Amsterdam
219 km²
Chicago
606 km²
Netherlands
USA
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 2.8x smaller than Chicago
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 2.9x fewer people than Chicago
Yes — Chicago is 2.8x larger than Amsterdam by area. Chicago spans 606 km² (234 mi²) while Amsterdam covers 219 km² (85 mi²) — a difference of 387 km². You could fit Amsterdam inside Chicago approximately 2 times.
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Chicago at 606 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
In more relatable units, Amsterdam's 219 km² is about 31,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 64 times the area of Central Park. Chicago, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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
Chicago is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the third-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.74 million at the 2020 census. The Chicago metropolitan area has 9.41 million residents and is the third-largest metropolitan area in the country. Chicago is the seat of Cook County, the second-most populous county in the U.S.
Also known as "The Windy City", Chicago has an area of 606 km² and is home to 2.7 million people. The city dates back to 1833. Visitors come for Willis Tower, Millennium Park Bean, Navy Pier, and much more. Getting around is easy with the CTA (L train).
Chicago is the third-most populous city in the United States with 2.74 million residents at the 2020 census.
Looking beyond city limits, the Chicago metropolitan area covers 28,160 km², which is 10.9x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The Chicago metro area is also more populous, with 9.5 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Chicago, with 4,455 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Chicago is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Amsterdam in Europe versus Chicago in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while Chicago experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Amsterdam, it's 5:00 AM in Chicago — a 7-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Amsterdam fits inside Chicago ~2 times
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
Amsterdam is ~558 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).
Chicago covers 606 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Chicago is 6,609 km (4,106 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~8h 16m.
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