Few cities in Europe combine history, art and modernism like Amsterdam. Famous for it’s canals, ladies in the windows and debauchery, Holiday Numbers takes an insider look at it as a holiday destination.
About Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. The name originates from ‘Amstelredamme’- indicative of the city’s origins as the dam of the river Amstel. The city is the commercial capital of the Netherlands and as such, is considered an Alpha World City by the Globalization and World Cities study group. The Amsterdam stock exchange is also the oldest in the world. The city is made up of eight districts with a population of over 813,000 within city limits. Famous residents include Anne Frank, the wartime diarist and Vincent Van Gogh, the artist. The many attractions of Amsterdam, plus it’s leniency towards cannabis, draw in around five million visitors annually.
Flights and Accommodation
Flights to Amsterdam are very reasonable, the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair often have return flights from as little as £50, flying from a range of regional airports.
In terms of accommodation, you can choose from a centrally located hotel in one of the different squares, an apartment in one of the neighbourhoods or ‘go local’ and stay with a resident. Visit Trivago to compare Amsterdam accommodation.
Getting around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is one of those cities where you can walk/cycle everywhere with ease. However, it also has a great tram system with lots of connections, with day tickets starting from around 3 Euros per day. Taxis are very expensive so try to avoid these. Amsterdam also has a large train station, Centraal Station, which is ideal for connections to other great cities in the Netherlands.
Eating / Drinking
Amsterdam has many enticing cafés and restaurants to eat out at. Also popular are street foods, such as crepes or ‘frites’ aka chips. It has traditional fast food outlets such as McDonald’s and Burger King, as well as a Mexican chain named Taco Mundo. There are several chains exclusive to Amsterdam, such as the Bagels and Beans coffee shops, specialising in- you guessed it- bagels. Another highlight is the ‘floating Chinese’ restaurant Sea Palace, known for its stunning views over the canals.
In terms of bars, Amsterdam has it all- from quiet pubs to cocktail bars and clubs. In Remembrant Square, you’ll find Club Smokey, a club with a ‘smoking’ area playing everything from early 00’s R&B to the current chart. You will have to pay 0.50 cents to visit the toilets, so bear this in mind!
Lastly, there are the coffeeshops- we’ll discuss these places below!
Places of Interest / Attractions
It’s hard to even know where to start with Amsterdam’s many attractions. We’ll break them down into categories.
Museums
Amsterdam has so many museums- here’s a few of our favourites.
- The Van Gogh Museum- the largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s works.
- The Rijksmuseum- One of the grandest museums, collating 800 years of Dutch history.
- Anne Frank House- Visit the house of Amsterdam’s most famous resident, Anne Frank.
- BodyWorlds: Happiness Project- Study the anatomy of the human body.
- Red Light Secrets- Experience what it’s like to sit in one of Amsterdam’s famous windows.
- Maritime Museum- Located on a replica of a wartime boat.
- Muse de Sex- Not one for the faint hearted!
- Museum of Bags and Purses- One for the accessory-loving ladies.
Places
Again, so many places to visit, but here are a few you can’t miss!
- Red Light District- Wander around Amsterdam’s most notorious neighbourhood- just remember, no photos!
- Dam Square- Beautiful old buildings, combined with great shops and restaurants.
- Vondelpark- The prettiest park in Amsterdam.
- Central Library- One of the best libraries in the world.
- Coffeeshops- Located pretty much everywhere, these ‘coffeeshops’ are a must see when visiting Amsterdam.
Experiences
Amsterdam itself is an experience, but here are some others.
- Madame Tussauds- Spot the likes of Johnny Depp. Long queues to get in!
- The Amsterdam Dungeons- Scare yourself witless with nine live actor shows.
- Heineken Experience- Find out how beer is made and sample some!
- Ice Bar- Three free drinks included in your ticket price- very cold!
- Moulin Rouge Exotic Nightclub- Take a seat for a show, just prepare to feel very shy all of a sudden! Men- you may get called up on stage.
Author’s Perspective
I visited Amsterdam in November 2015, it had been on my bucket list of places to visit for quite some time.For a four night stay, it was certainly jam packed! We experienced most of the famous attractions such as the Ice Bar, Red Light Secrets and the Amsterdam Dungeons. The Dungeons were a personal highlight, the actors kept picking on my friend which was highly amusing! The nightlife in Amsterdam is also great, I highly recommend walking around the Red Light District at night. We also visited Club Smokey, where we were given a free bottle of prosecco with a sparkler in it for seemingly no reason at all! We also experienced a canal cruise, which was wonderful and had a delicious meal at Restaurant Mandarijn near Dam Square- the set menu is incredible value!
Amsterdam is one of those fun destinations which is ideal for a long weekend. It’s perfect any time of year- Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter.
So what are you waiting for? Get your flights booked!
Tot ziens!
