ABSTRACT
Around the year 1000, the swampy area surrounding what now is known as Amsterdam was developed into a farming community. When the peat started to set because of draining, dikes had to be built to protect the land, which was now lower than the water. In the thirteenth century, fishermen living along the banks of the river Amstel built a bridge across the waterway near the river IJ. The bridge served as a dam, protecting the town from flooding. Thus the meaning of the name Amsterdam: dam on the Amstel River. The mouth of the river Amstel, crossing the river IJ, formed a natural harbor and became a very busy and important area for trade. This is where the Central Station is currently located.
