Amsterdam, Netherlands (Part 2)

Top Things To Do and See In Amsterdam

Amsterdam is amazing, and if you can’t find fun and interesting things to do and see here, you aren’t even trying. Amsterdam offers a diverse range of attractions and has a little something for everyone and if your willing to go out on day trips, your options are doubled.

Explore the City Center If you enjoy shopping, browsing, exploring and people watching, you won’t be disappointed in Amsterdam. I consider the Amsterdam Central Train station the center of the city as this is where I start since I always arrive by train. The train station itself is a beautiful building and a worthy background for a selfie or two. The Central train stations sits at one end of the historic city center. Inside the Train station is a metro station, a Tourist information center, and lots of stores, restaurants and cafes. As usual, public restrooms will cost you so make sure you have a few euros just in case. Immediately outside the train station is the central bus station, tram stops and ferry boarding points. It is a very busy place and although I have always felt safe here, watch for pickpockets. Amsterdam is extremely walkable, the entire city is relatively flat. You can very easily walk all of the historic city center, it’s the best way to see the city. As noted in my previous post, please watch for the bike paths, do not walk in them.

The main street heading straight out the front of the Central station is Damrak street. Damrak was once the cities busiest canal but in 1672 was partially filled in and is now the shopping strip you see today. Damrak is full of quintessential souvenir shops, stores, restaurants and the like. This main street is at times extremely crowded and hectic. Get there before 11am and it will be relatively quiet. The smell of marijuana is ever present and at times can be intense. Walking down Damrak you will run right into the main square of the city: Dam Square. This is where it all began! This square is on the site of the 13th-century dam on the Amstel River, around which the city grew. Locals call it “the Dam”, it is a popular meeting place in Amsterdam, if you book any walking tours of the city (which I recommend) this will likely be your meeting point. One side of the square is flanked by the Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Palace) this place is worth a visit, adjacent to the Palace is the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) now a museum, across from the palace is the National Monument. Finally flanking the south side of the square is the very popular Madam Tussards Waxworks building. Though I’ve been told the square holds various annual events throughout the year, including a Christmas market, I’ve only ever seen street performers there. More notable to me however is the major shopping streets Damstraat, Kalverstaat (pedestrian only) and Niewendijk, all of which are located off this square.

If you decide to explore Amsterdam on foot, as I did, here are a few places worth checking out: Oude Kerk – The cities oldest monument and first parish church, now sits in the middle of the RLD. St Nicolaasbasiliek – Still holds mass everyday, has some stunning stained glass. Scheierstoren – The Tower of Tears is one of Amsterdam’s oldest buildings and was once part of the medieval city wall. Weeping women would wave goodbye to their seafaring men from here. Oost-Indisch Huis – An impressive red-brick building that was built as the famous Dutch East India Company headquarters. It is now part of Amsterdam University. Trippenhuis – The largest house in Amsterdam, was built as a home for the powerful and wealthy Trip brothers. Het Kleinste Huis – If you go see the largest house in Amsterdam, why not stop at the smallest house in Amsterdam? Located at Oude Hoogstraat 22, known as Het Kleinste Huis, it makes you wonder how did anyone live there? De Gooyer Windmill – If your lucky, you might see the sails on the structure but if you want to see a symbol of the Netherlands in Amsterdam, this is it. East Indiaman Amsterdam – An amazing replica of the Dutch East India Company cargo ship that sank in 1749. The ship is moored outside the Het Scheepvaartmuseum which has the largest collection of model ships in the world and a must see for anyone who loves nautical artifacts. Westerkerk – The Westerkerk has the the cities tallest tower and is a beloved city landmark. Rembrandt was buried here and outside the church is a small statue of Anne Frank at the southwest corner. Bloemenmarkt – The legendary flower market is one of the cities most picturesque sights. The displays are beautiful to look at.

Museums: Anne Frank House & Rijksmuseum, Van Gough Museum Amsterdam boasts around 75 museums, which include everything from art and history to sex and prostitution. Arguably, the top 3 are the aforementioned Anne Franke House, Rijksmuseum and Van Gough Museum. The Anne Frank House and Museum are one in the same. It includes the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during WWII, and also includes exhibits and historical information along the preserved hiding place. If you want to go, it is highly recommended that you book tickets well in advance. Tickets will sell out. You will need to book at least 4 weeks in advance if you plan on going during peak tourist season. Even in January, you will not get tickets the day of, I know, I’ve tried. My all time favorite museum is the Rijksmuseum, this is the national museum of the Netherlands and dedicated to 800 years of Dutch Art and history. The great Dutch Masters Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gough all have pieces here. I enjoyed a self guided audio tour here on a very cold sleet filled day. I had a lot of ‘wow’ moments looking at the many beautiful paintings and artifacts and warmed up at their cafe on the lower level. I did buy an entry ticket online, it saves you from standing in line but it’s not necessary to book ahead if you decide to go at the last minute. The Van Gough Museum houses the largest Van Gough collection in the world. It chronicles the various phases of Van Gough’s artistic life. You will need to plan a visit to this museum, I’ve tried to go twice but tickets were sold out. So, like the Anne Frank House, book in advance.

Heineken Experience If your a fan of the brand or just looking for something a little different and indoors, try the Heineken Experience. Held in Heineken’s former brewery (production stopped in 1988) the building is actually now one of Amsterdam’s most popular tourist attractions. The experience is high-tech, interactive and a lot of fun. Along with the history, cool souvenir options and fun atmosphere, you’ll get two or more complimentary Heineken beers at the end of the tour. It really is not your traditional brewery tour (I would know, I’m from St Louis, home of Budweiser), it doesn’t take a deep dive into the brewing process. It’s entertaining and a bit of a spectacle, so if you are looking for more in depth technical information on the brewing process, this is not it. The end of the tour concludes in what I would call a ‘night club’ type of room with lights, music, friendly staff and lots of beer. I thought the tour was a lot of fun. It is a popular attraction so it can get crowded, especially during peak times. I recommend booking online ahead of time. Proost!

Canal Cruise There are plenty of options when it comes to canal cruises; day cruises, night cruises, dinner cruises, wine cruises, historic cruises etc. You can book one online through various sites like TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide, but there are also more than enough of options to choose from on site. You will find several kiosks and ticket offices just outside the Central Train Station selling canal cruises. Some say the best way to see Amsterdam is from the canals, however many of the canals are street lined so I might argue, it’s the same. Are canal cruises a tourist trap? I don’t think so. You can shop around online if you feel prices are inflated and read the reviews if you are concerned about quality and value. Going to Amsterdam and not taking a canal cruise would be like going to Venice and not taking a gondola ride. Everyone I know, who has been on a canal cruise, (including myself) has never regretted it.

A’DAM Lookout For unrivaled panoramic views of Amsterdam, I highly recommend going to A’DAM Lookout. This is an observation deck on the roof of A’DAM Tower. You will enjoy 360-degree views of the city, it’s port and canals. If you are also looking for a bit of a thrill, you can ride Amsterdam’s Highest Swing ‘Over the Edge’. You can also enjoy a live DJ in the Panorama Sky Bar – an awesome mix of music, views and atmosphere. My sister is the one who actually INSISTED that I go here. I’m so glad I did! It’s a short and free ferry ride across the HET IJ (formerly a bay) from the Amsterdam Central Train Station. After my adrenaline rush of a ride on the swing, over the edge, I enjoyed the views in the panorama sky bar with a snack and few adult beverages. I could have stayed there for hours! Even the elevator ride up to the top was fun! You can buy tickets online, there are several options, but don’t just buy the Lookout ticket. I get it if your not up for thrill rides but if your going up, stay and enjoy a drink. The views are amazing and totally worth your time and the price of the ticket. Pro tip: it can get windy up on the observation deck and more than a little chilly, consider bringing a light jacket or hoodie.

Red Light District (RLD) De Wallen, also known as Amsterdam’s most famous red-light district, is one of the main attractions to the city. De Wallen is a neighborhood, I guess you can call it, inside the historic city center, starting just across a canal from the Central Train Station. It is crossed by canals and consists of a network of narrow alleys containing one-room ‘cabins’ rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theaters, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum and a number of Coffee Shops that sell cannabis. Historically, because of it’s close proximity to the harbor (and sailors), the area attracted prostitution. The RLD is equally known for it’s coffeeshops. However, they don’t sell coffee, they are licensed to sell cannabis and serve soft drinks. Some may sell small packaged foods infused with cannabis as well. The crazy thing to me is that De Wallen is also a residential neighborhood with the Oude Kerk (Amsterdams oldest church) and a daycare right in the middle of all the windows! The RDL shamelessly commercializes everything that can shock you, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s perfectly OK to go to Amsterdam and not visit this area. But if your curiosity gets the better of you, I would avoid going late at night. Instead go late afternoon or early evening, the area will still be full of tourist, bachelor parties, and gawking teenagers and it still feels pretty safe. As always, be aware of pickpockets.

Explore the Dutch Countryside on a Guided Tour : Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam. I have been to Zaanse Schans twice, once in the winter and once in the Spring. I recommend going during a warmer time of year. Spring was perfect; not as busy plus all of the shops and attractions were open. Zananse Schans is an historic Dutch ‘village’ just outside of Amsterdam, famous for its collection of relocated windmills and traditional green wooden houses. It is a living museum where one can see historic working windmills, artisan workshops demonstrating crafts like wooden clog making, museums, plenty of shops and a few places to eat. I especially enjoyed sampling stroopwafels, poffertjes and the Dutch cheese. The area (village) is free to enter, but there are small fees for specific attractions like the windmills. How to get there? The first time I visited, it was part of an all-day tour I booked off TripAdvisor, it was winter and all the little shops were closed. The second time I went on my own and rented a bike from my hotel. It was a beautiful spring day and the bike ride was relatively flat the entire way, however, it did take a lot of time. Also, navigating by following directions off my phone made it a challenge. You can also get there by a short train ride from Amsterdam Central Station to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans station, followed by a flat 15-minute walk. If you decide to drive there yourself, you will have to pay for parking.

Edam is another historic town just outside of Amsterdam, famous for its cheese and picturesque canals. It is known for its well-preserved 17th-century architecture, charming streets, and weekly summer cheese market. I found the place a little boring, sorry. Volendam is a very popular picturesque Dutch fishing village just outside of Amsterdam. I really enjoyed this place. All the action is near the water front. This was a fun little active destination, albeit very touristy. They have a full-scale replica ship of the Halve Maen (which translated to Half Moon), the ship Henry Hudson sailed in 1609. There are no trains to Volendam and Edam from Amsterdam, you either need to take a bus, taxi or drive. I visited these locations through a booked day-trip through TripAdvisor.

There are plenty of things to do and see in Amsterdam. I move at a pretty fast pace and I feel a full week of long days could cover the bulk of attractions, shopping, food and sights in this exciting city. However, pre-booking your tickets to museums is really a must, you can’t depend on just getting in, and do this well in advance if you are going in the summer months.