Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, though not the seat of the government, which is located in The Hague. It is the most populous city within the province of Noord-Holland and serves as an important cultural, financial, and business hub. Amsterdam's name is derived from 'Amstelredamme,' indicative of the city's origin as a dam of the river Amstel. In the late 12th century, it developed as a small fishing village, but by the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, it became one of the most important ports in the world as well as a major center of commerce, finance, and art. The city's historical center features a UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Grachtengordel, a network of concentric, semi-circular canals that were dug during the 17th century and have become a hallmark of its landscape. The city's layout is characterized by narrow houses with gabled facades, harking back to its history as a merchant city, where space was at a premium and taxes were based on frontage rather than depth or height. Amsterdam is renowned for its cultural heritage, it houses some of the world's most famous museums, such as the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Anne Frank House, where the Jewish girl Anne Frank hid during World War II and wrote her famous diary. Contemporary Amsterdam is known for its progressive attitude, openness to diversity, and liberal policies, which attract tourists from all around the world. It has a reputation for tolerance in terms of personal freedoms, with legalized prostitution in the Red Light District and the decriminalization of marijuana in coffee shops. Economically, Amsterdam is home to a vivid startup scene as well as established multinationals and the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, which is considered the oldest