Amsterdam
219 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
Netherlands
USA
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 1.2x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 1.3x more people than Washington D.C.
Amsterdam is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Washington D.C.. Amsterdam spans 219 km² (85 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 42 km².
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 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
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.
Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 5.6x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The Washington D.C. metro area is also more populous, with 6.3 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 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 Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. Summers are notably different: Washington D.C. averages 26°C compared to 17°C in Amsterdam. When it's noon in Amsterdam, it's 6:00 AM in Washington D.C. — a 6-hour time difference.
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Amsterdam is ~515 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).
Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Washington D.C. is 6,190 km (3,846 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 47m.
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