Amsterdam is the capital city of Holland, colloquially known as "Venice of the North’ because of its canals, comparing them to Venice, Italy, which is also well-known for its canals. Its name is derived from the city’s origin as “Dam” of river “Amstel”. The city’s first name was “Amstelredamme” but after a few years this was altered to today’s “Amsterdam”.
Amsterdam is famous for its seventeenth century buildings and its artistic heritage. The city is a top global tourism destination offering something for everyone. Whether you prefer culture and history, nightlife or just appreciating the charms of the city, Amsterdam is the best European city one could ever visit. The best part of it all is that it’s very safe and almost all citizens speak in English. There is so much to say about Amsterdam but I want to make emphasis on the fact that although the city is perhaps most infamously known for legalized drugs and its Red Light District there is more to it than meets the eye. I never thought Amsterdam would be such a beautiful city when I visited last September. I was determined to get past the tourist highlights and see whether Amsterdam could go beyond my expectations and as things stand, I might visit again next year!
Below is a list of my top 10 things to do that in my opinion you should not miss out on during your visit.
1. Explore Amsterdam’s most famous museums
Amsterdam is home to a variety of world-famous museums. The Amsterdam museum itself is one of the top museums in the city exhibiting a collection of items starting from the Golden Age up to the present. Other museums include the Rijksmuseum consisting of more than 8,000 works of art, the Van Gogh Museum, housing the largest collection of works by Vincent van Gogh, more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 of his letters, and Anne Frank’s House, the place in which Anne Frank hid during World War II together with her family. The house is now converted into a museum exhibiting the persecution of the Jews during that time.
2. Take a break from walking and hop on a Canal Cruise
Get a feel of the history and layout of Amsterdam by enjoying one of the various canal cruises taking you through the canals of the city. It is both a relaxing and informative break from walking through the city. This is relatively cheap and a great way to appreciate the canal system in Amsterdam. Oh, and did I mention that the city lies under the sea level? Its highest point is only 13 meters.
3. Rent an Amsterdam bike and get cycling
Amsterdam is the most bicycle-friendly in the world since the city consists of a flat landscape and an abundance of bike paths. In fact, there are more than 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam – that’s four times the amount of cars. It is an efficient and fun way of exploring the city’s beautiful parks, canals, public squares and numerous other attractions. One can also cycle out of the city through landscapes manifested by flowers, windmills, farms and lakes.
4. Visit the flower market
Considering the month of the trip, tulip fields might not be in bloom. Despite this, there are many flower markets including the Singel flower market. Singel has the most colourful flowers in the city. Each small shop is lined one next to the other displayed on a floating barge. Besides a variety of flowers, one can also buy ceramic clogs, magnets, postcards or flower related souvenirs that are all found here in abundance.
5.Relax at Vondelpar
Vondelpark is the largest central city park in Amsterdam that attracts both tourists and residents since it is home to a selection of attractions. Whether you want to relax, sunbathe, dine, cycle or are in search of the appreciation of culture, this urban park is the place to be. In the park itself, one can find an open-air theatre, several restaurants and cafes and a rose garden with more than 70 types of roses.
6. Visit the Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience is a historical brewery, which serves as a public attraction related to the Heineken beer company. For all those seeking to learn all about how Heineken is made, this is the place to be. The attraction starts off with a talk about the history of Heineken and how it is made, getting the chance to taste the ingredients they use, such as hops and barley. Visitors are taken in a 3D cinema in the brewery where it takes you through the brew process making the spectators feel like beer bottles which is quite entertaining. This is followed by a bartender giving a speech about the features of Heineken beer and also hands over samples of the beer. Before heading to the exit, there are few floors made up of rooms where one can play video games, take photos and drink a couple of beers. One can also personalize his or her Heineken beer bottle. For all the beer lovers, this tour is totally worthwhile.
7. Tour round the Red Light District
Touring the Red Light District seems to be a must when visiting Amsterdam. This district is the oldest and most historic neighbourhood known for its sex-related buildings and cannabis coffee shops that are a major draw for many. Besides such buildings, the district consists of shops, pubs, restaurants, gabled houses and canals. This district does not only revolve around sex and drugs, but surprisingly, the oldest and most famous church in all of Amsterdam is situated in the centre of Red Light.
8. Visit the "I Amsterdam’ sign
Surely, you cannot leave Amsterdam without visiting the "I Amsterdam’ sign. It is located in front of the Rijksmuseum and the Schiphol airport. The "I Amsterdam’ sign is the city’s icon and also a photo opportunity for many. You’ll find that it often gets crowded since people climb on top of the letters to try and capture that perfect photo!
9. Visit the Royal Artis Zoo
Royal Artis is the oldest mainland zoo in Amsterdam, which consists of a variety of animals. I rarely bother visiting zoos but this one looked quite interesting. It is split into different areas made up of a wide range of animals, an insectarium, an aquarium and a butterfly house that is particularly breathtaking. Besides touring the zoo, one can also relax in the zoo’s cafeteria or have a picnic in its open spaces.
10. Relish in some mouth-watering waffles
Whilst walking through the city, one may occasionally come across a number of waffle shops. There are a variety of different waffles but one that cannot go without mentioning is the Stroopwafel, one of the most popular waffles in the Netherlands. This consists of a two-layer waffle with caramel-like syrup filling in the middle.
