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Roam the world, record the moments, relive the memories!
Amsterdam is undoubtedly one of the most popular cities on Earth, well-known for its iconic canal system, the picturesque buildings stacked side-by-side, world-class museums, tasty food and a booming culture scene. Off the beaten path, are fascinating hidden gems, which should also be high-up your list of places to visit when in Amsterdam. Continue reading to see my compilation of the 25 top things to see and do, and how you can experience these ‘dam’ good vibes in this stunning Dutch capital…
Iamsterdam City Card
The I amsterdam City Card offers you a cost-effective way to explore Amsterdam. There are 24/48/72/96/120 hour options available, depending on the length of your stay. Here are the benefits of getting a card:
You can purchase a card directly here or from the I amsterdam store in Amsterdam Central Station.
Amsterdam is the city of bikes – with 881,000 bikes, inhabitants bike over two million kilometers every day, and there are more bikes than people in Amsterdam! You can either rent a bike and explore the city yourself, or go on a 2.5 hour guided bike tour, where the knowledgeable guides will teach you lots about the history of the city, whilst cycling past the most beautiful parts of Amsterdam’s Canal Belt and landmarks.
With the history of Amsterdam so deeply connected and built around the water, cruising down the canals and Amstel River is the most memorable way to discover the city.
I jumped onboard the Stromma ‘Amsterdam Canal Cruise – 100 Highlights’ cruise, which took us past canal houses, bridges, and many of Amsterdam’s iconic landmarks.
Did you know that with over 2,500 bridges and 165 canals, Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North?!
All roads lead to Dam Square, the beating heart of Amsterdam. It is home to the National Monument, the Royal Palace and Madame Tussauds.
Damrak is an avenue that runs between Amsterdam Central Station in the north and Dam Square in the south. The very picturesque Damrak Dancing Houses date back to the 17th century, the oldest part of the city. They were built as narrow houses as in the past, taxes were based on the size of the building’s exterior. The colours, architecture and pretty location makes this one of the most photographed spots in the city!
This is a beautiful 19th century arched passage way, between Damrak and Nieuwendijk shopping streets.
The nine quaint cobbled side streets that straddle Amsterdam’s grandest canals form the city’s most photogenic micro-neighbourhood…
Amsterdam’s canals were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2010. You can take yourself on a self-guided walking tour along the many canals. Prinsengracht is my favourite – this is the third and outermost of the three main canals of Amsterdam.
A’dam Lookout is an observation deck with an unrivalled 360 degrees panoramic view of Amsterdam. From the top, you are greeted to views of the city centre, the pulsating port, the unique Dutch polder landscape and Amsterdam’s iconic canals. You can also ride on a swing from the top of the skyscraper!
Hortus Botanicus, established in 1638, is a botanical garden in the Plantage district of Amsterdam. It is one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens. The garden has over 6,000 different plants, including a 2,000-year old agave cactus and a 300-year-old Eastern Kape giant cycad.
It is also home to a palm greenhouse and a beautiful butterfly house.
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, dedicated to 800 years of Dutch art and history. There are over one million works of art, craftworks, and historical objects, including Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portrait from 1887, which draws lots of crowds!
Be sure to visit Rijksmuseum’s photogenic Cuypers Library, the largest and oldest historical art library in the Netherlands.
ARTIS-Micropia is the first microbe museum in the world, located in the heart of Amsterdam. In this truly interactive museum, you will get to know the world of microbes and micro-organisms, which make up two-thirds of all living matter. The technology brings this invisible world to the forefront and will give you a fascinating insight into the trillions of microbes around us.
Amsterdam’s Moco Museum has a range of inspiring and visually stunning modern and street art displays. The museum includes the works of many contemporary artists including Banksy, Basquiat, Haring, Hirst, JR, Koons, Kusama, KAWS & more.
To truly experience this Dutch capital, be sure to head out beyond the city borders and explore the greater Amsterdam area. In less than 30 minutes, you’ll find historic harbour towns and windmills in Old Holland, nature reserves, golden beaches and wild dunes. If you are visiting during the spring, be sure to visit the famous tulip fields around Keukenhof.
The Amsterdam Tulip Museum is located on the opposite side of the Prinsengracht canal, near Anne Frank House.
The tulip was introduced in the Netherlands in the middle of 16th century, during the Ottoman Empire. Located in a room inside a tulip shop in central Amsterdam, this small basement museum does a wonderful job of telling the history of tulips in Holland and the infamous tulip craze that rocked the Dutch economy.
You can even purchase a variety of different tulip bulbs in the shop above the museum.
In the middle of the capital, on the west side of Dam Square, stands the Royal Palace Amsterdam – this is one of three palaces in the Netherlands.
Tram 2 from Amsterdam Central Station to Nieuw Sloten, is described by National Geographic as one of the best tram rides in the world. You can hop on this tram for a scenic ride, to the fascinating Molen Van Sloten windmill.
You can either get an I amsterdam City Card which allows you to use public transport free of charge, or get yourself a GVB public transport ticket.
The windmill is one of the best-known national symbols of The Netherlands, so seeing one was definitely on my bucket list. Situated on the outskirts of Amsterdam is the Molen Van Sloten windmill. This is a functioning draining mill and the only windmill in Amsterdam which is open for the public to visit everyday.
Take tram 2 from Amsterdam Central Station to Nieuw Sloten, get off at the last stop on the outskirts of Amsterdam and walk for 15 minutes to the Molen Van Sloten windmill.
You can have a tour of the inside of the windmill, where the knowledgeable guides will explain the working of the mill, how the top of the mill is turned and how to stop the mill.
Experiencing Dutch windmills when in the Netherlands will give you a true insight into the Old Holland…
I visited Amsterdam during Halloween week, so Corsgen Bridge was adorned with an epic Pumpkin display. There were even cool flower bikes over the bridge and canal, so if you are in the area, it is worth popping along to see what is on display!
The ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and fifth oldest zoo in the world. It houses many animals including jaguars, elephants, penguins, monkeys, giraffes, zebras, lions and gorillas!
The NEMO Science Museum is located in the Oosterdokseiland neighbourhood. It is a great place to visit, especially with young children.
Did you know that the rooftop of the NEMO Science Museum is the highest city square in the Netherlands?! The museum’s rooftop provides some of the best 360° views of the city. This sky-high public square was created by architect Renzo Piano.
Amsterdam is famous for its cheese as this is the centre of the dairy trade in the Netherlands, where world famous cheeses have been produced for centuries. There’s a dedicated Amsterdam Cheese Museum and lots of cheese shops around the capital, with lots of exotic flavours for you to try!
Tony’s Chocolonely is a Dutch confectionery company, founded in 2005, and has quickly grown to become the largest chocolate brand in the Netherlands. This is because of its approach to fair trade practices, making 100% slave-free chocolate. You can make your own, personalised chocolate at one of the stores in Amsterdam. The chocolates are also available to buy across the world, including in the UK and USA.
Amsterdam Central Station was built between 1881-1889, around the time other iconic buildings in the city, such as the Rijksmuseum, were constructed. The station was constructed by renowned Ducth architect Petrus J.H. Cuypers. The building’s beautiful façade and neo-gothic architecture make this a must-visit spot!
Amsterdam’s sunsets are spectacular, with the architecture, water cityscapes, and bikes making for some fiery scenes! Be sure to chase the sunset when in the city.
When the sun sets, the canals glow, with thousands of lights illuminating Amsterdam’s buildings and the Amstel River. I highly recommend going on a photo walk once it’s dark, to appreciate the city from a different and magical perspective…
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