The United States is the leading source of foreign tourists to Amsterdam, contributing 2.4 million visits and holding a 35.2% market share in 2023. Following the US, the top visitor nationalities are the United Kingdom (16.1% share), Germany (13.3% share), and France (6.8% share).
Which countries visit Amsterdam the most? The USA is the leading source of foreign tourists to Amsterdam, followed by the UK, Germany, and France. The USA dominated with a 35.2% market share, recording 2.4 million visits in 2023.
People resident in the country but born abroad - or migrants - made up 37.1% of Amsterdam's population in 2023, according to figures from CBS, the Netherlands's statistics agency , opens new tab. They make up 37.3% in The Hague and 32.3% in Rotterdam.
Amsterdam is one of the world's most visited cities. Around 20 million visitors - including a million Brits - visit the city, which has a population of approximately 883,000, every year.
Visit Amsterdam, Netherlands. A wealth of canals, museums and historical sites marks the romantic city of Amsterdam. The Netherlands' capital and a cosmopolitan hub, Amsterdam's past as a major trading post and colonial power has resulted in a diverse and multifaceted city.
The "3 x" (XXX) in Amsterdam refers to three St. Andrew's Crosses on the city's coat of arms and flag, symbolizing its history as a fishing town and its connection to the patron saint of fishermen, with theories suggesting they represent valor, firmness, and mercy, or protection against fire, flood, and plague, though the most likely origin is linked to the noble Persijn family who owned land there, with the crosses also appearing on flags of nearby towns they owned.
Amsterdam, with a community of 15,000, remains the focus of Jewish life. There are also significant Jewish communities in Rotterdam and The Hague, and small ones in Amersfoort, Arnhem, Bussum, Eindhoven, Enschede, Groningen, Haarlem, Hilversum, Leeuwarden, Leiden, Utrecht, and Zwolle.
Islam is the second largest religion in the Netherlands, after Christianity, and is practised by 6% of the population according to 2023. estimates. The majority of Muslims in the Netherlands belong to the Sunni denomination. Many reside in the country's four major cities: Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.
The racial makeup of the city was 80.4% White (68.1% Non Hispanic White), 3.8% Black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander and 3.4% from two or more races.
In the Netherlands, the English language can be spoken by the vast majority of the population, with estimates of English proficiency reaching 90% to 97% of the Dutch population.
What is the fastest growing religion in the Netherlands?
Catholicism. Currently, Catholicism is the single largest Christian denomination of the Netherlands, forming some 18.3% of the Dutch people in 2021, down from 40% in the 1960s. According to the church itself, 20.8% of the Dutch population were formal members in 2021.
Amsterdam is called "Sin City" primarily due to its famously liberal policies on prostitution (Red Light District) and soft drugs (coffee shops), which attract tourists seeking vices often restricted elsewhere, creating a perception of tolerance for activities considered sinful by some, though Amsterdam views it as a city of freedom and regulated vice.
The most common way to say hello in Dutch is hallo (hello) [pronounced “hah-loh”], which works well in almost any situation. For a more casual greeting, try hoi (pronounced “hoy”), which is just like saying “hi” in English.
The Dutch consider it rude not to identify yourself. The Dutch will shake hands and say their last name, not "Hello." They also answer the telephone with their last name. It is considered impolite to shout a greeting. Wave if greeting someone from a distance.
Highly educated foreign nationals working in the Netherlands (expats) may be eligible for an annual tax-free allowance from their employer of up to 30% of their salary. This tax benefit is intended to compensate employees for the additional expenses they incur, such as those relating to travel or furnishing a home.
