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 514 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:

Oct 2, 2025Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 9, 2024Aspens near Marble, Colorado, USA
A different kind of toucan
Dec 20, 2024Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
Let there be lights!
Aug 15, 2025Independence Day
Aug 21, 2024Nazca boobies, Wolf Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Dec 16, 2025Handmade gnomes at a Christmas market
Hiding in the woods
Feb 10, 2026Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell, Ibiza, Spain
Aug 26, 2025Sørvágsvatn lake, island of Vágar, Faroe Islands
Pearl among the emeralds
Dec 8, 2024Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris, France
Sep 2, 2024Rhino mother and calf, Kaziranga National Park, Assam
Fourth rock from the sun
Aug 30, 2023Celebrating sibling bonds
Nov 21, 2025Small island near Ezhikkara, Kerala
This lesson is going swimmingly
Blood moon
An island park for everyone
Nov 27, 2023Río Negro, Amazon basin, Brazil
Dec 10, 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England
Celebrating the Scottish bard
Jan 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Jun 25, 2024Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Mar 7, 2025Plum blossoms, China
Jul 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Jul 20, 2025Moon Day
Feb 17, 2025Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Uttar Pradesh