The Netherlands contains many cities, two of the most important of these being Amsterdam and The Hague. Both of are known internationally, but each serve different functions in Dutch society and beyond. In this essay I will compare and contrast these two cities regarding aspects of tourism, trade and government.
             Amsterdam is a city which is often mentioned as the city of sex drugs and rock and roll. This is mainly due to the fact that Amsterdam has built up a reputation where its nightlife is concerned. It is often said that everything is permitted in Amsterdam and that its people are more open-minded than anywhere else in the world. The question, however, remains, whether these assumptions are true. Generally speaking a majority of people who visit Amsterdam are attracted to the city by the features mentioned above. For this reason the Amsterdam tourist industry tries to maintain its reputation, as it is essential for the commerce it receives from visitors. Moreover the inhabitants of Amsterdam are, in many cases, not too pleased with the large flow of tourists as the centre of their city often gets congested. Yet there are many other features, which bring thousands of tourists to Amsterdam every year. Amsterdam has to offer today's tourist a lot cultural attractions like art museums!
             and the Anne Frank house to name but a few. Apart from this a lot of people come to Amsterdam, because of its historical architectural houses and famous canals. Yet Amsterdam's wealth does not totally rely on tourism. From the colonial times onwards Amsterdam has developed itself into a city of trade from where many goods are imported as well as exported. In addition to this Amsterdam airport provides the transport of these goods. Furthermore many foreign and international companies are based in and around the Amsterdam area. Moreover Amsterdam can be described as being the Dutch financial centre as its National Bank
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