For over a decade, I have photographed Amsterdam from perspectives few have ever seen.
From helicopters, small planes, boats, and even underwater, I have explored the city’s essence—its canals, its historic heartbeat, and the ever-changing Dutch light that gives it life.
My fascination with light led me to study the techniques of Jan Six van Hillegom, a descendant of the famous Jan Six, Rembrandt’s close friend and patron.
The way Rembrandt mastered light and shadow in his paintings, revealing depth and emotion, inspired me to do the same with photography
Jan Six van Hillegom’s understanding of light and its movement through Amsterdam shaped the way I see the city—how the golden glow of sunrise kisses the canals, how shadows dance between historic facades, how the rain transforms the streets into mirrors reflecting time itself.
In 2013, I placed Amsterdam on the cover of National Geographic, a moment that honored the city’s timeless beauty on a global scale.
But this journey started long before. In 2014, I published my first major article about the Amsterdam Canals. That issue sold nearly 11,000 copies and went out of stock, proving that the world shares my deep admiration for this city.
Since then, my work has been a continuous tribute to Amsterdam.
The book AMSTERDAM: A Photographic Tribute to the City’s 750th Anniversary is not just a collection of images; it is a personal thank-you to a city that has given me so much.
Every photograph is an invitation to see Amsterdam through new eyes
to witness its evolving soul, shaped by history, water, and light.
This is not just my story. It is Amsterdam’s. And it belongs to everyone who loves this city.
For over ten years, Olivares explored the city in every season, capturing its famous Dutch light from unique perspectives