Oud-West neighbourhood, Amsterdam, Netherlands Dec. 29, 2023

Welcome to Amsterdam! The capital of the Netherlands intrigues visitors from all over the world with its historic canals, versatile architecture and laidback atmosphere. The city"s history can be traced back to the 12th century when it was a fishing village on the banks of the Amstel River. Today, it boasts institutions like the Van Gogh Museum, the Eye Film Museum and the National Maritime Museum, which offer insights into the country"s history and arts legacy. Amsterdam"s canal ring area, built around the turn of the 17th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also home to its fair share of restaurants, vintage shops and outdoor markets, especially in neighbourhoods like Oud-West, pictured in today"s image. Get ready to pedal because Amsterdam"s cycling culture is ubiquitous. With approximately 515 kilometres of bike lanes, it"s one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world.

© George Pachantouris/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

The butterfly effect
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Dec. 29, 2025St. Gregory Church in Ani Ruins, Kars, Türkiye

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan. 24, 2026Andermatt village in the Alps, Switzerland
Hot enough to howl
Jan. 11, 2025Heri es-Swani in Meknes, Morocco
Feb. 1, 2024Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba
Aug. 23, 2025St. Barbaras Cathedral, Kutná Hora, Czechia
Kickoff in Qatar
Mar. 27, 2025World Theatre Day
Apr. 7, 2024International Beaver Day
Dec. 16, 2023Guild houses of Grand-Place, Brussels, Belgium
May 29, 2024World Otter Day
Oct. 2, 2023World Architecture Day
Feb. 21, 2026Red fox, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States
Feb. 16, 2025Happy World Whale Day!
Jan. 17, 2025World Pizza Day
High above the Aegean Sea
Oct. 4, 2023World Space Week
Jan. 29, 2026Milwaukee City Hall, Wisconsin, United States
Time to make an impression
Oct. 25, 2024Frankenstein Friday
Aug. 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Nov. 27, 2023Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
Sep. 19, 2025Thousand Islands region, St. Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
Jun. 15, 2024International Surfing Day
An island made from a vow
Jul. 14, 2024Baia del Silenzio in Sestri Levante, Italy
Jun. 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Feb. 17, 2026Chinese New Year
A shiver of sharks on the hunt
Mar. 26, 2024Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Feb. 20, 2026Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park, California, United States