I always try to arrive in a city with an open mind and often find that I enjoy cities more during subsequent visits, but I found myself in falling in love with Amsterdam almost immediately.
The overwhelming vibe, the architecture – with the leaning tall, vertical homes, the canals, and the millions of bikes everywhere – caught my heart. It is not my weather – I have visited three different times and each time it was cold, damp, cloudy and yet it was magical.
Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands. The train system will take you anywhere you want to go and there are more museums and things to see and experience than you will have time to explore. English is not a problem and the currency is the euro.
Epic things to do in Amsterdam:
- Wander the city
- Anne Frank House
- Visit a Museum
- Take a boat ride on the canal
- Enjoy the food
- Take a day or half day trip outside the city
There is so much to enjoy just walking through the streets of Amsterdam. The narrow homes lining the canals, are themselves, worth the walk. I have heard it said that the people were taxed on the width of their houses, hence the narrow, high homes. Notice the large roof mounted hooks that are used to lift goods and furniture from the barges and streets into the attics. Inside the stairs are quite steep. Personally, I enjoy noting all the subtle, and not so subtle, shifts these homes have made over time. Many are no longer straight, and it just adds to the charm!
Stroll through the main market areas as well and see all the tulips, or tulip bulbs, depending on the season. As well as the seasonal fresh produce and goods. Amsterdam is famous for its red-light district so you may want to stroll down a few of those streets just so you can see it for yourself.
There are also many old, beautiful churches to pop into as well as shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants. This is a multi-cultural city so you can find any kind of food your heart desires. Please note – if you want coffee though – you get that at a café – not a coffeeshop. Coffeeshops are not selling coffee but legal marijuana.
You will most likely arrive in the city, via train, at Amsterdam Central. Make sure that you notice the bicycle flat outside of the building. The flat is 100 meters long, with three decks, and was built over water to store thousands of bikes – it is a parking lot for bikes!
Don’t miss two other city sights – the A ‘dam Tower and the IASTERDAM sign. The A ‘dam tower is open to the public all year and offers amazing views of the city below. You must purchase a ticket to the top and there is a bar, restaurant, and an outdoor area, complete with swings to enjoy while you soak in your surroundings.
The IAASTERDAM sign is an iconic selfie spot for tourists. There are two identical signs, both of which stand two meters tall and 23.5 meters wide and have been known to travel to different locations throughout the city. One location is at the Schiphol Airport and the other is downtown, usually near the Museumplein. So, you may need to get online and determine its location once you arrive. And expect hordes of tourists. But where else is the world can you experience it?!
Another iconic spot in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House. It is also a highly visited museum, but you can, and I strongly suggest you do, book your ticket in advance. You can walk through the house itself and see the tiny quarters where the Frank family hid from the Nazis during WW11. It has very steep stairs and crowded rooms, but if you are physically able to go, I highly suggested in be a priority. It is a very moving experience that you will long remember and may never have another chance to experience. Consult the website at www.annefrank.org for ticket information, opening hours and location.
Amsterdam boasts some amazing museums – so pick one or two and again, get online and book your timed tickets in advance, especially during high tourist season. Some of the museums include the Stedelijk Museum (modern Art), Rembrandt, Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and the Hidden Church. I personally have enjoyed the beautiful Van Gogh Museum, which is so wonderfully laid out, informative and interesting. Van Gogh’s famous sunflower painting hangs on the walls here as do many self-portraits.
The Hidden Church is also one of my favorite places in Amsterdam. When the city was under religious persecution, the people built and concealed a secret Catholic Church in the attic of a home. The church, called Our Dear Lord in the Attic, was originally built in 1663 and has been preserved beautifully. It is now a museum and it is stunning and shocking to discover this secret place! It really is epic. Check online at www.opsolder.nl for times, location, and prices. I promise you will not be disappointed!
Another fun place to tour is Heineken. The Heineken Experience includes a tour of the historic brewery, a ton of interactive exhibits and a tasting room. Purchase tickets online ahead for time slot and give yourself plenty of time because there is a lot to experience! Add in the canal cruise to the A ‘dam Tower to your ticket. It is a really nice ride on the canal and includes your entrance ticket to get to the top of A ‘dam Tower to see the epic city view! Note that the tour ends as you exit the boat and enter the elevator to the tower, which is great because you can spend as much time at the top as you like. But be aware that you will now be ending your tour at the location of the A ‘dam tower, which is in another part of the city, so plan the reminder of your day accordingly.
Amsterdam is filled with many people of many cultures so you can eat any kind of food here that you like. But do try to save some room to experience some traditional Dutch food. Try the Dutch pancake – Poffertjes, Stroopwafels, Bitterballen, Kroket, the amazing local seafood, and the equally amazing Dutch cheese!
Take a trip outside the city – There are many options such as Zaanse Schans, Hoorn, Gouda, Leiden, Alkmaar, Edam, Amsterdam Forest and others and they are all within an hour by train from the city. I have only had the opportunity to visit Zaanse Schans and I loved it.
Zaanse Schans - The village is about a 45-minute train ride from Amsterdam Central Station and is an adorable and historic area that boasts windmills overlooking the river. Although the windmills look like they have been there for centuries, they have been relocated from the Zaan area in North Holland to this town. The reason was simply to preserve the buildings and the history. You can walk around the exteriors of the mills for free but there is a small charge to enter most of the mills. Once inside though, most have some interesting features and each mill has a different function. One is a mustard mill, another a sawmill and yet another an oil mill.
You can walk through the town, grab a tasty lunch from a local café and then tour through some of the windmills and get a few history lessons There is also an opportunity to take a boat ride, rent a bike or visit the windmill Museum. Whatever way you chose to explore this area the whole experience makes a worthwhile and epic half-day trip!
There is still so much of Amsterdam and the Netherlands that I have yet to explore but what I have seen has been epic! I am always ready to book another trip to the Netherlands – why don’t you join me?! Veilige Reizen!
