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What’s Behind the Symbols of Amsterdam?

XXX

No, we’re not starting the story about the symbols of Amsterdam with the sign for x-rated entertainment that associates with the Red Light District. Instead we would be happy to explain you the origin of the three crosses that can be seen all over the city-its buildings, flags, poles, manholes and souvenirs. You might have guessed that the XXX symbol officially serves as a part of the coat of arms of Amsterdam, but what does it stand for? It represents three vertical St. Andrew’s Crosses named after the apostle that was tormented on a cross of the X-shape in the 1st century AD. There’s no exact explanation what meaning those crosses have for Amsterdam, but one of the thoughts is that they originate from the Persian crusader family who owned lots of land in Amsterdam. Another version has to do with the connection between St. Andrew being a fisherman and Amsterdam stemming from a fishing town with its fishermen going under the flag with XXX. The crosses can also possibly stand for the three threats of the medieval city: floods, fire and the black plague.

The unknown history leads us to known present, where these three white crosses are depicted on a black band in the middle of a red shield. This combination is also known as the flag of Amsterdam and part of the coat of arms. The latter is decorated with the Imperial Crown of Austria and two golden lions carrying the shield. The motto of the city follows below with “Heroic, Resolute and Merciful”, although some people jokingly believe it should be “Stubborn, Defiant and Extremely Tolerant.” Have you already picked a few souvenirs with the XXX symbol of Amsterdam1

Why is everything so orange?

It’s easy to notice that the Dutch like orange, or at least that’s what they sell to tourists on the markets-and we’re not talking about the fruit, but rather that super bright color everywhere around the souvenir shops. And if you’ve ever visited Amsterdam on King’s Day or during the football championships, you’ve seen the most of it, and we bet it was orange! On special occasions the whole city turns orange, but why would that happen counting the fact that colors of the Dutch flag (red, blue, white) have nothing to do with it? The secret lies within the Dutch Royal Family that originates from the House of Oranje-Nassau with the ancestry of the current king of the country Willem-Alexander going back to William of Orange (Willem van Oranje). They also call the national football team Oranje and most of the Dutch sporting teams wear orange uniform. This way the color unites the whole nation and becomes the symbol of Amsterdam.

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I AMsterdam

Does it even count that you’ve been to Amsterdam, if you don’t have a picture in front of the world famous I AMSTERDAM letters? This symbol has become so present in branding of the city that it can easily be one of the most visited sightseeings in Amsterdam. What started as a marketing campaign, has truly become the catch of the town and everybody wants to bring a piece of it home. The huge letters are located at the back of the majestic  Rijksmuseum, and lots of people try to climb them and get the best shot. Here comes just a small tip: if you want to avoid lots of other tourists on your exclusive picture with I AMSTERDAM sign, then come late in the evening- you will be surprised how empty it gets.

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When you happen to be at the right place at the right time, you can also spot another set of the magic letters at other locations such as festivals, fairs, fashion shows and important events of the city. Sometimes you can even see it in rainbow colors, especially when Amsterdam celebrates love, freedom and diversity. The city constantly plays around with the location, and this week (until 7 August) you will find the travelling letters close to the Amstel River in front of the Hermitage due to the Canal Parade there. And for those who want to have it all, take a seat on a red handmade I Amsterdam mosaic sofa right outside of the reception of City Hall at Amstel 1. You can also have a moment with the symbol sign at Amsterdam Airport Schipol right before finishing your amazing trip.

The Secrets of Our Alltournative Bike Tour

It’s not a secret that the best city for cycling is Amsterdam and the best way to explore Amsterdam is by bike. That’s exactly one of the reasons why our team keeps recommending you our free Alltournative bike tours around the city. But if you want to get an idea of why it’s called an alternative tour or to have a sneak peek at what’s waiting for  you, let us tell you more and explore the details together .

How it all starts

Same way as with trying all cool places around Amsterdam before recommending them to you, we have done Teleport Alternative Bike Tour, loved it and wanted to share it with you. The first best fact about the tour is that it’s free for all– all you need to do is just rent a bike with us! We have a tour waiting for you every day, so just let us know that you would like to join and have fun on a bike. And then the journey begins! Lovely enthusiastic guides  from AllTourNative, full of life and excitement about Amsterdam, will meet you 11 am in front of the hotel and take proper care of your tour. You get your special free map of the city, cool sticker, some not-boring-at-all cycling and road safety instructions and off you go!

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Why so unique

What makes our alltournative tours different from any others in Amsterdam? It’s off-the-beaten-track, not touristy (but quite authentic and local), with the most relaxed young guides ready to crack a good joke and most importantly- customized to your needs and preferences. In the beginning of each tour nice peeps from AllTourNative ask you about what you would be interested in seeing and adjust their route depending on the crowd. In any case, expect some impressive street art, alternative galleries and contemporary exhibitions that you won’t find on your own.  Every tour is unique, so in case you love it, feel free to join the second time, as something new will be waiting for you! Forget about everlasting historical tours, when your guide is cycling in front of the group and telling you easy-to-forget facts in a monotone voice. Instead prepare for a very entertaining, amusing and interactive mix of history, art, unusual facts about Amsterdam and fun cycling in between.

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What is street art?

Amsterdam is full of street art. There is so much more to see than meets the eye at first sight. Our guides will help you to find all those beautiful and interesting art pieces hidden on walls, inside alleys, under bridges  or even on a lantern pole. Street art is so much more than just graffiti; has it’s own unique culture and set of unwritten rules. The beauty of street art not only lies in its variety, creativity and in the messages that street artists are bringing to us but also in the fact that street art usually is very brief and can be gone forever before you know it.

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What’s more

There is much more to see close to Teleport Hotel than you think, and brilliant guides (like cheerful Marnix)will make sure you experience it all. How about the stunning sight of a typical Dutch windmill on the way, or hip Westerpark with its exceptional Westergasfabriek always full of events, amazing coffee and good selection of beer? These small discoveries during the tour will make your stay in Amsterdam more exciting, as you will get to know what to do, where to eat, have a drink, enjoy some live music or party hard in the city. An advice given by a local who is passionate about his hometown is the best advice, so pay attention, learn Amsterdam secrets and create some new memories! And last but not least, taking your opportunity of a free tour at Teleport Hotel you highly increase your chances to make new friends to spend some time with in this amazing city.

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Please ask for more details about our tours at the reception, sign up with our friendly Teleport Hotel team and enjoy the city and art exploration! Our bike rental prices are moderate: 24 hours with a great bike will cost you only 15€, but if you need it just for the tour, then 10€ would do. Ride your bike, discover Amsterdam and have fun with us!

For a short video impression click here!

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