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22 Reasons Why You’ll Love Amsterdam
If you’re planning a European trip, here are 22 good reasons to travel to Amsterdam, perfect in the summer and winter
A Walk through Holland’s Towns
The area around Amsterdam hides many surprises. Discover charming towns that are quieter than the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam, the City of Museums
Amsterdam is a magical city brimming with unique details and rich in architecture, history, art, culture and museums alike. With artists of the likes of Rembrandt and Van Gogh dominating the local art scene, art lovers will find that this city more than satisfies any of their fine arts cravings. However, the Dutch capital has a lot more to offer than mere brushstrokes on canvas, with an almost endless array of oddities on display to please even the most curious of travelers. If you are planning on spending some days at one of our center Amsterdam apartments, you may want to have a look at this museum review to complement your plans in the city. ART Amsterdam’s art scene has always been very vibrant, and one particular museum proves it, the Rijksmuseum, one of Europe’s most prominent art collections. You can visit the Dutch Golden Age in the heart of the Dutch capital anytime from 9am to 5 pm. Among its collections, you’ll find paintings by Masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer, as well as the popular painting The Night Watch. Rembrandt fans, baroque aficionados, and those who wish to learn more about Europe’s cultural heritage should not skip a visit to the Rembrandt House, in the Jodenbreestraat, behind the Waterlooplein. This was the painter’s home and studio between1639 and 1659, where he created many of the famous art works that hang on the walls of this home turned museum. You can visit it any day of the week from 10am to 5pm. And it’s time now for the Master of impressionism, Vincent van Gogh. The Van Gogh Museum, a...
King’s Day in Amsterdam
With the arrival of spring comes one of the most memorable festivities in Amsterdam: the King’s Day. This year the Koningsdag will take place on April 27, a day when the entire Dutch capital will be colored oranje (orange) to honor the royal family. The King’s Day in Amsterdam is a true party: the sound of musicians and DJs fills the public squares, boats crowd into the channels and locals and visitors alike take to the streets and canals. Want to experience the King’s Day like a real Amsterdammer? We’ll tell you how: Warming up Although the official party starts the morning of the Koningsdag, the starting signal is really on the eve of this great day in Amsterdam and its known as the Night of the King. Amid a carnival atmosphere, the music is nonstop throughout the city as both Amsterdammers and visitors get warmed up for what’s ahead: King’s Day. Once the big day has arrived, one of the main events is the vrijmarkt (flea market). The Koningsdag is the one day a year when the Dutch do not have to obtain permission from the authorities to sell goods on the streets, which means the whole country, in keeping with its commercial legacy, becomes a street market of second-hand food, drink and of course, orange items. Despite the crowds, spending King’s Day in Amsterdam presents a good opportunity to find a souvenir of the city at a bargain price. All aboard! As you might have expected, canals in Amsterdam are play an important role on King’s Day. Countless boats ply the waterways of the Dutch city...
Racy Shows in Amsterdam’s Red Light District
Visiting the Red Light District in Amsterdam is an experience in itself. There are no prejudices or taboos, nor shame or virginity, but there are indeed rules. Each of the women offering their services must have a special license to practice as a prostitute, pay their taxes and have passed the relevant health checks. So really the fact that prostitution is legal in the Netherlands normalizes the situation and makes the famous Red Light District exceptional, elegant, and clean. But it’s still inundated by neon.
Amsterdam A-Z Part II
Kerk: It means ´church´ in Dutch. For example, Oude Kerk, the one in the middle of the Red Light District which I will explain later. The second half of the alphabet begins now. Leidseplein: A square full of restaurants, clubs, pubs and theatres, filled with jugglers, mimes and street artists that entertain the passers-by. Also, it´s a lively place and very popular. Market (Flower): At the Bloemenmarkt, they have been selling all kinds of flowers and plants for over 140 years. However, if there´s a flower that stands out above the rest that´s the tulip. It´s a curious place because it´s a floating market, which you can find on the quay of the Singel Canal. Nieuwe Kerk: This Gothic church is located on Dam Square and was built in the 15th century. It took 150 years for the construction to finish and this monument has hosted quite a few royal weddings and coronations since the beginning of the 19th century. Oude Kerk: Located in the middle of the Red Light District, this church is the oldest in the city (dating from 1306). It´s a Calvinist church and they say that it was the place that all sailors went to to confess when they arrived in Amsterdam after sleeping with a prostitute. That way, they killed two birds with one stone. Photo via mark.hogan Prostitution: The famous Red Light District is a district filled with one-room cabins with red lights where there´s a prostitute that will charge you 50 euros for a 15-minute service. Anything else and they will charge you extra. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands and the girls pay taxes and...
Amsterdam A-Z. Part I
Amstel: If we think of Amsterdam we think about the canals, which reminisce of Venice but slightly larger, since they are almost 50 miles in length and some one thousand bridges cross then. The main water source is the river Amstel and an anecdote is that the bank vaults from the National Bank are located under it for security reasons. Bicycles: The most popular form of transport, most Amsterdammers use the bicycle as their preferred way of getting around, with the city filled with bicycle lanes everywhere you go. Be careful when you cross the road because the bicycles will be coming from left and right. However, it´s a great way to stay fit and a quick way to get to places, so if you want the real experience rent a bicycle and visit the city on two wheels. Photo via Matt Spurr Coffee Shops: It´s normal to find the curious coffee shops all over the city. These are places where people go to smoke marihuana and have a coffee. Alcohol is not usually sold and you can´t smoke tobacco on its own there. There are dozens of types of marihuana and hashish that you can buy by the gram or the joints already rolled. If you don´t smoke, you can also buy the famous space cakes. One of the oldest and most famous coffee shops is the Bulldog, although it has many others of the same chain. Dam: Dam Square is the starting point for guided tours, more specifically the 77-feet tall obelisk. There you can find the first dam of the Amstel river and the obelisk was built as tribute to...
The Best of Amsterdam
When it comes to having fun, many opt for Amsterdam, which might well be one of the most liberal cities in the entire European Union. As is well-known, prostitution and marijuana are absolutely legal in Amsterdam. For this reason, many tourists and travelers head to this city in search of action, partying and new experiences. If you´ve been to Amsterdam, you already know, of course, that you should avoid places like the touristy cafes that are found in the busiest squares where loud tourists flock at the end of the night. If you are actually interested in discovering the best of Amsterdam, you’ll have to leave behind the famous “coffee shops” and English pubs and search a bit further on. Amsterdam has great terraces that are very close to the canals and bars with delicious cocktails. The food you´ll find in these alternative venues will also be surprisingly good. Figuraten Bar This charming cafe is very popular on the west side of the city. It is located in a very nice neighborhood close to downtown and the famous Vondelpark. During the week, you´ll find students and the occasional celebrity in this typical local bar. On Sundays nights, you can enjoy delicious toasted sandwiches. And you can enjoy live music just about every day. Hiding in Plain Sight Just a few canals away from Amsterdam’s red light district, you´ll find the perfect place to have the most delicious cocktails. Hiding in Plain Sight is a small bar that is somewhat hidden from the sight of the average passerby. The atmosphere of this unique cafe will transport you back to...
Unique Experiences in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is much more than coffee shops and canals, this Dutch city (which is as cosmopolitan as they come) offers visitors countless options to do just about anything. Check out the nightlife in the Jordaan Quarter, visit the beaches around Amsterdam, play all sorts of sports, drink beer in a number of fun bars, skate at night, or you can even stay overnight in a boat. The possibilities are endless when you travel to this beautiful, cold city. Nightlife in the Jordaan Quarter The Jordaan is a meeting spot for the young and not so young. If you’re traveling to Amsterdam, here are some pubs you’ll want to visit: Struik (160 Rozengracht street), Café Thijssen (107 Brouwersgrach), Brandstof (341 Marnixstraat), Café Lowietje (2 Goudsbloemdwarsstraat) and Café ´t Smalle (12 Egelantiersgracht). You can have a great time in any one of these but ideally you’ll visit each of them. Why not create your own pub crawl by going from pub to pub and trying a beer in each venue. Skating around the clock Skating in Amsterdam is always nice and it’s an activity that´s fun for both young and old. And its even more fun is you can do it on the frozen canals in winter. This city’s tradition of skating on the canals goes back to the seventh century. And it’s very idyllic to experience when it is actually cold enough to make it possible. The Dutch also enjoy skating in the summer months (although they do it on the asphalt), and they have a “Friday Night Skate”, which is a race that starts in Vondelpark. Dutch...
