Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in the European country of the Netherlands . Amsterdam is famous for its canals and dikes . Statistics Netherlands uses three other definitions of Amsterdam : metropolitan agglomeration Amsterdam ( Grootstedelijke Agglomeratie Amsterdam , not to be confused with Grootstedelijk Gebied Amsterdam , a synonym of Groot Amsterdam ) , Greater Amsterdam ( Groot Amsterdam , a COROP region ) and the urban region Amsterdam ( Stadsgewest Amsterdam ) .