Amsterdam is the largest city and capital of the Netherlands, located in the province of Holland. It began as a small fishing village in the 12th century but grew to become an important port during the Golden Age due to its trade developments, leading the diamond and finance industries. Now the financial and cultural leader of the Netherlands, Amsterdam attracts over 3.66 million visitors annually and is home to 7 of the world's top 500 companies, with the oldest stock exchange in the world.