Festivals & Events: Amsterdam offers various cultural events and festivals all throughout the year. Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival, a weeklong celebration full of fantasy, anime, thriller, cult, horror and sci-fi, is held every year. Amsterdam Literary Festival that includes talks with authors, workshops, a literary tour and salon and a boat tour is really informative and pleasing. De Parade, one of the few traveling festivals in the world is like an old-fashioned fairground that lasts for 17 days featuring dance, theatre, magic, art, animation and music. The Gay Pride Festival is celebrated with an extensive program consisting of sports, cultural activities and parties. The main highlight of the festival is the canal parade and cultural and naughty boat parade through Amsterdam's canals. Amsterdam Roots Festival is celebrated every summer with global music and non-western culture. The five-day long Grachten Festival holds more than 80 classical concerts that can be enjoyed in houses, gardens or anywhere in the area around Prinsengracht. Sail Amsterdam 2005 that exhibits historic ships and nautical heritage is really enthralling. Flower Parade in which three-kilometer long ribbon of flower- decorated floats travel through the area is a feast for the eyes. About one million flowers are used in this festival. ING Amsterdam Marathon, the oldest marathon in the Netherlands and Uitmarkt that heralds the beginning of the national cultural season are the other festivals celebrated in the city apart from various international festivals.

Languages: Dutch is the first official language of the Netherlands. Besides this, English and German are also widely spoken. French is a language, which is widely understood but hardly spoken. Frisian, a minority language used in the North of the country is the second official language spoken. Spoken by most of the people living in the Fryslan Province, Frisian (Frysk) is similar to Danish and Dutch. There are three types of Frisian such as West Lauwers Frisian, Saterland Frisian and North Frisian.

Religion: Amsterdam is a city with diverse religions. Though Christianity is the main religion in the city, other religions have also reached the city with the migration of people belonging to different nationalities. Catholics were the first settlers, however, after reformation, Protestanism was the state's church. Jewish population, which was vibrant in the city, was wiped out during World War II. Islam and other unaffiliated religions are also present in the city.

Places of Worship: Amsterdam has a number of churches and synagogues. Besides this, the city is also home to many places of worship for various denominations. West Church (Westerkerk), a magnificent Renaissance church (circa 1620) identified by its high tower, which is more than 245 feet high, is the main place where the Christians gather for religious ceremonies. Old Church (Oude Kerk), New Church (Nieuwe Kerk), South Church (Zuiderkerk), North Church (Noorderkerk), Portuguese Synagogue, Posthoornkerk and Engelse Kerk are the other religious sites in the city.