Amsterdam
219 km²
Zurich
88 km²
Netherlands
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 2.5x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 2.1x more people than Zurich
Amsterdam is significantly larger, covering 2.5 times the area of Zurich. Amsterdam spans 219 km² (85 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 131 km². You could fit Zurich inside Amsterdam 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, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
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 Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
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
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. It was founded around 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.
Looking beyond city limits, the Amsterdam metropolitan area covers 2,580 km², which is 1.9x larger than greater Zurich at 1,334 km². The Amsterdam metro area is also more populous, with 2.5 million people compared to 1.4 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Zurich is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Zurich (Switzerland) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside Amsterdam ~2 times
History
Zurich is ~1,290 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).
Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Zurich is 613 km (381 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 13m.
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