This episode takes you to Amsterdam's Golden Age, the era when, as the Encyclopaedia Britannica puts it, ‘the little nation on the North Sea was one of the most powerful countries in the world, dominating the seas and flourishing in trade, science and – especially – the arts.'  First there's a little history to explain how this phenomenon came about and what it meant for Amsterdammers and for the rest of the world, then we visit three different places in the city where you can find out more.  

Reading Suggestions 

The Embarrassment of Riches The Dutch Golden Age by Simon Schama

Amsterdam A Brief Life of the City by Geert Mak

Amsterdam A History of the World’s Most Liberal City by Russell Shorto

Links for this post

Rembrandt House  

Amsterdam Museum  

Rijksmuseum   

City Breaks: all the history and culture you'd research for yourself if you had the time!

Check our website to find more episodes from our Amsterdam series or to browse our back catalogue of other cities which are well worth visiting: https://www.citybreakspodcast.co.uk

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