[4K Time-lapse Video]Amsterdam: A Lively Little City Beneath Romantic Old Buildings

By Alex

Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands—the country of windmills—is a beautiful yet relatively small city. Landscape photographer Albert Dros says, “We don’t have skyscrapers or ultra-modern architecture, but we do have historic old buildings, romantic canals, and the entire atmosphere that comes with them.” Through a 4K time-lapse video, he showcases the beautiful scenery of Amsterdam beyond tulips and cheese.

This project took Dros two years to complete. The majority of the footage was shot before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the final edit was done during the lockdown period. In just over five and a half minutes, viewers can enjoy a beautiful and vibrant city, as well as the photographer’s deep affection for his hometown. Dros said, “I hope locals feel proud of their city when they watch this video, and I also hope it encourages tourists to come and visit.”

Over the two years, Dros estimates he captured over 500GB of footage, but after careful selection, less than half was used in the final video. The film features two particularly rare scenes: a lunar eclipse in January 2019 (starting at 01:52), where the moon passes behind the tower of the Basilica of Saint Nicholas and eventually sets below the horizon; and the annual Amsterdam Light Festival (starting at 00:58).

Amsterdam’s canals are world-famous, with long sightseeing boats gliding along the waterways and locals cycling along the streets, making the entire city lively and energetic. However, at the 03:22 mark, the video shows an almost empty scene. On Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, only a few cyclists occasionally speed by. It turns out the photographer took advantage of the COVID-19 outbreak to capture this usually bustling spot in an eerily quiet state.

From the tulips of spring to the Christmas trees of winter, Amsterdam offers scenic beauty in every season. For those interested, you can also check out more of Albert Dros’s work on his personal website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channel.

Source: My Modern Met