The Best of Amsterdam

Think the Netherlands is just cheese, clogs and windmills? Think again. There is so much to discover in Amsterdam alone that you won’t want to leave. Here are our Top 10 tips to discover The Best of Amsterdam.

• Rijksmuseum
• Heineken Experience
• Canal Boat Tour
• Coffee Shop
• Pride (August)
• Vondelpark
• Red Light District
• Music
• Anne Frank House
• Amsterdam-Noord

1. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the by far the best art museum in the Netherlands. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the prints, drawings, photography and objects that the museum holds. Not that into art? The building itself is a beauty to behold that is fun to explore and perfect for a rainy afternoon.

2. Heineken Experience

The famous Dutch company opened an interactive museum with many activities and cool exhibits to enjoy. Particularly good is the simulation where you “become” a bottled beer. It’s a great activity to do with a group, as you get a couple of free beers along the way and can hang out in the bar at the end.

3. Canal Boat Tour

There are many canal boat tours that you can do to enjoy Amsterdam and hear about the history of the city. It’s particularly cool when the sun is setting, and can be quite romantic. Even better is if you visit Amsterdam in December or January when the city has the Light Festival.

4. Coffee Shop

The term Coffee Shop in Amsterdam means a place where you can legally buy and consume cannabis. In fact, be prepared to smell weed across the city which can be quite a shock when you first arrive in the Netherlands!

5. Pride (August)

Amsterdam Pride is one of the most popular LGBT events in the world, and attracts thousands of visitors to the city. Experience an atmosphere like no other, with a week of events ending with a Canal Parade and partying until the sun rises.

6. Vondelpark

It’s a beautiful sunny day, and you want to chill...what better than the famous Vondelpark! The largest park in Amsterdam is the best place to relax and get some fresh air. It gets busy in the summer though with lots of people wanting in on the action too!

7. Red Light District

An important trading harbour for hundreds of years, Amsterdam became known for prostitution; the “world’s oldest profession”. With coffee shops, quirky bars and even breweries, the Red Light District is an interesting place to walk around particularly at night. There are still over 290 red-light windows in use, hence the name the Red Light District.

8. Music

If music's your thing, check out Paradiso and Melkweg, two of the well-known music venues in Amsterdam. There are a variety of concerts but also club nights, so whatever you fancy, Amsterdam has it.

9. Anne Frank House

During WWII, Anne Frank with her family and others hid in a secret annex in a house on the Prinsengracht in Amsterdam. The house is a now a museum with exhibitions about Anne Frank but also about persecution and discrimination.

10. Amsterdam-Noord

Check out one of the hippest places in the city; Amsterdam-Noord. Take the free ferry across the Ij River and hang out with the skaters and hipsters in the newly renovated shipyard. Think cool skate parks, relaxed vibe and great coffee.

Want to know more about Amsterdam and cheap flights there? Check out our page Amsterdam

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