With its characteristic canals (UNESCO World Heritage) surrounded by narrow, low
and crooked 17th-century houses, Amsterdam is, without a doubt, one of the most
charming capital cities in Europe. Here, you do your sightseeing trip by boat or bike,
the shops are small, and the cafés often have terraces facing the water. With a rich
cultural life and a wide range of entertainment, Amsterdam is a full-scale city which
has managed to retain its small-town feel. Highlights include the Van Gogh Museum,
the Royal Palace and the Anne Frank House, but also the Zaanse Schans,
Keukenhof ower garden and the traditional cheese market in the surrounding area.
Tips for Trips in Amsterdam Metropolitan
Area
From quaint countryside villages to larger historic cities,
there’s a wealth of things to see and do within an hour’s
excursion from Amsterdam. There are plenty of boat
cruises through the country’s urban and rural waterways
for a relaxed tour. To get another perspective, a bus
excursion to the Zaanse Schans or New Land might be in
order. If bicycles are more your speed, we’ve
recommended tours and rental companies to get you
pedaling in no time.
A look at the map of Amsterdam shows that there are
almost as many canals in the centre as there are streets.
While most streets look more like alleys – short and
narrow – the canals are much wider. For this reason, not
many Amsterdam residents drive a car in the city, and it
iseasier to travel around by boat or tram. Apart from this,
bicycles are the most popular and practical means of
transport in Amsterdam, but it’s also an excellent city to
explore by foot.
Admittedly, you can easily get lost in Amsterdam, where
the streets wind round like threads in a spider’s web. But
don’t let that scare you, it’s a perfect place to get lost in!
Beautiful house facades, a ower market, street musicians
and crowds of people are Amsterdam in a nutshell.
Wandering aimlessly between the Central Station and
Vondelpark is entertainment in itself.
Anybody looking for more serious entertainment won’t be
disappointed. In recent years, an increasing number of
modern restaurants and bars have opened in areas such
as De Pijp and Oud-West. So don’t forget to explore the
extraordinary neighbourhoods of Amsterdam. They all
have their own character and show a dierent side of
Amsterdam. Walking and cycling guides of Westerpark,
Oud-West, De Pijp, De Plantage, Oostelijk Havengebied and
Noord are available at the tourist oFFces.
Visit www.exploreamsterdam.nl for more information and
to download the free audio tours in English and Dutch
Cycle Amsterdam
See Amsterdam the way local
see it – by bike! Familiarise
yourself with Amsterdam and
its diverse neighbourhoods
and architecture, cycle along
the waterfront, and enjoy a
local beer across from an iconic windmill.
I amsterdam City Card
Explore everything Amsterdam has to oer with the I
amsterdam City Card. This card is your public transport
pass, your ticket to Amsterdam’s top attractions and your
voucher for great discounts and free surprises. Visit
world-class museums, take a cruise through the charming
canals and sample the local delicacies. All for free or a
signicant discount! The I amsterdam City Card is truly
your key to the city.
More Info: Available at Tourist OFce Noord-Zuid Hollands KoFehuis,
Stationsplein 10, Holland Tourist Information at Schiphol Airport Arrivals
hall 2 and other locations.
Canal cruise
Sightseeing boats depart continually during the day from
the Central Station, Damrak and the Rijksmuseum. The
guided tours take one hour. Another alternative is the
Canal Bus, with twenty stops close to the major museums,
attractions and shopping areas. With your day ticket, you
can hop on and hop o all day long.
Van Gogh Museum
Due to major restoration work the Van Gogh Museum will
be closed from the end of September 2012 through April
2013. Because the museum attracts over one and a half
million visitors every year, the Hermitage has been chosen
as a presentation area for a large part of the collection.
The Hermitage Amsterdam will be exhibiting around 75
jewels. And you can experience the sensation of diamond
cutting FIrst-hand and view every stage of the process.
Step into the exciting world of more than four centuries of
craftsmanship
and tradition. It is sure to be an
unforgettable experience.
Anne Frank Huis (Anne Frank’s House)
Anne Frank and her family spent over two years in hiding
in the back of the building at the Prinsengracht. The
former hiding place is now a museum. Among the many
writings in the collection is the diary of Anne Frank. Avoid
the queue by buying tickets online or visit the museum at
09:00 or after 18:00.
EYE the new film museum
If you love Flms and cinematography be sure to visit EYE.
The EYE Film Institute Netherlands moved to a new
ultramodern building along the IJ waterway in April 2012.
It will continue to show a wide variety of F lms. EYE is also
the only institute in the Netherlands with a collection of
FIlm related memorabilia, including posters, photos and
equipment from various periods that connect the past,
present and future of the cinematographic industry
Zaanse Schans
A must see in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area is the
Zaanse Schans with its traditional Dutch wooden houses,
mills and little shops. Here you will experience how
workers in the 17th and 18th centuries lived and worked.
You’ll get an even better impression if you visit the Zaans
Museum too, a museum on the rise of industry.
Moeders
The tables are set with all kinds of dierent glassware,
cutlery and crockery. The walls are Flled with hundreds of
framed and unframed pictures along with antique pans,
plates and biscuit tins. Moeders is characterized by an
informal atmosphere and friendly service. Moeders is
known for several Dutch specialities (hachée, suddervlees
and stamppot). And for those who don’t want to enjoy all
of this, there are plenty of other things to choose from the
extensive, international menu
d’Vijff Vlieghen
Restaurant d’Vij Vlieghen occupies FIve adjoining 17th
century houses. The restaurant has nine interconnected
dining rooms, each with its own distinct style. All of them
recreate the atmosphere of the Golden Age. d’Vij Vlieghen
now is leading because of its New Dutch Cuisine. The
chef has based his style on Holland’s culinary traditions
whilst adapting them to the tastes of today
Ciel Bleu
Experience heaven on earth at a restaurant where the
gastronomy and personal service will repeatedly surpass
all of your expectations. Chefs Onno Kokmeijer and Arjan
Speelman and their team will serve you daring original
dishes inspired by French cuisine while you take in the
panoramic view of Amsterdam. A choice selection of
classic and innovative wines complete this unparalleled
culinary experience. The restaurant is the proud holder of
two Michelin stars and is located on the 23rd oor of
Hotel Okura.
where you can enjoy excellent meals and special wines at
reasonable prices. Brasserie Harkema is open seven days
a week, oering at each moment of the day a
cosmopolitan environment in which to lunch, to have
coee after shopping, to dine, to drink a bottle of wine with
bar snacks or to have supper after a theatre visit
Theetuin Overleek
Theetuin Overleek (tea garden) welcomes you to a
beautiful rural area with delicious homemade cakes.
Discover the nature reserve of Waterland with its
monumental villages with wooden houses by silent electric
motorboats or canoes which can be hired at the spot. You
can choose to take a picknick on the boat or afterwards
use lunch in the garden with a beautiful view. They also
serve homemade high tea. An ideal daytrip only 10 km
north of Amsterdam
Manzano
Tapas restaurant Manzano is located at the Rozengracht in
a beautiful monumental building from the year 1648. The
place where the famous Lucas Bols once started to distil
his liquors is now turned into one of the best and Fnest
tapas restaurants of Holland. With their extensive wine
menu, excellent sangria, friendly sta and FIne tapas they
have all the ingredients for a great night out in
Amsterdam
Brasserie FLO Amsterdam
Enjoy the French cuisine at Brasserie FLO Amsterdam.
The restaurant is famous for its fruit de mer buet and
classic French menu. Oysters, lobster and langoustines
but also escargots, steak tartare and crème brûlée are
always in the menu. Needless to say all dishes are
accompanied by great wines. Brasserie FLO Amsterdam is
opened daily for dinner and from Monday to Friday for
lunch as well
.
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street Blues Club is hard to miss when strolling
down Leidsekruissstraat, around the corner from
Leidseplein - the Blues Brothers are dancing on the roof.
Live blues and roots music play every night of the week
with free entry before 23:00 most nights
SHOPPING
With everything from multi-level department stores to
one-of-a-kind boutiques and antiques to contemporary
Dutch design, Amsterdam inspires even the most
cultivated shopper. Besides the main streets Kalverstraat
and Leidsestraat highlights include the P.C. Hooftstraat
with luxury boutiques and designer stores, the exclusive
shopping centre Magna Plaza, the Spiegelkwartier district
with more than 70 antique shops and galleries and the
lively Haarlemmerdijk and Utrechtsestraat. The oating
ower market is located on the Singel canal between the
Koningsplein and the Muntplein.
De Bijenkorf
De Bijenkorf Amsterdam is an inspiring, trend-setting and
dynamic department store at Dam square. De Bijenkorf is
the multibrandstore of the Netherlands with international
brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermès, Ferragamo,
Burberry, Hugo Boss, Apple, Nespresso, Chanel and M.A.C.
Cosmetics. The surprising and breathtaking decorations in
de Bijenkorf’s unique shop windows make them one of
Amsterdam’s real attractions. Live theatre, dance and
music performances can be seen there on a regular basis.
Occupying 21,000 m2, de Bijenkorf Amsterdam is the
city’s largest department store. The store is open seven
days a week.
Little information about Amsterdam
See Amsterdam the way local
.Bourbon Street
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