Amsterdam
219 km²
London
1,572 km²
Netherlands
UK
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 7.2x smaller than London
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 9.8x fewer people than London
London is significantly larger, covering 7.2 times the area of Amsterdam. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Amsterdam covers 219 km² (85 mi²) — a difference of 1,353 km². You could fit Amsterdam inside London approximately 7 times.
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).
Picture Amsterdam another way: its area is large enough to fit about 31,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 64 times the area of Central Park. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.
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
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Nicknamed "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 3.2x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though London is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Amsterdam (Netherlands) and London (UK) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Amsterdam fits inside London ~7 times
Density Gap
London is 1.4x more densely populated
History
London is ~1,232 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).
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to London is 358 km (222 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~55m.
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