I think the best object that describes Amsterdam is the back of a Swiss watch. You see all those wheels and mechanics working in synchronised way. As you walk down the canals you see the cargo boats criss crossing the canals, going underneath the bridge and workers loading the boats for transportation. Then you see system of draw bridges to make way for larger cargo vessels.
The urban planning in Amsterdam is very mechanic. Almost all objects here are man-made built to withstand floods and other severe weather. And it is also a transportation and freight zone. Buses, trains, metro, bikes, boats, ferries and trams are all jammed inside this small and dense city. In Holland, land is scarce and expensive since half the country is below sea level. Flood proofing supported by canals plague the country like veins. This scarcity of land brings new ideals such as doing things more efficiently yet, make the standard of living actually liveable. It is a delicate balance and often relies heavily on long-term planning to accomodate future population growth.
Amsterdam means ‘where River Amstel meats the Dam’. Then they built the whole city on a dam layering the canals into spider-web form. Then built those famous triangular roofed houses in between canals.
