Art, canals, and a city that surprises
Tree-lined canals filled with all manner of boats, majestic 18th-century townhouses with gabled facades, markets overflowing with tulips, and three renowned art museums, is there a city anywhere as visually pleasing as Amsterdam?
No wonder it’s a favorite for both repeat visitors and first-time travelers to Europe, a city that makes a great stand-alone stay or the first stop on a broader getaway.
Yet Amsterdam is more than just a pretty face. It’s heritage spans Rembrandt and the other Old Masters through Vincent van Gogh, the globetrotting Dutch East Indian Company through World War Two.
Amsterdam is an extremely walkable city and one of the best things to do is wander along the waterfront lanes and bridges of the Canal Ring, through the parks and gardens of the Museum Quarter, and down the narrow lanes of the trendy Jordaan district, soaking up the ambience and breathing in the mood of a city like no other.
While the World Heritage canals are the main attraction, Amsterdam has other iconic sights. Like three fabulous art collections: the Rijksmuseum for Old Masters, the Stedelijk Museum for modern art, and the Van Gogh Museum for everything Vincent.
Among its other quintessential encounters are the Anne Frank House and Rembrandt’s House, as well as cruising the city’s photogenic canals.
Other key spots include the 14th-century Begijnhof garden, medieval Dam Square and the always interesting De Wallen red light district. De Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets) in the Jordaan district offers some of the best shopping, while the Leidseplein is ground zero for Amsterdam nightlife.
Amsterdam Passes ranging from one to five days cover many of these landmarks and more than 25 other experiences.
From semi-hard Edam and Gouda to soft Limburger, the Netherlands produces more than 20 types of cheese. Another Dutch favorite is the stroopwafel, a sweet treat filled with caramel syrup often sold in small shops and street stalls.
Among other local delights are raw herring served with pickles and onions, erwtensoep split pea soup, powdered-sugar-covered poffertjes mini pancakes, and bitterballen Dutch-style meatballs.
One of the best ways to tap into the Dutch foodie scene is joining a small group food tour of hip Jordaan district or a guided gourmet walking tour that features many of the dishes mentioned above.
The capital of an empire that once straddled the planet, Amsterdam is one of the world’s great eating cities. Global cuisine ranges from Indonesian and Surinamese to Goan and South African.
Travelers can make the most of their time in Rome before or after a cruise with this three-day itinerary. Highlights include skip-the-line access to the Colosseum and Vatican Museums, a guided food tasting tour, and a private tuk tuk night ride through the Eternal City, paired with private transfers and a central hotel stay.
Travelers can experience the best of Amsterdam before or after a cruise on this three-day escape. Guests stay at a stylish boutique hotel, explore the Anne Frank House and Jewish Quarter, enjoy private tours of the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum, and savor the city’s flavors on a food and canals tour.
Amsterdam works seamlessly before or after a cruise for several reasons, starting with an airport that serves more than 100 airlines with flights around the globe.
The city’s cruise terminal docks both ocean-going and river vessels. Amsterdam is also a major rail hub, only 45 minutes from Rotterdam (another major cruise port) and just hours from Paris, London, and Brussels.
It’s easy to explore other Dutch destinations on day trips like a Shared Tour of Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague, or a Private Afternoon Half Day Tour of the Flowerfields & Keukenhof
If you can’t catch a full-blown performance at the legendary Concertgebouw, snag tickets to the free Thursday lunchtime concerts (available online starting one week before).
Rather than taking a cookie-cutter narrated canal boat cruise, consider renting your own all-electric watercraft for a couple of hours from outfits like Canal Motorboats Nassaukade.
Hortus Botanicus is a small but fascinating botanical garden founded in 1638 to cultivate medicinal plants to help cure the Black Death and other ailments.
Amsterdam’s more offbeat collections include STRAAT Museum of graffiti art, the Kattenkabinet cat museum and the microorganisms of Micropia.
The Canal Ring is often crowded, especially the area around Dam Square, the Kalverstraat pedestrian zone, and the Bloemenmarkt. But tranquility abounds in Vondelpark and intriguing neighborhoods like De Pijp outside the Canal Ring.
Expanding the bodily metaphor, shoulder season keeps getting broader. Summers are insanely busy, and even May and September attract millions of visitors these days. If you don’t mind weather that’s a little bit cooler and wetter, consider Amsterdam in March or October.
Between the colorful tulip bloom and the over-the-top Kings Day celebration on April 27, it’s hard to beat Amsterdam (or the Netherlands) in the spring.
Some of the city’s largest and most colorful festivals take place during the summer including Open Garden Days (June) and Amsterdam Pride (August).
On any given day, no matter what season, it can be cold, windy, and rainy in Amsterdam. Pack accordingly and consider hopping a tram during inclement weather. They’re fast, efficient, inexpensive, and easy to use with just a credit card.
While it’s true the city boasts a legendary red light district and scores of “coffee shops” that dispense weed in various forms, both industries are well regulated and monitored by local authorities to the point where they are quaint tourist attractions rather than threats to public safety.
In fact, Amsterdam is the safest major city in Western Europe (and fourth in the world) according to a recent Global Peace Index assessment.
The unwritten rule of Amsterdam transportation is that cyclists always have the right of way (or at least think they do). When crossing a street or bike lane, always look both ways, and don’t assume bikes are going to stop just because you’re on foot.
Locals only tip when the service is good. The general custom is rounding up to the next tenth. For example, if your bill is €83, round up to €90.
Around 90 percent of Dutch people speak English. So if you do need to ask for advice or directions, chances are nearby local can answer your question.
Whether it’s your first trip to Europe or your tenth, Amsterdam makes a perfect fly-in destination or an ideal spot for spending several days before or after a cruise. It’s also a great base for exploring the rest of the Netherlands (and Belgium) or a jumping off spot for a grand tour of the continent.
While the aesthetic appeal—the incredible combination of art and cityscapes—is the main event, the Dutch metropolis offers an incredible array of food, shopping, history, and green spaces.
