Amsterdam
219 km²
Boston
232 km²
Netherlands
USA
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 1.1x smaller than Boston
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 1.4x more people than Boston
In terms of area, Boston is 1.1x the size of Amsterdam. Boston spans 232 km² (90 mi²) while Amsterdam covers 219 km² (85 mi²) — a difference of 13 km².
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Boston at 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam.
Amsterdam's footprint is roughly about 31,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 64 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. For Boston, that's about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 68 times the area of Central Park.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known as "Venice of the North", Amsterdam covers 219 km² with a population of 0.9 million. The city was established in 1275. Amsterdam is known for Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the GVB (Metro & Tram).
Amsterdam's historic canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earning it the nickname Venice of the North
Boston is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It serves as a cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. Boston has an area of 48.4 sq mi (125 km2) and a population of 675,647 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in the Northeastern United States after New York City and Philadelphia.
Also known as "Beantown", Boston has an area of 232 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1630. Visitors come for Fenway Park, Freedom Trail, Harvard University, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MBTA (The T).
Boston covers just 125 km2 yet serves as the cultural and financial heart of all New England
Looking beyond city limits, the Boston metropolitan area covers 11,700 km², which is 4.5x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The Boston metro area is also more populous, with 4.9 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Boston, with 2,931 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Amsterdam is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Amsterdam in Europe versus Boston in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while Boston experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Amsterdam, it's 6:00 AM in Boston — a 6-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Amsterdam is 1.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Amsterdam is ~355 years older
Amsterdam covers 219 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Osaka (225 km²), Boston (232 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), or Kuala Lumpur (243 km²).
Boston covers 232 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Osaka (225 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), or Edinburgh (259 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Boston is 5,558 km (3,453 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 2m.
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