The Amsterdam coat of arms consists of four elements: a shield, which bears these three crosses, the crown of the Austrian Empire, two lions flanking it, and the city’s motto below. So, let’s take it one step at a time…
Considering one of the most common stereotypes about the city of Amsterdam — that it is full of sex tourism — the symbol “XXX”, which can be seen all over the city, may come as a big surprise to many.
In fact, the coat of arms of Amsterdam consists of four elements: a shield, on which these three crosses are depicted, the crown of the Austrian Empire, two lions on the sides, and the city’s motto at the bottom. Let’s go through them one by one…
At the center of the composition is a red heraldic shield. It is crossed by a black band on which three white crosses are depicted — these are the symbols of the city, which today can literally be found everywhere in Amsterdam.
There are many interpretations of the meaning of these crosses, but we can focus on three main versions.
The first version says that the symbols represent the crosses of Saint Andrew the Apostle (that is, they are Saint Andrew’s crosses).
According to the second version, the symbols represent the three main dangers that have historically threatened the city: water — floods, fire — fires, and plague — pestilence.
The third version interprets the three crosses as symbolizing the three main virtues of Amsterdam’s citizens: compassion, courage, and valor. In other words, they echo the motto located at the bottom of the coat of arms.
The second element of the coat of arms is the crown of the Austrian Empire, which has changed in appearance several times. Amsterdam was granted the right to adorn its coat of arms with this monarchical symbol by King Maximilian I in gratitude for loans provided in 1489.
The third element of the coat of arms is the supporters — the magnificent lions, which uphold not only the shield but also the crown. The two lions appeared on Amsterdam’s heraldic symbol only at the end of the 16th century, when Amsterdam and the provinces were united into the Republic of the United Provinces.
The fourth element of the coat of arms is the motto, consisting of three words: compassion, courage, and valor. This motto was added in 1947, after the heroism displayed by the Dutch during World War II.
So, the symbol “XXX” has absolutely nothing to do with adult entertainment or the sex industry. Instead, it reflects the multifaceted and centuries-long history of the beautiful city of Amsterdam!
