A magnet for trade and travellers from all over the world, stylish, cosmopolitan Amsterdam is a city not only of dreams and nightmares, of grand civic architecture and legendary beauty, but also of civil wars, bloody religious purges, and the tragedy of Anne Frank. In this fascinating examination of the city's soul, part history, part travel guide, Geert Mak imaginatively recreates the lives of the early Amsterdammers, and traces Amsterdam's progress from waterlogged settlement to a major financial centre and thriving modern metropolis.

About the Author

Geert Mak was born in Friesland in 1946 and is one of the Netherland's most prominent journalists. His works have been published to huge critical and popular acclaim. Philip Blom was born in Hamburg in 1970 and now works in London as a journalist, novelist and translator.

Prizes

A delightful journey through time and through the streets of one of the greatest cultural capitals in Europe.