See and Do

From the Royal Palace on Dam Square to peaceful Begijnhof and from the floating Flower Market to Skinny Bridge, every nook and corner in Amsterdam is worth checking out. There is so much to see and do in Amsterdam that one weekend may not be enough.

Wander along romantic canals. Rent a bike. Climb the tower of Westerkerk. Whatever you do, always look high up to discover the most beautiful details decorating the gabled house fronts. Follow the crowd and without consulting your city map you will arrive at the Red Light District. Be sure to go Dutch and rent a bike and pedal your way through the city. And don’t forget to take a selfie on Skinny Bridge before leaving Amsterdam.

Peaceful Oasis in Bustling Amsterdam

Peaceful Oasis in Bustling Amsterdam

Tucked away behind Kalverstraat, you will find Begijnhof, Beguine Court, a green space that offers a welcome break from Amsterdam’s people-packed streets. Sneak into this haven of rest through a little gateway on Spui or go to the main entrance on Gedempte...

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Dam Square and the National Monument

Dam Square and the National Monument

Dam Square is at the very heart of Amsterdam. The National Monument is right in the middle of this vast square that buzzes with activity all year round. In spring, the fun fair and its Ferris wheel attracts locals and tourists alike. In summer, street entertainers and...

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Westerkerk and Anne Frank

Westerkerk and Anne Frank

Westerkerk and Anne Frank are intrinsically connected. She mentions the chimes of Westerkerk in her diary entry of 11 July 1942. Westerkerk is a relatively young church as it was built between 1620 and 1631. Late 16th and early 17th century Amsterdam expanded and...

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Skinny Bridge Famous Bridge in Amsterdam

Skinny Bridge Famous Bridge in Amsterdam

Skinny Bridge is one of the 1,200 bridges that span the canals that crisscross Amsterdam. Some are simply a means to cross the water, others are picturesque or true feats of engineering. Many are illuminated at night and offer a romantic backdrop. Magere Brug or...

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Best Bridges, Canals and Singel of Amsterdam

Best Bridges, Canals and Singel of Amsterdam

Say Amsterdam and the first thing that comes to mind are canals and bridges. No wonder because Amsterdam canals are true eye-catchers. There are about two hundred canals in the city. Originally, the canals were a practical solution to a problematic situation....

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National Monument Cenotaph on Dam Square

National Monument Cenotaph on Dam Square

The National Monument on Dam Square is a cenotaph in remembrance of those who fell in the Second World War. The steps of the National Monument are a popular place in Amsterdam to rest, eat a snack or do some people watching. The Remembrance Day ceremony takes places...

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Riding School Living Horse Museum Hollandsche Manege

Riding School Living Horse Museum Hollandsche Manege

The Hollandsche Manage and the Living Horse Museum in Amsterdam is a well-kept secret and a must-see for horse lovers. The Hollandsche Manege is the oldest riding school in the Netherlands and offers horseback riding lessons for all ages, from beginners to advanced,...

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Street Art: Easy to Find with Interactive Map

Street Art: Easy to Find with Interactive Map

Street art is everywhere in Amsterdam, from statues to graffiti and mosaics, sometimes so small that it hardly stands out and is difficult to discover. There is so much that it is difficult to know where to start. Go art hunting! Use the free interactive DEFshop art...

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Amsterdam Canal House for a Wealthy Merchant: Trippenhuis

Amsterdam Canal House for a Wealthy Merchant: Trippenhuis

Amsterdam canal houses are characterized by narrow fronts. Trippenhuis is an exception to this rule. This seventeenth-century canal house is a typical example of a mansion where a rich merchant lived and the wider the front the wealthier its owner. Trippenhuis was the...

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I Amsterdam City Card

I Amsterdam City Card

I Amsterdam City Card is your ticket to experience Amsterdam in an affordable and relaxed way. You’ll see more and save money at the same time! No need to buy separate tickets for attractions and public transport. The I Amsterdam Card not only affords you free...

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Amsterdam Lookout Tower

Amsterdam Lookout Tower

Amsterdam has a lookout tower! This is good news because there are no tall buildings in the city apart from the Westerkerk whose spire points only 85 m into the air. Amsterdam Tower is 100 meters high and situated on the IJ River behind Amsterdam Central Station.  On...

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Peaceful Oasis in Bustling Amsterdam

Peaceful Oasis in Bustling Amsterdam

Tucked away behind Kalverstraat, you will find Begijnhof, Beguine Court, a green space that offers a welcome break from Amsterdam’s people-packed streets. Sneak into this haven of rest through a little gateway on Spui or go to the main entrance on Gedempte...

read more
Dam Square and the National Monument

Dam Square and the National Monument

Dam Square is at the very heart of Amsterdam. The National Monument is right in the middle of this vast square that buzzes with activity all year round. In spring, the fun fair and its Ferris wheel attracts locals and tourists alike. In summer, street entertainers and...

read more
Museum Quarter and the Big Three

Museum Quarter and the Big Three

Museum Quarter is home to  three famous museums – Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art – showcasing the brilliance of Dutch masters, modern art and impressionists. Add Amsterdam Concert Hall, throw in a high-end shopping street or two and...

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Buddhist Temple in Amsterdam

Buddhist Temple in Amsterdam

The Fo Guang Shan He Hwa Temple in Amsterdam Chinatown is the largest Buddhist temple in Europe and built in traditional Chinese style. This Buddhist Temple is locally known as the Zeedijk Tempel. Zeedijk is the name of the street where you can find this temple. The...

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Canal House for Rich Merchants

Canal House for Rich Merchants

Canal houses were once the homes of wealthy Amsterdam merchants. Today, these houses are offices, museums and sometimes hotels. Bartolotti House is one of these eye-catching canal houses in Amsterdam. This mansion is not open to the public; only its exterior can be...

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Westerkerk and Anne Frank

Westerkerk and Anne Frank

Westerkerk and Anne Frank are intrinsically connected. She mentions the chimes of Westerkerk in her diary entry of 11 July 1942. Westerkerk is a relatively young church as it was built between 1620 and 1631. Late 16th and early 17th century Amsterdam expanded and...

read more
Bridge of Fifteen Bridges

Bridge of Fifteen Bridges

Amsterdam is the city of gabled buildings, tranquil canals and 'bridge of fifteen bridges'. Canals and waterways crisscross the historic centre. Working barges sail past. Houseboats festooned with flower boxes bob at their moorings. A couple reclining in a dinghy,...

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A Palace without Royals

A Palace without Royals

Take the number of days in a year (365). Put one before and nine after it (1 365 9) and you will know how many wooden piles were rammed deep into the soggy soil of Amsterdam to prevent the Royal Palace at Dam Square from collapsing. Royal Palace is a misnomer because...

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Amsterdam Honours Anne Frank

Amsterdam Honours Anne Frank

Anne Frank was 13 years old when she went into hiding in the annex where she lived with her parents from 6 July 1942 to 4 August 1944, when the family were arrested by the Grüne Polizei and Dutch police officers. Anne Frank probably died in Bergen-Belsen from typhus....

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Skinny Bridge Famous Bridge in Amsterdam

Skinny Bridge Famous Bridge in Amsterdam

Skinny Bridge is one of the 1,200 bridges that span the canals that crisscross Amsterdam. Some are simply a means to cross the water, others are picturesque or true feats of engineering. Many are illuminated at night and offer a romantic backdrop. Magere Brug or...

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Beurs van Berlage

Beurs van Berlage

When walking down Damrak from Centraal Station to Dam Square in Amsterdam, you pass a wine-red brick building, not very elegant, not very inspiring. This building is the Beurs van Berlage, the former Commodity Exchange. Built on reclaimed land, supported by wooden...

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The Oldest Church in Amsterdam

The Oldest Church in Amsterdam

The Oude Kerk stands right in the middle of the historic centre of Amsterdam. Dating back to the thirteenth century, this church is both the oldest building and the oldest church in Amsterdam. The Oude Kerk is noteworthy for its wooden vaulted ceiling and the...

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ArenA Stadium Tour

ArenA Stadium Tour

The Ajax stadium in Amsterdam, better known as Johan Cruijff ArenA, is the home of AFC Ajax, the city's celebrated home football team. Join the 53,502 devoted fans to see a match or if you can't make it, take a guided tour of the Netherland's largest stadium. Better...

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Amsterdam Holland Pass

Amsterdam Holland Pass

The Amsterdam Holland Pass also known as Amsterdam City Card is your ticket to hassle-free Amsterdam, a must-have for visitors who like to enjoy Amsterdam to the full: a guide book, queuing for the popular museums is history. Take your pick from 60 museums and...

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The Golden Bend where Wealthy Merchants Lived

The Golden Bend where Wealthy Merchants Lived

Golden bend - Gouden Bocht - that is where the most coveted canal houses in Amsterdam. All these mansions clustered around the curve of Herengracht between Spiegelstraat and Vijzelstraat. This is the stretch of the canal where, in the 17th century, wealthy merchants...

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Heineken Experience

Heineken Experience

Want to taste Heineken and learn all about brewing and marketing of the most famous beer of the world? Then the Heineken Experience in Amsterdam is exactly where you need to go. The Heineken Experience tor starts with a short history of the Heineken family and the...

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Guided Bike Tour in Amsterdam

Guided Bike Tour in Amsterdam

Bike tour in Amsterdam: rent a bike! It is a bike-friendly city, not only because it is a compact city but also because of the bike lanes and the absence of elevations. The only hurdles are steep bridges and traffic humps. And what about head winds and downpours?...

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Jenever Tasting in the House of Bols

Jenever Tasting in the House of Bols

The House of Bols Cocktail and Genever Experience in Amsterdam takes you on a tour through 'The World of Flavour'. This interactive trip ends with sipping a cocktail of your choice. You will also learn how to intensify your taste, to refine your smell, mix cocktails...

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Amsterdam Dungeon

Amsterdam Dungeon

Amsterdam Dungeon is not for the weak-hearted. Step back into the darkest times and be part of the city's blood curdling history. Take part in a gruesome show of 80 minutes and walk through 500 years of creepy history. Will you escape by the skin of your teeth or are...

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Neat Gables and Handsome Warehouses

Neat Gables and Handsome Warehouses

Warehouses and gables are all along Brouwersgracht. The rows of red shuttered windows along this canal in Amsterdam look like multi-occupancy cuckoo clocks. No wonder that Brouwersgracht, Brewers’ Canal, features in almost every Amsterdam brochure or guidebook. This...

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