Top 7 things to do in Amsterdam 

Top 7 things to do in Amsterdam 

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Amsterdam is deservedly the “Venice of the north” as it boasts of picturesque scenes of awe-inspiring canals and historic buildings that beckon one to go deeper and discover its history and essence. It has a lot to offer its curious visitors. Like did you know that Amsterdam has more bicycles than its residents?! Most people prefer to go around in bicycles than using any other forms of transport. It also has more bridges than any other city in Europe! The historic city notably has growth spanning centuries and if you want to learn about all this, then there are museums and establishments all over the city to feed your curiosity. Don’t miss the flowers, the canals, the windmills, the cafes, and even the markets!

There is a lot to do in Amsterdam, so here are some of top 7 interesting things to do when in the city!

1. Have a tour around the canals

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Who talks of Amsterdam without mentioning the canals? They are definitely the essence of the beautiful city. Fun fact about Amsterdam, it has more canals than Venice! (See why it deserves the title “Venice of the North”?). The city has about 165 canals that stretch to about 100 kilometers the city also has islands and about 1,500 bridges! They are also very clean and one can take canal tours while in the city!

Get to see some of them which date as far back as the 17th century; the Dutch Golden Age. The city has more than a quarter of its surface covered in water. The famous Red Light District, which is in the middle of the city, is crossed by one of the oldest canals in the city and the world. When in Amsterdam, you should take the Amsterdam Canal Cruises, which will take you around Amsterdam using boats on the many canals! Some of the most popular, include the Herengracht, also known as The Gentleman’s Canal, The Keizersgracht, The Emperor’s Canal, among others, and the Canal Belt, which was built in the 17th Century, is now a UNESCO Heritage Site.

2. Visit the Rijksmuseum

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Visiting the Rijksmuseum should definitely be top priority while in Amsterdam. I am particularly drawn to it by its beautiful architecture both inside and outside. It is a massive museum and offers any history and art enthusiast a wonderful treat.

Opened in 1800 and named the Nationale Kunstgalerij, in The Hague, the museum held more than 200 paintings and historical objects. Then a few years later in 1808, it moved to the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. It has over time acquired more things to put on display and now has more than 1million objects, making it one of the world’s best art museums. Works by notable names like Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Vermeer are displayed there in a building which in itself is spectacular. The works, from the Golden age, summing up to about 2,000 pieces, are displayed in 80 galleries that span over more than 800 years of Dutch Art and History!

Do spare some 2 hours to have a relaxed tour of the place.

3. Albert Cuyp Market 

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We recommend a visit to Albert Cuyp Market because it is a great place to learn about Amsterdam and the culture of it’s people . It is a vibrant market that has been in existence since 1905 offering you a slice of Amsterdam life. There are over 260 stands that offer anything from food to clothing and even souvenir items.  There are also occasional street performances and you might be lucky to catch a live band performing . Did I also mention that The Albert Cuyp Market is the biggest market in the Netherlands?! The good side of this is that it offers a lot of diverse range of products  but the downside of this is that the market visit might feel overwhelming. My top tip to kick this feeling away is  take a break occasionally and indulge in Dutch specialties like stroopwafels, poffertjes, and herring, as well as international cuisine from the various stalls.

The market might get overcrowded especially during the weekends but that should not stop you from visiting it. Simply get comfortable shoes and prepare for the  hustle and bustle of the market. It is open six days a week and you will absolutely enjoy touring the place.

4. Van Gogh Museum

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While in Amsterdam , book a date with Vincent Willem van Gogh! He has to be one of the most brilliant artists of his time and you will lucky to meet him in this museum dedicated to his remarkable works. Even though his career was very short, spanning at just about ten years, the painter did such amazing work with over 2,100 pieces- 1,000 drawings, 160 watercolors, 900 paintings, and 9 lithographs.

Some of the must-sees of Van Gogh’s collection include the “Starry Night”, The Bedroom”, “Sunflowers” and the “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” (quite a disturbing one this one). The museum also has beautiful artifacts of his life including personal letters that he shared with his family . You get to also understand who Van Gogh was beyond his amazing talent in painting and maybe you might just discover why he is alleged to have cut off his acquaintance’s ear!

Since the museum is very popular with tourists, plan ahead by booking a ticket online. Schedule at least 2 hours for walking around the museum.

5. Flevopark

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After a lot of travels and sightseeing around the city, you need to check out the Flevopark, a lush and peaceful park in the middle of Amsterdam. Here, you can just take the time to lounge around, cycle, have a picnic, enjoy the sun when it comes out, and relax. The place is in Oost, on the East side of Amsterdam, and has a shallow pool for some swimming during the warmer months.

6. Anne Frank House

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The Anne Frank  House is another top thing to do while in Amsterdam.  Just as introduction,  the house is popular because it is the original house where Anne Frank and her Jewish family hid from the Nazis for two years in 1942 . Anne had captured tales of their times in hiding in her diary which now has become famously known as “Anne Frank’s Diary”. Anne Frank and her family lived at the Secret Annex, and when they were discovered, their helpers were able to salvage the diary before the place was destroyed.

While Anne, her sister, and mother did not survive the concentration camps owing to disease and hardships, her father was rescued during the end of World War II and got hold of Anne’s Diary, which he was urged to publish. He did so and even translated the Het Achterius – The Secret Annex into 70 languages. It has also been adapted as a play and movie. Her father then saw the opening of the Secret Annex where they hid and named it the “Anne Frank Museum, which you need to visit to get a feel of the life that young Anne lived during World War II.  

7. De Ton Ton Club

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Let out the child in you by visiting the De Ton Ton Club. The 10-year old in us wants to come out to play often, and this is the perfect place! There are so many games to play like the Mortal Combat, Super Mario Kart, pool, ball pit, and many more to enjoy! It is located at the Zuiveringshal at Westergas and has a great fusion of American and Japanese music and great food as well!