Why does the Dutch government not reside in the capital, Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands. Since the change in the constitution of 1983, article 32 of this constitution explicitly mentiones Amsterdam as the capital of the country. However, the government resides in The Hague since the 16th century. Apart from some small periods, The Hague has also been the place of residence for the monarch. The confusion started in 1808, when Louis Bonaparte made Amsterdam the capital as well as the city of government, and started to live in the Royal Palace at the Dam Square. Two years later, in 1810, he got called back to France, and The Netherlands became French. After the independence of 1813, the government moved back to The Hague, but Amsterdam stayed the capital. The first official reference to this is in the consitution of 1814 (article 30). Though odd, this situation is not unique. Sucre is the capital of Bolivia, while all government institutions (except for the high court of justice) are in La Paz. Yamoussoukro is the capital of Ivory
