Is Amsterdam in Germany? Where is Amsterdam?

“Is Amsterdam in Germany?” is a common question people have before visiting the city.

It’s important to know what country Amsterdam is in before visiting so you know what language to speak, the culture to expect and what sort of attractions there are.

Luckily for you, I’ve visited both Amsterdam and plenty of cities in Germany, so I’m here to provide a guide as to whether or not Amsterdam is in Germany.

So without further ado, let’s get into it.

Is Amsterdam in Germany?

To summarise this entire article into one sentence: No, Amsterdam is not in Germany.

Amsterdam is a city in the Netherlands, which is one of the countries that border Germany. In fact, Amsterdam is the capital city of the country.

The history of Amsterdam goes back to over 700 years ago, making it one of the oldest cities in the country. The Netherlands has been a country with a lot of history too, as it was a key part of the struggle for the control of Europe between France, Spain, Britain and anyone else in the last few centuries.

As such, control of the Netherlands has changed between Spain, France, Belgium, and others over the years. And of course, the Dutch have ruled themselves for periods of history too.

The name “The Netherlands” means “the low countries” as the Dutch land is much lower than any of its neighbours.

Eventually, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was established in 1814, with Amsterdam as the capital city.

When Germany occupied the Netherlands during WW2, you could make an argument that Amsterdam was part of Germany. Personally, though, I would still say it was part of the Netherlands, but the country was run by Germany.

But since Amsterdam and the Netherlands were liberated in May 1945 by Canada, Amsterdam has remained part of the Netherlands.

There are some similarities between German cities and Amsterdam in terms of culture, art, music, etc. Being so close to each other in terms of proximity, there are naturally crossovers between the two.

Some other examples include the bicycle culture of Amsterdam which can be seen in cities like Berlin and Munich.

But despite the similarities, Amsterdam is not in Germany.

So to answer the question “Is Amsterdam in Germany?“, no, Amsterdam is not in Germany.

What country is Amsterdam in?

Amsterdam is in the Netherlands. It is the capital city of the country and has been for the entirety of the existence of the Netherlands.

But funnily, the Dutch parliament is in a city known as The Hague, which is actually more than 50 km outside Amsterdam.

Yet, Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. Typically, the capital city is where you find the parliament, but this isn’t the case for the Netherlands.

Nonetheless, Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands by a good margin. Amsterdam has around 1.1 million residents as of 2023.

This means that the language in Amsterdam is Dutch, not German as you might have thought before reading this article. That being said, English is very well-spoken in Amsterdam. Nearly every person will speak it to a good level.

There’s no debating what country the city is in…Amsterdam is in the Netherlands.

Where is Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is in the north-west of the Netherlands, pretty close to the North Sea. It’s in the region of “North Holland” of the Netherlands, which is, as the name suggests, one of the northernmost regions of the country.

The region has everything you traditionally think of when you think of the Netherlands. Tulips, windmills, cheese making, everything. And of course, it’s home to Amsterdam.

To find Amsterdam on a map, if you can locate London, go across to the east (to the right) and go up a tiny bit, and you should more or less land on Amsterdam.

Or, Amsterdam is usually right above the word “Netherlands” on most maps. Like this screenshot from Google Maps, for example.

Where is the Netherlands?

The Netherlands is one of the 50 countries in Europe. It’s one of the most popular countries to visit due to the rich culture and history of the country with cities like Rotterdam, Utrecht, and of course, Amsterdam, providing great city breaks.

Known for a long time as “Holland”, the Netherlands decided to revert to its original name in 2019 and become known as the Netherlands.

You’ll probably have seen the country everywhere from the World Cup to Eurovision. You might even know some famous Dutch people like Max Verstappen or Vincent Van Gogh.

But in terms of where the Netherlands is, it’s one of the most northwestern countries in Europe.

If you look at a map of mainland Europe as shown above, it’s pretty much in the top left of the block of land below Scandinavia.

The Netherlands is a country located in the western part of Europe. It’s like a little piece of land that sticks out into the North Sea.

To be more specific, the Netherlands is right next to two other countries: Germany to the east and Belgium to the south. Of course, it’s got the North Sea to the north and west.

Having Germany as one of the bordering countries to the Netherlands could be a reason people confuse Amsterdam for being in Germany.

The Netherlands is not a very big country in terms of land mass, so it’s quite easy to spot on a map of Europe.

Where is Germany?

Germany is a country located in the heart of Europe. If you look at a map of Europe, you’ll find Germany in the central part, right in the middle of the continent.

It’s surrounded by several other countries, which makes it like a crossroads of Europe. To the west, you’ll find France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

To the south, there’s Switzerland and Austria. In the east, Germany shares borders with the Czech Republic and Poland. Finally, to the north, it’s bordered by Denmark.

One of the notable things about Germany is that it doesn’t have any natural borders like oceans or mountains, which means it has been influenced by many different cultures over the centuries. That’s another reason people may think Amsterdam is in Germany.

It’s a diverse and beautiful country known for its rich history, vibrant cities like Berlin and Munich, picturesque landscapes including the Bavarian Alps and the Rhine River, and its significant contributions to art, science, and technology.

Germany is also famous for its culture, including its delicious sausages, beer, and music, such as classical composers like Beethoven and Bach.

But to find it on a map, locate Europe and Germany is right in the centre of it. It’s the big country underneath Denmark.

Is Amsterdam in Germany: FAQ

Below are some questions related to “Is Amsterdam in Germany?” along with my answers to each question.

Conclusion: Is Amsterdam in Germany?

And there you have it, a complete guide to “Is Amsterdam in Germany?“

Remember, the answer is no, Amsterdam is not in Germany.

Amsterdam is actually the capital city of the Netherlands.

Enjoy your trip to Amsterdam, it’s an incredible city!