Are you looking for a weekend city scape? Look no further – Amsterdam is the place to be. It’s a city of freedom, diversity, equality and fun. Beautiful historic houses and canals are combined with modern technology and colorful people. Amsterdam has been my home for the last 3 years and I must say, it is very different from the rest of the Netherlands. It’s also different from any other European capital. Truly unique! Let’s have a look at 10 best things to experience in Amsterdam this summer.
1. Take a Canal Cruise
The best way to see the beauty and diversity of Amsterdam is by boat! Suddenly the city show you completely different perspective. The Canal Ring has been added to UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010 so you absolutely must do canal cruise when visiting Amsterdam You can jump on a big boat or rent one just for yourself. The only thing I’d recommend is to rent a boat together with a skipper because boat traffic on the canals can be a bit crazy at times. On the boat you get have a lunch or dinner, nice wine and great time – guaranteed!. This way you do canal cruise the way the locals do. It’s actually very popular for Amsterdammers to jump on their boat whenever the weather is nice. They picnic on their boats, have parties, romantic dinners – all you can think of. If you don’t have a lot of time, or if you prefer that someone else plans the itinerary of your canal cruise, then I’d recommend an organized cruise with a big boat. There are plenty of places and companies you can take the cruise from but the most common are located on Damrak. If it’s high season, I’d recommend booking your spots in advance as things can get very crowded. One of the companies – Stoma – offers 100 Highlights cruse. You can book your cruise here:
https://www.stromma.com/en-nl/amsterdam/sightseeing/canal-tours/100-highlights-cruise/
They will show you the best spots across the city and you’ll get the best Instagram pictures as well! Enjoy!
2. Get lost in narrow streets
One of my favorite things to do in Amsterdam is just to wander around the city, on foot. That way you can meet locals, observe how they enjoy themselves in the city and also what they wear. Wandering around Amsterdam allows you to have a closer look at the canal houses and really observe the details of Amsterdam’s architecture. Nowadays a lot of renovation work is going on as the canals are really old (way over 400 years) and need some TLC. But don’t let this get in your way. While wandering around the streets you can see houses as old as build in 15th century! The oldest, still existing this day, house in Amsterdam – Het Houten Huis – has been built around 1420. This is one of the two wooden houses still existing in the city. Due to fire risk, wooden houses were banned in 1521 and most of brick houses were build from 17th century onwards. What surprised me the most when I first arrived in Amsterdam, was that people still live in those houses build in 17th Century! A perfect combination of history and modern lifestyle. While wandering around the city you have a chance to observe how people move into those old canal houses. The staircases are too narrow and too steep to carry furniture up so they use windows to put in bigger items. It’s a spectacle really worth seeing when someone is pulling a couch into their apartment with a crane and through the window. Another thing worth mentioning are flowers. Every single house on every single street have flowers planted outside, almost on the walkway. Truly remarkable view if you visit Amsterdam in spring or summer.
3. Go to a festival
Amsterdam is a home for some of the best festivals in Europe. Although last two years most of the events had to cancelled due to covid, now we are coming back to life! Everyone can find a festival for themselves – from reggae to electronic music. The Netherlands are the home for some of the best DJ’s out there and therefore in Amsterdam you can party like nowhere else. Just choose your music style, world famous venue and dance till the morning.
4. Visit Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum is a home of Dutch Masters, like Vermeer or Rembrandt, and much more. You can for example again see “Night Watch” by Rembrand that have been in treatment last couple of months. Some of the other highlights of Rijksmuseum are Cuypers, van Dijck and Cuyp. A true heaven for art, culture and history lovers. In Rijksmuseum it’s not only about the art pieces, the building itself is also interesting to see. Outside of the building you can also see local musicians playing their instruments and signing, leveraging the power of extraordinary acoustics. Rijksmuseum is huge and it will take you the whole day if you really want to experience all exhibitions. You can also plan ahead as Rijksmuseum offers and app and virtual tours – check them out here: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/tours
Enjoy!
5. Get funky and vintage at NDSM
NDSM is a must see. It’s an old docks district, transformed into a vibrant and artsy place where everybody, no matter their looks and beliefs will feel at home. Amazing graffiti, home to street art and artists and home to the biggest flee market in Europe!
Book your tickets to Ijhallen here: https://ijhallen.nl/ and get the best vintage clothing, accessories, furniture, vinyl records, toys and much more for not more than couple of euros. After spending couple of hours treasure hunting, take a break in one of the bars spread around the NDSM area. There’s plenty to choose from! After you’ve finished your trip to NDSM, you can take a free ferry back to the Central Station area. The ferry is free, goes every 20 minutes or so and it takes about 10-15 minutes to get to the Central Station. There’s almost no sitting but the cruise is short and sweet and with amazing views.
6. Get a haircut, do some self-care
Amsterdam is a home to many beaty salons. Regardless if you wear classic bob or fancy yellow-pink highlights, you will find a stylist that totally understands you style in Amsterdam. My favorite place is La Maison Amsterdam – you can check them out here: https://lamaison-amsterdam.nl/en/
They have an international and diverse team and some of the best stylist in Europe! Regardless if you just want to refresh your look and get a complete makeover, they got you!
If you’re further interested in self-care rituals and taking proper rest and relax, I recommend you check out Rest Amsterdam!
7. Try pancakes, stroopwafels and herring
There are many urban legends about the Dutch food. I personally am not a bog fan of bitterballen (I kinda prefer Italian food) however there are foods you absolutely must try. Pancakes are everywhere and they are sooooo deliscious! You can have them sweet or sour, with or without meet, with fancy fruits or just with a coat of sugar – whichever you want, pancakes are an absolute must try. Same goes for stroopwafels. You can have them with your tea or coffee or just like that. My favorite place to get stroopwafels is this one: https://www.instagram.com/vanwonderenstroopwafels/
Herring is a bit different story – you can try it from many food trucks around town but not everybody likes herring. My advice – take a deep breath and try. Who knows, maybe you’ll fall in love with it?
8. Shop from independent family owned brands
The Netherlands have done a great job keeping shopping giants at distance so that local stores can not only survive, but thrive. When you wander around Amsterdam, you will see plenty of small, local, family owned shops and cafes (do not confuse coffee with a coffee shop. Coffee shops are for the amateurs of our favorite herb 😊 ). Tons of vintage stuff you can get, handmade clothing, jewelry or toys or amazing art. Just immerse yourself in them, take your time and you will find a true gems! Happy shopping!
9. Try foods from around the globe id Food Hallen
If you don’t want bitterballen or herring but not sure what kind of cuisine you fancy at the moment, go to Food Hallen. They have food from around the globe, combined with great architecture of the building and cozy and welcoming atmosphere inside. The concept of food halls exists in every European capital, I think, but Food Hallen in Amsterdam has a truly unique atmosphere and is enjoyed by both locals and tourists. Another advantage of this place is that you will never get bored and you can change your mind – fancy a taco and pasta just after – no problem!
10. Have fun on the street with locals
Go out on Thursday or Friday evening, for example go to Spui or Regiliersdwarsstraat and immerse yourself in the happy crowd. Just grab a drink in of the bars there and start talking to people. Immediately you will become a part of the group and you will experience an unforgettable night!
Let me know what are your favorite places and experiences in Amsterdam! And if you are interested in exploring Netherlands like expats do – visit the blog of Rest Amsterdam – our fiends from Rest Amsterdam write a lot about interesting things, rest, stress management and relaxation as an expat in The Netherlands. They also have some great recommendations on what to do and what to see in the Netherlands! Enjoy!
Bonus – where to stay in Amsterdam?
There’s plenty of accommodation available in Amsterdam. For any budget and any requirements. You can find small hostels, right in the City Center, close to Central Station and Dam Square, targeted towards travelers on a budget but you can also find fancy hotels, both chains and boutique. As much as I love boutique hotels, if I don’t have time to do a proper research, read reviews and so on, I typically go for well known chains – you always know what to expect and they typically keep good standard. One of my favorite chain hotels in Amsterdam is actually Radisson City Center. It nicely combines the charm of old Amsterdam architecture, with modern amenities and extraordinary service (and before you ask – obviously since Amsterdam became my home I am not staying in hotels here 🙂 but I used to use this one a lot in my pre-Amsterdam life and I have to say, I was never disappointed. So, if you want to play it safe and go for something that works well – try The Radisson! You can book your stay using this link to Radisson’s website (and if you do, I will get a small commission) : https://www.kqzyfj.com/click-100695361-10810340?sid=ams77amst58787p
Just relax, take it easy and enjoy Amsterdam!
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