In Amsterdam, what is the meaning/origin of the three vertical X's you see on everything.?

Question

I know this "symbol' dates back over 900 years so obviously it has nothing to do with dirty movie ratings; plus the three X's are always stacked vertically, not horizontally.

Answer 1

The X's are St Andrews Crosses. According to historians they are supposed to represent "Fire, flood and pestilence" - the three disasters that have traditionally plagued the city.

Answer 2

Depends where you are from and will you need a visa and depends which part of America because hurricane season could affect some parts of US at that time then Amsterdam will be in the autumn and winter season and it depends what you will be doing when you get there. I am from Scotland and neither of them interest me as Amsterdam is only across the water and US is too far to travel - If I was going somewhere for 3 months then I would go to the cities in Spain, Good Luck

Answer 3

The Amsterdam flag is made up of three bars in red-black-red. The middle black bar contains three St Andries crosses in silver or white. This city arms dates back to at least 1505. St Andries (Andreas) was a fisherman, who was crucified as a martyr on a diagonal cross. This became his symbol. In the Middle Ages, Amsterdam was a mercantile town as well as a fishermen’s town. The flags can be purchased in all shapes and sizes in various souvenir shops.

Answer 4

Hi. I'm Dutch,

The symbol relates to Saint Andreas. He was a fisherman from Bethsaida, Palestina and the first diciple of Jesus Christ. Andreas was crucified on a diagonal cross. This became his symbol, and the arms of Amsterdam since the 15th century.

It has indeed nothing to do with xxx movies.

Answer 5

I hope someone answers this because during a trip to Amsterdam, I had the symbol tattooed on my left calf.

Answer 6

It is for 'sexy time'!