Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, with a population of approximately 745,000 people. When it was founded in the 12th century, it was a small fishing village; today it is the largest city in the country, as well as a center for economy and culture. Amsterdam is one of the largest historic cities in Europe since the 17th century, when it became the focus of the Golden Age of the Netherlands. A series of canals were built around the older city, and they are still there. Several houses and mansion were built along the canals and are still in use. Some of the brick houses are sinking because they were built on wood piling--used to compensate for the soggy soil underneath. Amsterdam is known world-wide for several reasons, including art museums, the Anne Frank House, and the symphony orchestra. More than 80,000 Jews were deported to concentration camps in 1940; only 5,000 survived. Many activities that are illegal in other countries thrive in Amsterdam; a search on the Internet or elsewhere would render a potential tourist some worthwhile insight. Even though Amsterdam is the capital of Netherlands, it is not the capital of the province where it's found; it is also not the seat of the governing body. Amsterdam is known as one of the Most Bicycle-Friendly cities in the word, and is a center of bicycle culture. Most main roads have bike paths.