Substantial investment in city marketing and promotion has paid off for Amsterdam. After a few lacklustre years, tourism figures are beating all records. 2006 was a top year for museums and attractions, as the Rembrandt effect (400th anniversary celebrations) kicked in. There were 4,659,600 visitors in 2006, a million of them British. There was a 25% increase in the number of Spanish visitors, a 26% increase in the number of Dutch visitors and a 16% increase in visitors from Canada. An increase of 8% in the number of bed-nights spent in Amsterdam took the total to 8.6 million. The top three months for tourism are August, July and April. Tourists contribute significantly to the economy of Amsterdam and the ATCB estimate the total expenditure of visitors to be €4.5 billion. A record year is expected for 2007 with increases in visitors from Poland, Spain and Russia. Official themes are designed to attract visitors: 2006 was Rembrandt 400, 2007 is Feel the Rhythm and 2008 will be Hidden Treasures. But the real draw is the city itself. There is the charm of the canals (three million visitors take a boat trip making it the most popular 'attraction'), world-class culture (museums, the Opera, the Concertgebouw), fascinating architecture and a vibe that manages to be both cosy (gezellig) and contemporary. Something for everyone.