Amsterdam is known the world over for growing tulips in Keukenhof, one of the largest flower gardens in the world. The only thing is it only blooms in Spring. So, what about the rest of the year? What else does Amsterdam have to offer? It has lots to see and do, including world-famous exhibits, museums, and meandering canals.
Canal Cruise
There are about 165 canals that flow through Amsterdam. Most are at a depth of 3-4 meters. Of all of them, the most beautiful is said to be Brouwersgracht or Brewer’s Canal in Jordaan. Here the canal is lined with houses, luxury apartments, and coffee shops. Take a canal cruise to see the view from the water. Most are one hour long you can either go on a big canal boat tour or hire a private boat for about 50 EUR an hour.
Ann Frank Museum daily 9am to 10pm
Located at a 20-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal Station, The house is where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding. She was a young girl who kept a diary of her experience of the Holocaust. Her diary is on display in the museum. Visitors can physically walk through the house and the office and even peep behind the secret bookcase door.
The Jordaan
Jordaan is the name given to this area which means garden in French. The streets are named after flowers supposed to come from the French word for garden: Jardin. Many streets in this area are named after plants and flowers which line the canal. Visitors can go to the Noordermarkt or Monday flea market for clothes, pots, and china. On Saturdays, there is the Lindengracht which sells fruits, vegetables, and cooked food.
Van Gogh Museum daily 9am to 5pm
Walk through the Vincent Van Gogh Museum, where you will marvel at the paintings of this Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who in a fit of depression, mutilated himself by cutting off his ear and later committed suicide. You can enjoy viewing the pieces using your own senses and perception or take an audio tour to get a real sense of the power and message behind it.
Rijks Museum daily 9am to 5pm
Within walking distance from the Van Gogh Museum is the Rijks Museum or National Museum. Visitors can see best-known masterpieces like the huge 12×14 foot painting the Night Watch by Rembrandt and the finest oil on canvas pieces by Johannes Vermeers The Milkmaid. Look peak into Dutch culture via the traditional dollhouses of the 17th century.
Dam Square
In the city center is Dam Square, just look for the national monument where Remembrance Day is observed. You can walk across the square to view the Royal Palace on the Dam (Koninklijk Paleis) where visitors can walk through this working palace used for state visits and galas. In the Square, there are street entertainers such as magicians, jugglers, and those statues that are human. Feast on an array of food available at surrounding restaurants and cafes.
Centraal Station
This neo-Renaissance rail station looks like a work of architectural art. It resembles a luxury hotel on the outside, and inside it’s a functional train station. It links Amsterdam to London, Paris, and Brussels, to name a few. It’s clean, punctual and trains run on time. Park your car in the underground car park, have a bit to eat at the restaurants, do some last-minute shopping and catch a train.
Adam Lookout daily 10am to 10pm
This point of interest gives you an unrivaled 360-degree view of Amsterdam and the surrounding area at 100 meters high. From the top floor of the A’DAM Tower, you can spot the historical city center, the famous canals, and characteristic Dutch polder landscape. For you daredevils and thrill seekers, get your adrenaline rush with Europe’s highest swing, ‘Over The Edge’ and dangle 100 meters above the ground, back and forth over the edge of the tower with Amsterdam below your feet.