When planning our three weeks in Europe, we decided to check out Amsterdam as an afterthought.
The capital of Netherland is known for its picturesque canal network, rich history, open-minded culture, nightlife, coffee shops and vibrant cultural scene. It is one of the world’s most unique city destinations.
The name Amsterdam comes from the river Amstel and the Dam that they built to be able to construct the city.
Amsterdam has a rich history. Two fishermen found the city of Amsterdam.
Language: The official language is Dutch, but almost everyone speaks English as a second language. The Dutch are really friendly and helpful and willing to answer any questions.
Currency: Euro.
Best time to visit: Year round. The winter months (November through March) will be cold for outdoor activities such as walking or cycling. The warmest months is June through September, and it’s also peak season.
Credit/debit Cards: Most of the restaurants and hotels will accept credit/debit cards.
Getting there: Amsterdam is an international transport hub and there are many ways of getting into the city. Many travellers will fly into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or use the train.
We flew with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and it happens to be the first nonstop flight from Vegas to Amsterdam. The flight time was about 10 hours.
Where to stay: Amsterdam hotels range from the basic to luxury and for short-stay, options such as apartments or houseboats are also available.
We stayed at Zoku Amsterdam Apartments. Since it’s peak season when we were here, it’s about $350 a night for their large loft. They are well equipped apartment with lofts and common areas to interact with others if you wish. It’s trendy, hipster-friendly hotel with a gorgeous rooftop garden, bar and kitchen with ample hangout space. Their brunch was amazing and they had live music at night. The staff were really friendly. It has a washer/dryer in the basement and bike rentals. The location is very central. I simply love this place!
THINGS TO DO
The FOOD-STANDS AT WATERLOOPLEIN
On the first day we came to check out Waterloo Square, the oldest flea market of Amsterdam. Take a stroll here to see this one hundred and thirty-three years ago establishment. They are normally opened six days a week and about three hundred stalls, with unique stalls selling merchandise and food.
WHAT TO EAT
Dutch food is good, however, Indonesian food is popular. For Dutch food, make sure to try the waffles, stroopwaffel, croquettes, fries with mayonnaise, cheese, and pancakes.
We ate at Amstel Hoeck-
Sit outside to get the beautiful view of the canal and people watch. The food was really tasty esp their chicken wings and the service was on par.
Another eateries with good food is Cafe Restaurant Orff. Here the food are simple and very fresh.
VISIT THE MUSEUMS
Rijksmuseum – You will find Dutch art, applied art and historical artefacts. A massive museum with also showcasing traditional handicrafts, medieval sculpture, and modern art styles. You can hire an Amsterdam tourist guide or take a language guided tour of this museum
Anne Frank museum -This is one of the most popular historical Amsterdam attractions. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived at the time of the Second World War. She left a diary that describes the hardships her community went through while she was in hiding. This museum contains the building where Anne’s family remained in hiding.
Van Gogh museum – the Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh in the world.
TAKE A BOAT CRUISE
We took the cruise through hop on hop off and this was for 1 hour and covered almost every water way of Amsterdam.The canals are a Unesco World Heritage site. It was fun to see the city from a different perspective. They provided us with a headphone by which you get to hear the commentary about the rich history of Amsterdam.
RED LIGHT DISTRICT
One of Amsterdam’s best-known attractions. Although very interesting to walk around this area, there is much more to the area than sex shops and shows. The Red light district is home to a few of the oldest buildings and churches in town. The Old Church dates back to 1200. There are boutique shops and eateries as well.
Off the Beaten Path Things to do that was on my list but didn’t have time.
- Geitenboerderij Riddammerhoeve- A biodynamic goat farm in the middle of Amsterdamse Bos where you can interact with the animals and buy farm fresh produce and try goat milk ice cream. Another favorite hidden farm is Buurtboerderij Ons Genoegen next to Westerpark.
- ‘t Nieuwe Diep- This distillery and bar is housed in an old pump house hidden in the middle of Flevopark in Amsterdam Oost. They make their own jenever and sell beer, snacks, and soda. The house sits on the edge of a pond with trees all around and is suppose to be a nice place to relax and drink outside. On the West, we were going to check out De Liefde, which has now become delicious Flora. Another great option is Dignita behind the Hermitage.
- Taste Argentinian wine under Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk at The Wine Cellar. This is a cozy location located below ground at the side of the historic church. It would be interesting to go through a cookie shop ad down a spiral staircase to enter. Make sure to book a reservation if you’d like to sip delicious wines. If you like the idea of drinking or dining in hidden parts of a church, check out Koffieschenkerij de Oude Kerk.
- Pllek- Take a free ferry out to Noord for some locally and sustain-ably sourced food. This is the area closest you’ll get to a beach with lots of outdoor seating, a sand area, and a river-front view.
- Vondelbunker- The Vondelbunker is hidden under a bridge in Vondelparkand hosts a variety of interesting counterculture activities and events including concerts, dinners, cinema nights, and art exhibits. There is even a micro beer brewery located here called Bunkerbier. And this is an actual bomb shelter from the Cold War.
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