introduction
Written by Ferjan Ormeling
![](index_elemei/image004.gif)
![Szövegdoboz: 1500](index_elemei/image005.gif)
![Szövegdoboz: 1270](index_elemei/image006.gif)
![Szövegdoboz: 13th century](index_elemei/image007.gif)
In the 13th century,
a fishermen's village developed at the place where the river Amstel
entered the IJ estuary. Later on, to prevent floods, dikes were built to
protect the coast south of the IJ, and a dam with sluices was built in the
river Amstel. This dam of the River Amstel gave the name to this
fishermen's village. Even after it developed to a town, still was caled
after the dam in the River Amstel.
Amstel +
dam =
Amsteldam or Amsterdam