A territory comprising the area of the modern Amsterdam and its surroundings. Its history is linked with the Amstel river and the growth of the city of Amsterdam. The river was important in medieval times as a waterway leading to the south and to Utrecht. The oldest settlement in the area was Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, which dated from the 11th century (and thus is older than Amsterdam itself, which was at this time was a small fishing village at the mouth of the Amstel). This area was part of the demesne of the Van Amstel family, which had held the district from c. 1105 as servants (ministeriales) of the bishop of Utrecht and later for some years as vassals of the count of Holland (until 1296).