protect their homes from the stormy waters. This was the derivation ofthe city's name, Amstelledamme (dam on the Amstel), which later became Amsterdam. The city is mentioned by its earlier name for the first time in a charter dated 27 October 1275, in which a feudal lord, Floris V, Count of Holland, guarantees exemption from taxes and the right of free trade to its inhabitants: homines manentes apud Amstelledamme. Amstelledamme grew up along the banks of the Amstel and from its very beginnings learnt to live on and draw its livelihood from water. Its fortunate geographicalposition and the hard work of its people meant that the simple fishing village became a large trading centre, with an extremely importantport andflourishing trade with the Baltic and the Mediterranean basin. At the beginning of the 17th century, this sea trade reached new and even grander heights. After the fali of its rival port of