Amsterdam in the late Middle Ages was an insignificant town. In the seventeenth century it grew into a metropolis whose power, wealth and craftsmanship could rival that of London and Venice. The Dutch Golden Age is above all the Golden Age of Amsterdam. The ""miracle of Amsterdam"" shines from within buildings, paintings and also books, as the city was the largest book producer in the world.The finest and largest collection of books from Amsterdam's Golden Age is now in the Special Collections of the University of Amsterdam. This collection is updated regularly. The Special Collections will be