GeoTypicoGeotypico

In this section you'll find many people who are symbolic for Amsterdam. When you think of them you think of Amsterdam. Whether that's because of their rough nature, their skills or their intellect. Amsterdam draws and creates all kinds of people.

About our first selection

1) Johan Cruijff is the world-famous football player who was born in Amsterdam, just across the street of AFC Ajax, the world-known football club. Johan is exemplary for people born in Amsterdam: they know it all and they know it best. Many people dislike Amsterdammers for this quality. They think they're just plain arrogant. Judging from Johan's results he's just right.

2) Who doesn't know Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who wrote her diary while she was in hiding during the second World War? This tragic story is world-known and attracts a million visitors per year. Jews are also typical for Amsterdam as a lot of them migrated to Amsterdam in the 16th century. Amsterdam owes its many typical things to the Jewish population like their great, dry humor, the diamond industry and of course the Amsterdam onions.

3) André Hazes was an immensely popular singer from Amsterdam who sang 'het levenslied' (lit. 'life song'), a Dutch popular music genre that is both sweet and sentimental. Andre Hazes is symbolic for the ordinary people of Amsterdam.

4) The Jordaan musicians are highlighted because for many Dutch people they are the true icons of real Amsterdam. Hearing them sing one can´t think of another city than Amsterdam.

5) Henk Schiffmacher is highlighted because this world-famous colorful tattooist has made tattoos for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Robbie Williams and Pearl Jam from his Amsterdam shop. With his appearance and work Schiffmacher is symbolic for the rough side of Amsterdam, the harbor and its red light district.

6) Rembrandt van Rijn is yet another famous icon of Amsterdam. As a painter and printmaker he is considered to be one of the best in the whole of European art history. Rembrandt and his world-famous works remember Amsterdam's huge growth during the Golden Age.

We still have a small selection of people who are symbolic for Amsterdam but we're working on that. In fact, if you'd like it you can help us by writing articles or by tipping us who we also should highlight as a true Amsterdammer. We're thinking of articles about the late Ramses Shaffy (singer and actor) and the late Harry Mulisch (writer) but perhaps you've got a better idea?

Picture of Johan Cruijff taken by El Gráfico (El Gráfico - História de los Mundiales). This picture is part of the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APerfumo_y_cruyff.jpg")