Amsterdam
Uncover this beautiful canal city in the heart of the Netherlands.
As you disembark the train at Amsterdam Centraal and make your way to the front of the beautiful 19th-century building, there’s a whole city full of history and culture waiting to be explored. Perhaps you’ve got a week, or maybe just a short break, it doesn’t matter there’s more than enough to keep you occupied. The most difficult decision you’ll have is where to go first.
It’s probably important to get the lay of the land first, and while a map can be great for this, there’s a better option. Once you’ve left Amsterdam Centraal, head left and take a walk along Stationsplein and then Oosterdokskade until you come across Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam. While this is the city library, there’s a restaurant on the top floor with a balcony that provides stunning views of Amsterdam on a clear day, with a handy map of the skyline. You’ll be able to spot both Oude Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk (churches), and admire the traditional Dutch gable houses that make Amsterdam so iconic.
The first tourist destination most people head to is Dam Square, and there’s a reason for that. While it has a Madame Tussauds on one side, it’s also home to the Nationaal Monument and, perhaps more excitingly, Amsterdam’s royal palace, Koninklijk Paleis. Entrance to the palace is only about £8.60 ($11) for adults, and it’s a chance to take a walk through the Netherlands’ rich royal history. Dam Square is also near to the Red Light District, which highlights the liberal culture of the city and is certainly worth a visit.
Its royalty the city used to be home to artists aplenty, and a trip to Museumplein (Museum Square) is a must for any art or art-history lover. Dominating the area is the Rijksmuseum, a Dutch national museum that houses works created by Rembrandt and Vermeer, among others. Of course, a quick stroll past the water feature (which incidentally is perfect to dip your feet into on a hot day) will find you at the Van Gogh Museum, which holds the largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world. However, if modern art is more your style, then take a trip to the nearby Stedelijk Museum.
Of course, Amsterdam also has a darker history, and the person probably most famously associated with it is Anne Frank. The youngest in a Jewish family, she, her sister and her parents fled Nazi Berlin for Amsterdam. When the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, they went into hiding in an attic on Prinsengracht, but they were betrayed a few years later. After being sent to concentration camps, only Anne’s father, Otto,survived. The attic is now open to the public, and walking through the concealed entrance to the hiding space is a harrowing experience. The floorboards creak underfoot it’s hard to imagine how still the family and their fellow fugitives had to stay to avoid detection.
There’s more to Amsterdam than its history. The lifeblood that flows through the city are the canals, arranged in an ever-expanding horseshoe. There are plenty of companies running boat tours up and down the canals, and it’s a great opportunity to see some of the beautiful Dutch architecture, as well as scope out where you want to go next. But connecting all the canals is the Amstel, the river after which the beer is named. If you’re after a little of the beverage, head over to the Heineken Experience on Stadhouderskade for a tour of the brewery and a tasting at the end.
One thing you’ll spot a lot of are the cheese shops it seems like they’re on every corner. If you want a gift to take home to family and friends, this is perfect. Inside you’ll find brightly wrapped Dutch cheeses that are smoked, infused with pesto and more. You’ll also be able to buy your stroopwafels here caramel waffles that go very well with a good cup of coffee.
That brings us to food. You’ll find every type of cuisine imaginable here it’s a city, after all but it can be good to stray a little from the centre of the city where things are geared more towards tourists. Out in the suburbs you can eat like a local, although central Amsterdam will still be good for your crepes, fries and bagels.
If you’re eating on the go, or you’d just like a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, Admire the Dutch gable houses that make Amsterdam so iconic Be sure to head down some ofthe alleyswhen you explore the city TheAnne Frank House can have long queues, so it’sworth booking your slot ahead oftime Amsterdam 16 You’ll find cheese shops all overthe city, andmany offerfree samples Europ e Amsterdam is more than ready to provide.
Dotted around the city you’ll find glorious parks, each offering a slice of peace. The most famous is probably Vondelpark, in the southeast, and it has some beautiful small lakes. You may even stumble upon a free concert in the spring or summer months. Elsewhere, there’s Rembrandtpark (near Rembrandtplein), Westerpark, Amstelpark and Oosterpark, as well as ARTIS, Amsterdam’s zoo.
If you somehow run out of things to do in Amsterdam, there’s no need to worry the city is well connected, and you can jump on a train and head all over the country. The Hague is only half an hour or so away, along with Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Utrecht. You can also head over the border and into Germany or Belgium, which can come in handy if you’re wanting to embark on a tour of Europe, or just the Benelux area.
But Amsterdam is a beautiful city, and there’s so much to do there that filling your holiday shouldn’t be all that difficult. With culture, history and food aplenty, you’re bound to leave feeling like you’re flying high.