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How did the Amstel River give Amsterdam its name?
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Amsterdam
Overview of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam derives its name from the Amstel River. In the 13th century, early inhabitants built dikes along the river to protect the settlement from flooding and constructed a dam across it around 1270.
The name first appeared in historical records in 1275, when Count Floris V granted a toll privilege to the homines manentes apud Amestelledamme, which translates to "people living near the Amstel dam." Over time, this designation evolved into the name of the city, Amsterdam.1