The Invention of Amsterdam
A History of Europe's Greatest City in Ten Walks
Scribe Publications · Print & ebook · May 16, 2025
An essential guide to one of the world’s most remarkable, and often misunderstood, cities by the author of Why the Dutch Are Different.
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- Who it’s for
- For readers interested in Amsterdam’s history and landmarks
- Themes
- Amsterdam history, Urban reinvention, Travel writing
- Genres
- Benelux Travel, Benelux History, Travel Writing
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Start with this bookAbout this book
An essential guide to one of the world’s most remarkable, and often misunderstood, cities by the author of Why the Dutch Are Different. When Ben Coates injures his leg and needs to rebuild his strength by walking, he finds himself presented with an exciting opportunity: to rediscover the city he has been working in for over a decade, at a slower pace.
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He devised ten walks, each demonstrating a different chapter of Amsterdam’s history, from its humble beginnings in the early 1200s as a small fishing community through two Golden Ages, fuelled by the growth of the Dutch colonial empire, two world wars, and countless reinventions. Join Coates as he meanders past beautiful townhouses and glittering canals, dances at Pride celebrations, witnesses the King’s apology at Keti Koti, attends a WW2 memorial, gets high at a coffee shop, walks through the red-light district, and gazes in awe at Rembrandt paintings, all the while illuminating modern Amsterdam by explaining its past. Blending travelog and quirky history, The Invention of Amsterdam is an entertaining and sharply observed portrait of a fascinating and complicated city.
Who it’s for
- For readers interested in Amsterdam’s history and landmarks
- For readers who enjoy travelogues blended with quirky history
Where it sits
| Travel Writing | 83% |
|---|---|
| Benelux Travel | 68% |
| Benelux History | 47% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Benelux History
- Benelux Travel
- Travel Writing
- Authors
- Ben Coates
- Publisher
- Scribe Publications
- Published
- May 16, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Amsterdam history · Urban reinvention · Travel writing
- Reading lane
- Benelux History