Amsterdam, colorful, quirky, and charming, is the capital of the Netherlands, a city crisscrossed with canals, narrow houses with gabled facades, and rich art history.
Art and Culture
Amsterdam is brimming with museums, music venues, botanical gardens, and hidden courtyards.
The Van Gogh Museum houses over 700 of his works and Gaugin, Monet, and more. The recently renovated Rijksmuseum is dedicated to Dutch masters like Amsterdam native Rembrandt and thousands of other works.
The Oude Kirk, (literally “old church”) is Amsterdam’s oldest building dating back to 1305.
The Anne Frank House sheds light on what it was like to live in the Nazi-occupied city in the early to mid-1940s.
Beginhof, Coster Diamonds, Hermitage Amsterdam, Museum of Amsterdam, Rembrandt House Museum, Our Lord In The Attic are just a few places to explore the vibrant history of the city.
Interesting Sights
The 17th-century district Jordaan neighborhood is full of winding, and narrow streets are filled with cafes, bars, galleries, courtyards, and funky shops, making it one of the most popular areas.
On the Singel canal, check out the Bloemenmarket, the world’s only floating flower market.
P.C. Hooftstraat is Amsterdam’s most exclusive shopping street featuring high-end brands.
The two main shopping streets in Amsterdam’s city center are the Kalverstraat and the Leidsestraat. You’ll find higher-end shops on Leidsestraat and all the name brand shops you would expect to find in Europe on Kalverstraat street.
Food and Beverage
Amsterdam is a food-lovers dream. Organized food tours are quite popular here, or check out the Foodhallen, a former tram depot, now an amazing assemblage of 21 different food stands. Try traditional Dutch foods like bitterballen, tasty little deep-fried meatballs, crepe-like Dutch pancakes, thick-cut, and sauced-up Dutch fries, and stroopwafel, a gooey pair of Dutch waffle stuck together with a layer of syrup.
The city is teeming with bars, breweries, cafés, and dining experiences ranging from comfortable to exquisite food choices.
Heineken moved to a more modern facility in the outskirts of Amsterdam in 1988, leaving behind its 19th-century brewery. The building has been renovated into a museum, the Heineken Experience. The museum has over four floors filled with brewing artifacts, vast copper kettles, multimedia exhibits, a 4D ride, and a tasting bar!
Day Trips
There’s plenty more to do in the city, but if you are interested in a day trip, check out going to Haarlem, a quaint town full of 16th and 17th-century architecture – including a cathedral where Mozart played – just 20 minutes away. And if you want to see authentic Dutch windmills, check out Zanse Schans, only 40 minutes outside Amsterdam.
Best Time to Visit
There is no wrong time to visit Amsterdam. The tourist season generally runs from May through October, with the most crowds in July and August. Tulip season (as early as March through April) brings a burst of color to the region.
Is Amsterdam on your bucket list? Give us a call, and we’ll help you plan the perfect trip to this fascinating city.
