Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Amsterdam, Netherlands, Europe
Netherlands, (or Holland) is Benelux country, densely populated with it’s gorgeous capital Amsterdam, small in size, criss-crossed by bridges, 165 canals encircle the city of Amsterdam and keep the sea at bay. For some, Amsterdam lures with its sweeping, 17th century bike-filled canals, epic Concertgebouw, and VanGogh museum, while others are beckoned by the grassy haze and driving electronica.
Amsterdam is a funny place. You are never more than 50 feet from an H&M at any given moment and you are more likely to get hit by a bike than a car. It creates a fresh and free yet lively atmosphere for you. Enjoy it with warm walks around the city, visiting one landmark to the other, in slow paced trip by bus or on foot since the scenery might be too beautiful to be spent on a bus ride. The citizens there are also kind and will always glad to help you whenever you are in trouble or something. Ask them direction and they will even lead you to where you want to go.
Step into the postcard city. Lose yourself in a maze of canals. Picnic with the locals. Get on your bike. Eat a raw herring (no excuses). Take a sneaky peek in the Red Light district. Marvel at the Old Masters Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum. Skate like a dream. Mix with Moderns at the Stedelijk Museum. Have a good rummage at the flea markets to discover the multi-ethnic spirit of Amsterdam. Hit the streets to see cutting-edge art. Spice things up with an Indonesian rijsttafel (rice table). Along with the fondue, it’s the food of choice for celebratory meals. Discover the city’s secret garden at the Begijnhof, a secluded garden and courtyard offers a hidden sanctuary where traffic sounds dim and the bustle of the city fades into the distance. Visit the home of the diarist Anne Frank. Drink as the Dutch do. Jam up the volume at cosiest music venues Melkweg and Paradiso. Move with the music at the rand new music theatre Muziekgebouw aan’t IJ. Discover the Bohemian front, and more..
Currency
Netherlands has the euro (EUR, €) as its currency. Therewith, Netherlands belongs to the 23 European countries that use the common European money. One euro is divided into 100 cents. A lot of shops do not accept banknotes of €100, €200 and €500, due to concerns about counterfeiting and burglary. For safety reasons, credit card use in the Netherlands increasingly requires a PIN-code. ATMs are readily available, mostly near shopping and nightlife areas. Mostly everywhere you can find an ATM.
Communications
Police, ambulance and fire brigade have one emergency number 112. The international calling code for the Netherlands is 31 and Amsterdam's city code is 020. The cellular phone network in the Netherlands is GSM 900/1800. The cell phone networks are operated by KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile; other operators use one of these 3 networks. Most hotels and cafes offer internet access, some charge for it. Pay phones are rare as most Dutch people have a mobile phone. Most payphones require phone cards.
Schengen Visa
Schengen Visa has made traveling between its 25 member countries (22 European Union states and 3 non-EU members) much easier, less bureaucratic. Traveling on a Schengen Visa means that the visa holder can travel to any (or all) member countries using one single visa, thus avoiding the hassle and expense of obtaining individual visas for each country. This is particularly beneficial for persons who wish to visit several European countries on the same trip. A "visitor visa” and applications have to be made in person.
Shopping
Amsterdam is a shopper's dream come true and there are lots of places to treat yourself to some retail therapy. The two main shopping streets are Leidestraat near Leidseplein and Kaizerstraat, while Magna Plaza is the number one shopping centre. Also, if you're looking to pick up a bargain probably the best place to find one is in the Albert Cuyp Market in De Pijp behind the Heineken Brewery, and here you can pick up everything from clothes to food. Visit Waterlooplein the best flea market in town.
Klompen / Wooden Shoes
One of the most original items to take back home are clogs, traditional wooden shoes. Surprisingly comfortable. Think of them as all-terrain footwear; easy to put on for a walk in the garden, field or on a dirt road. Consider buying one. Besides shops at Schiphol and Damrak street, look for a regular vendor which can usually be found in towns in rural areas. The northern province of Friesland has a lot of stores selling wooden shoes, often adorned with the bright colors of the Frisian flag.
Transport
Tram is main form of public transportation in center. 4 line metro serves neighborhoods of SE. Most tourists would be interested in the metro to get to Amsterdam Arena stadium, Heineken Music Hall or the Pathe Arena cinema and IMAX. Tickets can be bought on bus or tram, but it's cheaper to buy a public transport card. Narrow streets and obscure signs make self driving a pain. Taxis in Amsterdam are plentiful but expensive. A Thai-influenced transportation service Tuk-tulk provides cheaper transport service.
Nightlife
The archetypical Amsterdam watering hole is the bruine (brown bar), a neighborhood pub of sorts, dark wood panelling and booths. Popular entertainment areas with lots of bars are the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. Many nightclubs are grouped at Leidse Square and Rembrandt Square in Canal Ring. You can't go wrong at Melkweg, Sugarfactory and Paradiso, 3 live music venues that usually have a large queue in weekends. With so many pubs and bars in Amsterdam, the best experience it is to go on a bar-crawl.
Cannabis / Magic Truffles
They are renowned for their liberal drug policy. Note that this does not mean the Dutch are all permanently high. While technically still illegal, much of the clientèle is in fact tourists. 18 years or older are allowed to buy and smoke small doses (5 g or less) of cannabis or hash. For this you have to visit one of the adundant coffeeshops. Some use the Rastafari red-yellow-green colors to hint at the products available inside, while others are more discreet and sometimes almost hidden away from plain view.
Beer Drinking
There are 2 drinking ages 16 years for alcohol under 15% (beer, wine, etc.), and 18 for stronger alcoholic drinks. Beverages with an alcohol content lower than 0.5% aren't counted, anybody can buy then, called "alcohol free" or in case of beer "malt bier". Although the Dutch beer "Heineken" is one of the world's most famous beers, it is just one of the many beer brands in the Netherlands, and many Dutchmen consider it to be only a second-rate pilsener. You can get all kinds of beers from white beer to dark beer.
Dining
Known for specialties and delicious treats. Dutch cheese is particularly famous, especially Gouda, Edam, Leerdammer, Maaslander and Maasdam. Try raw herring available both from ubiquitous herring stands and fancy restaurants, usually served with chopped onion and occasionally even plopped into a bun to make broodje haring. Liquorice can be bought sweet or extremely salty (double salt) and in a hard or soft bite. Amazing Middle Eastern cuisine (Indian Restaurant Guide).
Fast Foodies Delight
Amsterdam is a fast food mecca, with dozens of choices from global chains to local kebab shops. Fast food in Amsterdam is probably some of the lowest quality nutrition in the universe, and the informed eater should certainly take this into consideration when choosing. The large number of coffeeshops and tourists who have the munchies from consuming cannabis as well as drunken late night eating binges create a somewhat symbiotic relationship and keep them open for business.
Vegetarianism
Vegetarians should not have any major trouble. A large percent of the Dutch population is vegetarian and most restaurants have at least one vegetarian option on their menus or can make you one if you ask for it. Most supermarkets sell vegetarian products or even have a part of their supermarket dedicated to vegetarian products. It is advisable to specifically mention what you do and do not eat (meat, fish, dairy, eggs) as not everyone has the same definition of vegetarianism. Lots of Vegan Restaurants.
Schiphol Airport
One of the most modern, efficient travel hubs, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Schiphol is the ninth-busiest airport in the world based on passenger traffic and Here, find fun, unexpected trivia. British magazine Business Traveller voted Amsterdam Airport Schiphol "Best Airport in Europe," based on passenger experience. Schiphol also earned fourth place for "Best Airport in the World." Visit the permanent Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Schiphol, an annex of the city's top art museum inside the airport.
Cycling
The Dutch and their bikes are inseparable. It’s not a form of transportation, it’s a way of living. Everywhere you go in Holland there are bicycle paths and other facilities. In Holland, the best way to travel along the canals and busy roads is by bike, especially in the capital. Become a real ‘Amsterdammer’ and travel by bike. You can rent a bike anywhere. Cycle in the right pace, on the bicycle paths. The Amsterdam Central Station has a bike ramp with room for 7000 bikes. Cycle with your kids in a ‘bakfiets’ (cargo bike).
The Famed Windmills
Such is the importance of these living monuments that there is even a National Windmill Day (11 May), and on festive occasions or national holidays molens are decked out in flowers, garlands, figures of angels or Dutch flag. Top 8 windmills areThe De 1200 Roe, De 1100 Roe, Riekermolen, D'Admiraal, De Bloem, Gooyer, Molen van Sloten (highly popular with tourists, declared a ‘house of the municipality’) and de Otter, which is quite possibly Amsterdam’s best-kept secret.
Things to See & Do (Virtual View)
With more than 6,800 monumental houses and buildings, Amsterdam has the largest historical city center in Europe. Best-known for its three rings of canals a.k.a. The Venice of the North. Sights can include Royal Palace, National Monument, the Skinny Bridge, canals Albert Cuyp Market, Visit a windmill on the River Amstel and stop at a diamond factory where you can see how gems are polished using traditional methods. Museum quarter pinnacle of sophistication and home to the three major museums, the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and the Van Gogh Museum Head to Chinatown near the Nieuwmarkt. After dinner, wander through the Red Light District. The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum is a museum dedicated to cannabis and its many uses with nearly a million visitors to date. Albert Cuypmarkt is arguably the best-known and busiest outdoor market in Europe.
For the Kids
The child friendly Amsterdam has much to offer. Artis Zoo, right in the center of Amsterdam, you can also find the oldest Zoo of Holland. It consists of four main areas: Zoo, Planetarium, Botanical Gardens and Geological and Zoological museum. The Vondelparkwith gets 10 million visitors a year. inderkookkafé (Children’s Cook Café), children suit up in aprons and chef hats to whip up all sorts of creations, from pizzas and sandwiches. Science Centre Nemo contains five floors of hands-on science exhibitions and is the largest science center in the Netherlands. A boat trip is always fun, and especially through the canals and harbour of Amsterdam. Play midget golf , take a rail trip through the Amstel Park or eat poffertjes, a kind of tiny pancakes at Amstelpark. Race Planet is a mega indoor play area. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum concentrate on the glory of Holland’s Golden Age. World of Ajax, a perfect footbal activity includes stadium tour.
About the City
Centrum / Old Centre
Once you finish your red-light stroll, head to Precinct 5, the Patta crew’s latest store, which is located in an old police station. Consider it the Reed Space of Amsterdam: clean streetwear, good people. Also recommended is 290SQM, a well-curated shop located in a small alley by Waterlooplein. Visit Foam Museum. For nightlife, Minibar has a novel concept: You get a key to your own self-serve minibar, and pay upon leaving for what you consume. Oh, a coffee shop? De Rokerij is a favorite of artists about town.
Jordaan
Tightly packed streets and canals. Once a neighborhood for the working class and emigrants, nowadays almost completely renovated and very popular among artists, students, professionals, young entrepreneurs, and tourists. It has a growing number of upscale boutiques and restaurants. The streets are romantic with small canals and bridges and this is also an area where you can visit the hidden courtyards called "hofjes". No other Dutch neighborhood is sung about as much as De Jordaan neighborhood.
Zeeburg
To the east of Centrum is this NYC-like borough. Check out Lloyd Hotel, once a juvie prison, now a stylish place to stay. For food, try Studio Ka movie theater, club, and eatery in one—or Fifteen, the concept restaurant from the Naked Chef dude. Drink up at the Brouwerij ’t Ij, which is a better alternative to the ultra-touristy Heineken brewery, especially on free-tour Fridays. Also great is the new Central Library, a seven-story beauty with free Internet and a top-floor restaurant (La Place) with panoramic views.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Located on the Dam Square. It is one of the 3 palaces still used by the Royal Family. It isn’t Queen Beatrix’s place of residence, but she occasionally receives important guests here. You’ll know when, because the Dutch flag will fly over the Palace. The exhibitions and interior design are worth a visit. The one-hour tours are strongly recommended. Visitors can admire the marble floors, magnificent paintings, delicate sculptures, gigantic chandeliers, plus an annual exhibition.Visit Nieuwe Kerk next door.
Oude Kerk
As its name implies, the Oude Kerk is the oldest church in Amsterdam with a history dating back to the early 14th century. Most of its decoration was demolished during the Reformation, when Calvinists destroyed sculptures and ornaments. The church is located at a small square right in the middle of the red light district, surrounded by shops and cafés. Several small 17th and 18th century houses lean against the church's walls. The Oude Kerk is known for its organ concerts. It's also used for art exhibitions.
National Monument
The National Monument (Nationaal Monument op de Dam) is a 1956 World War II monument on Dam Square. A national Remembrance of the Dead (Dodenherdenking) ceremony is held at the monument every year on 4 May to commemorate the casualties of World War II and subsequent armed conflicts. The monument was designed by Dutch architect J.J.P. Oud, and the monument's sculptures are by John Rädecker and his sons Han and Jan Willem Rädecker.
Tuschinski Theater
The Tuschinski Theater is considered as one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. Every visitor that walks in for the first time is stunned. Thousands of electrical lamps, marble, stained glass windows and the exotic art create an overwhelming entrance. It is a mix of two styles: Art Deco and Amsterdam School. Everywhere you go you’ll find all sorts of decorations ranging from wall paintings to hand-knotted carpets. These days the Tuschinski Theater is a cinema.
House of Bols
House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience is an unique adventure and an unforgettable interactive introduction to the glamorous world of cocktails and bartending. Learn about Lucas Bols, world's oldest distilled spirit brand, Become acquainted with Bols Genever, the World's Most Authentic Spirit. The tour ends in the revolutionary Mirror Bar, where professional bartenders will mix you a delicious genever cocktail. Want to learn flair bartending, be sure to stop by the magical Flair Booth.
Muiderslot Castle
Enchantment awaits. Ascend into imposing fortress with its robust battlements, and discover the might of the castle of Count Floris V, built in 1285. The castle knew its heyday during the Dutch Golden Age thanks to its most famous resident, writer and poet P.C. Hooft, a contemporary of Shakespeare. A guided tour will take you through the first-floor residential wings, in the tastefully decorated upper house (Hoge Huys). Renaissance gardens, fortifications and falconry are also well worth a visit.
ARCAM
The ARCAM foundation wants to inform and inspire people about architecture in and around Amsterdam. Therefore the architecture center organizes lectures, meetings, expositions and other activities to promote architecture. The best place to get ins and outs about architecture in and around Amsterdam is at ARCAM. It is located in the city center of Amsterdam and admission is free. ARCAM’s first priority is to be an information center for everyone about architecture.
Van Ghogh Museum
Contains the largest collection of van Gogh's paintings in the world. About 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent, Gauguin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and Bernard. The museum chronicles Van Gogh's journey from Holland, to Paris, to Arles. Also holds exhibitions on various subjects from 19th century art history. Van Gogh's work is organised chronologically into five periods, each representing a different phase of his life and work: The Netherlands, Paris, Arles, Saint-Remy and Auvers-sur-Oise.
Allard Pierson Museum
The Allard Pierson Museum is the archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam . The ancient civilizations of Egypt, Cyprus, the Greek World, Etruria and the Roman Empire are revived in this museum. Art-objects and utensils, dating from 4000 B.C. till 500 A.D. give a good impression of everyday-life, mythology and religion in Antiquity. On display original antiquities and other objects as one of the sources of Western tradition to put the present in a culture-historical perspective.
Cat Cabinet
The Kattenkabinet (Cat Cabinet) is located in a lovely canal house. Dedicated entirely to the role of cats in art and culture throughout history. Paintings, sculptures, posters and other cat-related objects are on display, watched over by some friendly felines. This feline-related collection was founded in memory of a frisky tomcat, John Pierpont Morgan, a long-time companion of the museum's founder. A stroll through the impressive rooms of this beautiful 17th-century canal house, also used in the Ocean's Twelve, is an unexpected treat.
EYE Film Museum
EYE, the film museum in Amsterdam, invites you to watch films on the four screens, explore the exhibition area, the interactive basement, museum store, and the restaurant and café. Get to know all the facets of film and moving image. The museum’s basement offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to search through EYE’s digitized collection in an interactive way. The museum store features a wide assortment of film paraphernalia, while the restaurant and café offers a breathtaking view of the waterfront.
Canal Ring
Most delightful zone includes the 16th-century Singel canal, hotels of all sizes, restaurants, antiques shops, and attractions like the canal-house museums and the Anne Frankhuis. People watching at the many cafés, boutique hopping in 9 Streets, dining on traditional fare, or simply strolling hand-in-hand along the romantic tree and lamp lined canals should take an entire day, if you do it right. Chack out the elaborate gables of Gouden Bocht (Golden Bend), richly decorated facades, colored marbles, and heavy doors.
Oud-West
Popular city quarter stretching west of the Singelgracht canal with quite a lot of hotels, restaurants and cafes. The Oud-West district of Amsterdam roughly covers the length of the Overtoom, a major thoroughfare, the length of Kinkerstraat, a major shopping street and the areas between these two parallel streets. At the Ten Katestraat you can find the bustling Ten Katemarkt. It is a bit hidden in a shopping street (Kinkerstraat). A small section of the market continues on the other side.
Plantage
This district is named after a hotel, called Hotel Plantage, which is located in the old monumental centre, in the heart of Amsterdam. This area, called De Plantage, was originally designed as a garden in the 17th century, but today it merely features a zoo called Artis, a botanical garden called De Hortus, and Waterlooplein's flea market. The hotel's location provides easy foot-access of Amsterdam. The central station, Dam square, Rembrandts Plein are all reachable on foot.
Nine Streets
An area in the Jordaan district you shouldn’t miss. Nine streets is made up of three-by-three-blocks of roads prettily interwoven with canals. You’ll find lots of independent shops selling everything from hand made jewellery to vintage chic and there’s also some very unusual stores you won’t find anywhere else – one barber shop even doubles as an art gallery. Make sure you stop for a coffee at one of the many canal-side cafes to take it all in for a bit.
Magere Brug / Skinny Bridge
Of city's 60-plus drawbridges, this is most famous and provides gorgeous views of the Amstel and surrounding area connecting the banks of the river at Kerkstraat, between Emperors' Canal and Princes' Canal with a story attached. It's an Old Dutch design wooden bridge known as a double-swipe (balanced) bridge. Skinny Bridge is far not skinny anymore, at night many lights illuminate the bridge, then it becomes a very romantic place, popular with lovers and photographers.
Keukenhof
World's greatest flower show, gets around 800,000 visitors a year. Selling flowers and plants nets around 1.5€ billion a year at Bloemenveiling (Flower Auction). In the 79 acres of wooded green burst forth in Spring, producing not hundreds, or even thousands, but millions (more than 7 million at last count) of tulips of hundreds of varieties, narcissi, daffodils, hyacinths, bluebells, crocuses, lilies, amaryllis, and many others. The color blaze is everywhere, in parks, along the paths, etc.
Begijnhof
Dating back to the 14th century, this tranquil courtyard is surrounded by the bustle of Kalverstraat, Spui and the Nieuwe Zijdsvoorburgwal. The original facades were replaced in the 17th and 18th century, but 18 of the houses still have gothic wooden frames—one of which is still visible. The Begijnhofkapel, with its paintings of the miracle of Amsterdam, and the English Church remind visitors of the courtyard’s religious foundations.
De Jacbos Hoeve
De Jacobs Hoeve/Henri Willig is a farm where cheese is made in the traditional way. Besides producing the famous Gouda cheese, they also make goat's and sheep's milk cheese. They offer free tours of their farm. Naturally you will also have a chance to taste their cheese, as well as pay a visit to the goats and sheep that supply the milk. Also offers special activities for groups from 10 to 200 people. You can combine your visit with a homemade farmer's lunch and an interesting film about cheese production.
Artplein Spui
For lovers of art! Every Sunday from March through December an open-air sales exhibition is organized on Spui Square in Amsterdam. Recent works by some 60 contemporary Dutch and foreign visual artists are on display. You will meet the artists themselves. In the 12.5 years of its existence, ‘Artplein Spui’ has become a household world. Every week lovers of art congregate at the square. The rotation system ensures that original work by some 25 artists is on display every week.
Ajax Experience
An interactive and innovative journey into Amsterdam's Ajax football club. Take a tour through the rich history and highlights of this famous football team. Using fun and interactive displays, the Ajax Experience immerses you the world of Amsterdam football. You’ll discover the philosophy, rich history and the team highlights of this legendary football club. The major wins, big names, jerseys, goals, training program, strategies, style, fans and logos all get their place in the spotlight
Heineken Experience
The former Heineken brewery is equipped with the latest multimedia to make you see, hear, smell, taste and enjoy Heineken. The Heineken Experience starts at the base: the ingredients and 150 years of brewing craftsmanship. Then you’ll get a 4D-experience what it’s like to be brewed and bottled. More interactive fun is followed by a Heineken show. Finally, you’ll end the experience with a well deserved beer. A fun way to get to know this world famous Dutch beer. It only takes one and a half hour.
Anne Frank House
A museum with a story. It holds the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II. Anne Frank was a normal girl in exceptional circumstances. For more than two years she described the events of her daily life in hiding in her diary. See for yourself how Anne, her family and other people were living while hiding from the occupying Germans. Take into account, that visiting the Anne Frank House is a moving experience, which has already touched millions of people from.
Rembrandt House
The artist Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn and his wife, Saskia, lived here between 1639 and 1658. A reconstruction of the painter’s life at that time and provides interesting insight. See 260 of his 290 etchings, find out about how they were created, see where he worked and explore the nooks and crannies of this fascinating building. The museum has its own shop, which can be visited separately from the museum. It stocks a wide range of articles as souvenirs of your visit or as attractive gifts.
Cobra Museum of Modern Art
An art destination unto itself, the museum combines a beautiful architecture with a permanent presentation of master pieces by the avant-garde artists of the Cobra movement. Poets and painters also created joint works, combining word and image in an unrestrained manner. These works were dubbed 'peinture-mots’ or word paintings. The museum has at its core the Cobra collection, comprised of artworks and documentary material, from which diverse presentations are created.
Madame Tussauds
Ever thought that you would meet Barack Obama, Ronaldinho, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga in one afternoon? At Madame Tussaud’s the rich and the famous are waiting for you. Take a look at the wax figures of internationally famous royalties, pop- and sports stars and world leaders, and national celebrities. People you usually never meet in real life are now taking their time for a picture with you. The celebrities are located in the city center at Dam Square, opposite Royal Palace.
De Pijp
One of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant district, De Pijp, located about a mile south of central Amsterdam, contains the Heineken Experience, a four-level interactive museum located in the former Heineken Brewery. Travel writers recommend strolling through the chic Ferdinand Bolstraat, popping into pubs and cafés along the way, haggling with the market vendors at Albert Cuyp Market and enjoying some of the many ethnic restaurants that have assembled in this interesting enclave.
Museumplein
Crowded by day, emptied out by nightfall, Museumplein and surrounding area, is filled with museums: the Rijksmuseum; the Van Gogh Museum; and the Stedelijk Museum, to name a few. Adjacent is the expansive Vondelpark, an enormous city green, perfect for whiling away an afternoon. "Located inside the Vondelpark is the Openluchttheater, or open-air theater, where music and dance shows, as well as all manner of film screenings, are held throughout the summer months.
Nieuwmarkt
One of the oldest parts of Amsterdam. It’s overlooked by an attractive looking castle complete with gates and turrets known as De Waag. Located in the middle of RLD, it has everything from funky bars and cafes to Buddhist temples and even a convent. If you are looking for things to do in Amsterdam there is a also a daily market, an organic food market on Saturdays and an antique market on Sundays. Although the real reason you should visit is to sit with a coffee or a beer and people watch for a few hours.
I Amsterdam Sign
These are the “famous” letters in Amsterdam that your camera needs to see. One of Amsterdam’s most popular city squares is Museumplein, where you will find the ‘I Amsterdam’ sign. This large sign that lies in front of the Rijksmuseum has become an iconic symbol of the city. It's next to the Van Gogh Museum. You will also find many people sitting in or on the letters and getting their photo taken. Sure, it's clichéd at this stage, but when in Rome...
Vondelpark
Vondelpark is the largest city park in Amsterdam, and certainly the most famous park in the Netherlands, which welcomes about 10 million visitors every year. Vondelpark has six play areas and one large playground near Groot Melkhuis. It is also possible to rent skates there at Snoephuisje. The open-air theater takes place in Vondelpark five days a week, near the entrance from Eeghenstraat. The Vondelpark is loved by Amsterdammers as well as by tourists just lazing about in grass.
Dam Square
Pigeon-filled Dam Square has long been a gathering place for local Amsterdam residents and visitors alike. Surrounded by wonderful buildings and other attractions, Dam Square provides several must-sees on your trip to Amsterdam. Through the centuries, a number of buildings sprung up around the Square, special events were (and still are) held here, and street entertainers are a common site. In the 1960s, Dam Square was famous for the "hippie" population that hung out at the location.
Homomonument
Designed by Amsterdam-born artist Karin Daan in 1979, Amsterdam's Homomonument (gay monument) was the first of its kind. The Homomonument makes a strong statement that history must not be repeated (persecution of homosexuals): "Never again". The monument goes beyond commemorating just the victims of World War II. It also commemorates all homosexuals who have been or are still being persecuted by government regimes.
Concertgebouw
Het Concertgebouw is one of the best concert halls in the world. Every year the acoustics and programming attract hundreds of thousands of classical music lovers. The Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra, The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and many other international orchestra’s and musical masters perform in this temple of classical music. he acoustics, programming and the overall atmosphere are in one word: breathtaking. One of the great restaurants in the neighborhood.
Amsterdamse Bos
The forest has 137 km of footpaths, 51 km of cycle paths and 50 bridges, which makes it one of the largest city parks of Europe. There are loads of activities you can do on a day at the Amsterdamse Bos. Nature lovers will be pleased with the 150 indigenous species of trees and over 200 species of birds. The ‘Bosbaan’, a rowing course which hosted several world championships, attracts rowers, canoeists and fishermen. Aalso includes a hockey, tennis, cricket, football club, a pool and riding school.
De Hortus Botanical Garden
The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world. Today, it boasts a collection of more than 6,000 plants. Located in the Amsterdam’s Plantage neighbourhood, the city seems to disappear behind garden’s 300-year-old gates. Medicinal Garden Originally, Hortus was a medicinal herb garden, founded in 1638 by the Amsterdam City Council. In fact, some of the stars of Hortus still date from that time period, including a 300-year-old Eastern Cape giant cycad.
Rijksmuseum
The 200 year old State Museum keeps on evolving. They possess many masterpiece paintings of Dutch and world art like Rembrandt’s “Night watch”, several paintings by Vermeer, van Dyck and Jan Steen, exceptional collection of Asian art, and antique objects, prints, drawings of Dutch culture. The Rijksmuseum show is truly breathtaking, presenting all the most important paintings from the museum collection, together with the selected items of the Dutch material culture from 17th C.
National Maritime Museum
Het Scheepvaartmuseum lets you discover how much of our wealth and culture we owe to the sea. In and around the beautiful ‘s Lands Zeemagazijn, one of the major Golden Age buildings of Amsterdam, you’ll find eleven exhibitions, the attraction Voyage at Sea and the East Indiaman Amsterdam. Together they tell the rich maritime history of the Netherlands. Sal & Lori and Circus at Sea is a very special experience for children up to 6 years. The exciting attraction Voyage at Sea is a virtual on board adventure.
Venustempel Sex Museum
Located in the centre of Amsterdam, the Venustempel (temple of Venus) is the world's first and oldest sex museum. The museum looks at many aspects of sensual love through the ages, displaying an extensive collection of erotic pictures, paints, recordings, photographs and more. The vast collection was personally gathered by the museum’s owners and is now on permanent display in their 17th-century property on the Damrak. In the museum's tiny rooms, different muffled noises from the hidden speakers accompany you.
Hash & Hemp Museum
Cannabis plant history is our history. This unique permanent exhibition shows visitors how a single amazingly versatile plant species enabled the development of clothing, medicine, sea travel, agriculture and more, and how cannabis and hemp - which are simply different strains of the same plant - have been part of everyday life for thousands of years. This museum will teach you everything you ever wanted to know, and much you didn't, about hash, marijuana, and related products.
Artis Zoo
The Artis Royal Zoo is Amsterdam’s only zoo and the biggest zoo in the Netherlands in the Plantage neighborhood. The Artis is a wonderland of plants and animals set among stunning examples of 19th century Dutch architecture. In addition to over 900 species of animals and 200 species of plants, the zoo boasts playgrounds, a planetarium, and notable restaurants and cafes. A great place to spend the day outdoors in Amsterdam, especially if you are visiting with kids.
