What do the three 'x's in Amsterdam mean?

Question

Why is x x x all over Amsterdam on bollards and flags everywhere and what does it stand for or mean..?

Answer 1

It's the official flag of Amsterdam and you can read a little more in English here

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ams...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arm...

There are several theories of it's origins, among which are two of them:

(a) that it is derived from the coat of arms of family Persijn

(b) that the crosses stand for the three scurges that have hit Amsterdam in history - water (flooding), fire and the plague.

EDIT - yes Mark, in your little world I can imagine it would. but for the rest of us it means something else