Amsterdam's Mayor Eberhard van der Laan unveiled the capital's birth certificate on Wednesday.

The city's toll privilege declaration, signed by Count Floris V of Holland in 1275, will be on public display until Sunday. The document is normally kept in the dark for conservation reasons, but the city archive has decided to put it on view every year around Amsterdam's birthday on 27 October.

The Count's signature marked the start of Amsterdam's development as one of Europe's main trading centres. It also gave Amsterdam residents the privilege of sailing on all Holland's canals without paying any fees, a gesture seen as a snub to the lords of Utrecht who were trying to dominate the embryonic city at the time. Amsterdam's freedom from tolls was not abolished until 1795.

The toll privilege document forms part of an exhibition highlighting 12 aspects of Amsterdam's history, illustrated by documents, pictures and paintings. Since Thursday is the capital's 736th birthday, the archive will welcome the first 736 visitors with coffee and cake.

(rk/imm)

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