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renatevanderveen's review against another edition
4.0
Prachtig portret van Amsterdam, mijn geboortestad. Eindelijk lezen wat dat Amsterdamse, dat liberale is en hoe lang het er al is.
In 1566 sprak Willem van Oranje al over religievrede en het tolereren van geloofsverschillen: diversiteit, pluralisme, burgerrechten, de opvatting dat alle mensen gelijkwaardig zijn.
De bijzonderheid daarvan zie ik nog beter nu Shorto vergelijkt met omliggende landen in die tijd. Voor mij is het zo vanzelfsprekend dat ik het nu pas meer kan waarderen. En grappig genoeg speelt het een rol in taaie gesprekken met mensen uit andere landen, waarin ik me sterk maak voor een bredere meer inclusieve kijk. Dus ook nog erg actueel!
In 1566 sprak Willem van Oranje al over religievrede en het tolereren van geloofsverschillen: diversiteit, pluralisme, burgerrechten, de opvatting dat alle mensen gelijkwaardig zijn.
De bijzonderheid daarvan zie ik nog beter nu Shorto vergelijkt met omliggende landen in die tijd. Voor mij is het zo vanzelfsprekend dat ik het nu pas meer kan waarderen. En grappig genoeg speelt het een rol in taaie gesprekken met mensen uit andere landen, waarin ik me sterk maak voor een bredere meer inclusieve kijk. Dus ook nog erg actueel!
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
4.0
Really wonderful. Shorto is a terrific writer and a solid narrator. My main criticism is that I wish it had been longer!
riotsquirrrl's review against another edition
3.0
This is a very easy to read history of Amsterdam provided that you can ignore the author's relentless need to prove his thesis that Amsterdam grew as a uniquely liberal city and that it's always been a good thing.
But maybe it's because I also went to the Rijksmuseum which has a number of wall displays about the Netherlands and slavery that I can't help but notice what Shorto isn't talking about: the legacy of the slave trade and how that figures in with the idea of a liberal Amsterdam. All I can assume is that it doesn't, given that Shorto also glosses over Dutch South Africa and the legacy of apartheid. All of which lead me to believe that whatever unique freedom Amsterdam developed, they systemically prevented that kind of freedom in the places they colonized. Which of course makes me wonder if, given how often this book tries to drive the point home, and given how often I heard in Amsterdam about how liberal and free they were, makes me instead wonder what they're looking to cover up or gloss over.
Shorto does include a brief section about how Amsterdam's multiculturalism/siloing in the early 20th century made it much easier to deport Jewish people after the Nazi occupation, but yeah I think that topic deserved more than a few paragraphs about how dissenting viewpoints and tolerated minorities were isolated from the rest of Amsterdam society.
So all in all there were some good points, especially in the first half talking about the rise of Amsterdam, the 80 years war, and the rise of the VOC, but I could have gone without the relentless boostering of the idea of Amsterdam liberalism that made an honest appraisal of Amsterdam values impossible to assess.
But maybe it's because I also went to the Rijksmuseum which has a number of wall displays about the Netherlands and slavery that I can't help but notice what Shorto isn't talking about: the legacy of the slave trade and how that figures in with the idea of a liberal Amsterdam. All I can assume is that it doesn't, given that Shorto also glosses over Dutch South Africa and the legacy of apartheid. All of which lead me to believe that whatever unique freedom Amsterdam developed, they systemically prevented that kind of freedom in the places they colonized. Which of course makes me wonder if, given how often this book tries to drive the point home, and given how often I heard in Amsterdam about how liberal and free they were, makes me instead wonder what they're looking to cover up or gloss over.
Shorto does include a brief section about how Amsterdam's multiculturalism/siloing in the early 20th century made it much easier to deport Jewish people after the Nazi occupation, but yeah I think that topic deserved more than a few paragraphs about how dissenting viewpoints and tolerated minorities were isolated from the rest of Amsterdam society.
So all in all there were some good points, especially in the first half talking about the rise of Amsterdam, the 80 years war, and the rise of the VOC, but I could have gone without the relentless boostering of the idea of Amsterdam liberalism that made an honest appraisal of Amsterdam values impossible to assess.
christineee's review against another edition
4.0
Good overview of the history of Amsterdam just in time for visiting
lindseysparks's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot from this, but I wish some of the history had been more clear. The author didn't always provide dates, or didn't clearly attach them to events, and sometimes it was like he was trying to build suspense by describing someone and not providing their name for a while. The flow and organization just didn't work for me. But, I did like how he focused on the idea of Amsterdam as a liberal city and how it's impacted the world. (Liberal in the classic sense, not modern liberal politically) Amsterdam is adorable and I enjoyed learning things like how the canal houses came to be, I addition to things like how the Dutch helped populate America, promote birth control (and not in a creepy eugenics way), influence England's constitutional monarchy and increase trade.
idicalini's review against another edition
4.0
This was quite an interesting book. I'm not sure I agree with the author's main argument, which is that Amsterdam has always had a particular brand of liberalism that has since become widespread in the world. However, I thought the history of the city was very interesting, although at times I feel he ignores the fact that Amsterdam does not exist in a vacuum; sure, it is a big city in the Netherlands, but by no means the only one, nor is Amsterdam the only place where innovation happens. But I suppose his focus on Amsterdam makes sense considering that the book is, well, about Amsterdam.
I like how he doesn't ignore the dirtier parts of history, like the atrocities the VOC and Dutch government committed in Indonesia, the complicity of many Dutch in deporting Jewish in WW2, and the murder of Theo van Gogh. Amidst all the glowing words, it provided a necessary counterweight.
I definitely learned a lot when reading this book, and I think that's its biggest strength. A stroll down Damrak or on the canals will be a little more interesting after this!
I like how he doesn't ignore the dirtier parts of history, like the atrocities the VOC and Dutch government committed in Indonesia, the complicity of many Dutch in deporting Jewish in WW2, and the murder of Theo van Gogh. Amidst all the glowing words, it provided a necessary counterweight.
I definitely learned a lot when reading this book, and I think that's its biggest strength. A stroll down Damrak or on the canals will be a little more interesting after this!
jessica_simonetti's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
Might be interesting if you’re not born and raised in Amsterdam and are learning about its history for the first time. Visiting the Amsterdam Museum, if you have the chance, is more riveting.
catherinec_123's review against another edition
5.0
This book is really interesting, I highly recommend reading it if you're planning a trip to Amsterdam. There are some nice discussions of religion and politics. It makes me want to be Dutch!