Insider Picks
Dam Square
Take a stroll to Dam Square, sit at one of the terraces and watch the people go by, to get a feel for the city. You'll see bicycles are a favorite means of transport - there are nearly as many bicycles as citizens.
Anne Frank House, The Rembrandt House
If you’ve read the world-famous diary of a young girl named Anne Frank, you'll uncover even more secrets and moving insights with a visit to the annex where Anne and her family went into hiding before their arrest by German forces. The Anne Frank House, as well as the historic Rembrandt House where the Dutch master lived, can both be found along walking routes to discover more of Amsterdam's fascinating features at your own pace.
Van Gogh Museum, Maritime Museum, Bags & Purses Museum, or T’IJ Brewery
Explore galleries galore with a priceless collection of museums in Amsterdam. Your Local Host can recommend the exhibits that speak to you. Marvel at strokes of genius in the Van Gogh works, including some 200 paintings, 550 sketches, and hundreds of letters. Hear true fish stories in the Maritime Museum or catch historic craftsmanship in Amsterdam's Bags & Purses Museum and top it off with tall craft brews served at T’IJ Brewery next to the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands.
Hortus Botanical Gardens
The Hortus has an expansive collection of more than 6,000 varieties of plants illustrating over 350 years of Dutch horticultural history. From the "coffee plant that fathered all the coffee in Brazil" to a nursery created exclusively for tropical palms, it’s a heavenly destination for plant-lovers the world over.
Markets
With over thirty weekly markets, there’s plenty of choice. Wander through the Albert Cuyp market, the Flea market on Waterlooplein, or see the Floating Flower Market on the Single.
Zoo, Planetarium, Vondelpark
Visit the Artis Zoo and Planetarium or stroll the grounds of Vondelpark where the locals go walking, biking, relaxing, and picnicking. During the summer season, concerts, and plays are held in the park’s open-air theater.
Shopping, P.C. Hoofdstraat, Jordaan
Wander along the P.C. Hoofdstraat near the museum quarters where eccentric and eclectic shops, chic restaurants, and manicured courtyards offer the perfect chance to find one-of-a-kind treasures, including diamond jewelry, wooden clogs, embroidery, and Delft pottery.
Pancakes, Poffertjes, and Pea Soup
When you’re ready for a snack, try one of the local pancakes, there are over 300 varieties! Or maybe sample the similar poffertjes. Then there are the many varieties of Dutch cheese. Pea soup is another specialty made with peas, potatoes, carrots, celery, smoked bacon, and sausage.
Rijsttafel
The Rijsttafel is a unique fusion of Indonesian and Dutch culinary traditions from colonial times. Departing from the Dutch custom of dining on leftovers on Sundays, the Indonesian food culture reinvented traditions with a fresh-cooked approach, featuring a main dish of a Rijsttafel–noodles or rice with several small side dishes like meat, fish, and vegetables. Indulge in these diminutive dishes served mild to very, very spicy, then quench your thirst with a sip or two of Dutch Jenever, a gin-like alcoholic beverage.