Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. With its universities, academies and research institutes, along with more than 40 museums, numerous theaters, and entertainment venues, Amsterdam is the country's leading cultural center. In addition, the city is famous for its historic homes, laid out in a pattern of concentric segments in the shape of a fan and built on piles driven through an upper layer of mud into the firm, sandy bottom up to 18 meters below. All told, some 6,750 buildings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries are crowded into an area of 2,000 acres, dissected by 160 canals (grachten), themselves home to numerous houseboats. Many picturesque bridges link the city's 90 islands, eight of them old wooden bascule bridges, including the Magere Brug (Mager Bridge), one of the city's most frequently photographed.
01. Centraal Station
An impressive Neo-Renaissance building has been open to the public since 1889. As the city grew, the station had to change. The situation of the station renewal became permanent throughout the last decennia. At present, the station area remains a huge construction site because of the creation of the new metro North-South line, which will be completed in 2017. The new bus terminal had been recently added at the back of the station.
02. The Damrak
It’s an avenue and partially filled-in canal at the center of Amsterdam, running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south. It is the main street where people arriving at the station enter the center of Amsterdam.
03. In De Wildeman
A quirky bar in a former distillery is essentially a beer tasting bar. It is somewhat of an institution in Amsterdam. The bar boasts of a massive selection of 18 beers on draft and over 250 bottled beers. Try beers from local Dutch brewers.
04. Beursplein ("Place de la Bourse" in Dutch)
It’s a square that takes its name from the Amsterdam Stock Exchange that is located there, and it also hosts the department store De Bijenkorf. It is located along the Damrak, one of the main north-south traffic routes of the city center, and the Beursstraat (rue de la Bourse).
05. Nieuwe Kerk
A 15th-century church in Amsterdam, located on Dam Square.
06. The Royal Palace
Formerly the Town Hall, the Royal Palace serves as the King's residence when he's in the city. Its construction was a monumental task when started in 1648 and required the sinking of 13,659 piles to support the mammoth structure. Based upon the architecture of ancient Rome, the exterior is strictly classical, while the interior is magnificently furnished, its apartments decorated with a wealth of reliefs, ornamentation, marble sculptures, and friezes, along with ceiling-paintings by Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck, pupils of Rembrandt. Other highlights include one of the finest furniture collections in the world; the City Treasurer's room with its marble fireplace and ceiling paintings by Cornelius Holsteyn; and the Hall of the Aldermen, also containing paintings by Bol and Flinck. The largest and most important room is the Council Hall, sumptuously decorated and one of the most beautiful staterooms in Europe.
07. W Hotel Lounge
It’s not the highest but it is one of the coolest roof tops, with great views and the super modern vibe that the W Hotel is known for.
08. National Monument
It’s a 22 meter high structure.
09. Madame Tussaud
The famous wax museum, it also exists in several major world cities, in Amsterdam it has been modernized, equipped with multimedia effects, set to employ actors and extras and like any amusement park it addresses itself mainly to children and teenage visitors. Madame Tussaud was a real person, Anna Maria Grosholtz (1761–1850). Born in Strasbourg, France, she moved to Switzerland, where she served as a housekeeper to a physician in Bern. Making a wax mask of dead person or casting a model of celebrity’s hand was at the time one of the few ways of preserving the person’s image for future generations and it has been a physician’s job. Taught by her master and skilled herself in waxworks, young woman moved to Paris, married François Tussaud and witnessed the violence of the French Revolution of years 1789 - 1799. She made hundreds of death masks and head sculptures of executed aristocrats, often pulling more interesting head from the pile of hundreds decapitated bodies. She lived later in London and when she died, her collection counted 400 figures. The first Tussaud’s cabinet of wax figures opened in London at Baker Street in 1835. It included the “Chamber of Horrors” showing figures of victims of the French Revolution and famous criminals, already caught and hanged. Seriously damaged by fires of 1921 and 1941, during the Blitz – WWII German bombings of London, when many valuable figures at the Tussauds just melted, the collection has been rebuilt and today is owned by British amusement parks operator Merlin Entertainment.
10. Wynand Fockink
A traditional distillery in the bustling center of Amsterdam, it’s known far and wide for its selection of liqueurs and genevers. It’s hidden in a little alley near Dam Square. Take a tour of the distillery or head straight to the tasting room.
11. Coffeeshops
Amsterdam is known for its legalization of “soft” drugs such as marijuana, so coffee shops have been a part of the city since the 1970’s. There are about 200 dispersed throughout the city. One such shop is Abraxas, tucked away in a small alley, the Jonge Roelensteeg. Abraxas is very clean, cozy, and welcoming, with a hint of Mystic & Middle Eastern flavor. The shop and its staff have a keen eye for detail. They offer free Internet. www.abraxas.tv
12. The Amsterdam Museum
Housed in the former municipal orphanage built in 1414, it consists of a number of spacious courtyards where visitors can learn about the constantly changing role of Amsterdam in the country and in the world. Highlights range from prehistoric finds and the town's original charter to items from the present day, as well as displays describing how the land was reclaimed from the sea. The inner courtyards are also fun to explore and house other highlights such as the old shooting gallery. There's also an on-site café. The library possesses a rich collection of literature on the history of the city, and graphics and drawings can be viewed by prior arrangement.
13. The Amsterdam Dungeon
This is a Theatre that follows a similar format to the London Dungeon, York Dungeon, Berlin Dungeon and Hamburg Dungeon which are owned and operated by UK-based Merlin Entertainments and attempts to show history through an interactive adventure. Live actors, a ride, shows and special effects simulate historical dark and bleak times.
14. Oudemanhuispoort - Universiteit van Amsterdam
The Amsterdam University (abbreviated as UvA, Dutch: Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a public university located in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Established in 1632 by municipal authorities and later renamed for the city of Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam is the third-oldest university in the Netherlands. It is one of the largest research universities in Europe.
15. The Begijnhof
The secret garden is a rare tranquil inner-city spot that people don't notice, a hidden courtyard surrounded by cottages. Through the tiny lanes and pathways one can see some of the oldest houses in Amsterdam, including its only remaining wooden house from the 14th century. It was originally occupied by a commune of pious Catholic women (begijnen). Also one can see an old and small chapel that is still open for services.
16. Oude Lutherese Kerk
This is a Lutheran church built in 1632/33 under the supervision of Wessel Becker and Willem van Daelen. The interior is rectangular in shape, surrounded by galleries resting on Ionic columns. Doric columns support the roof structure. The pulpit dates from 1640. Due to its weak structure a meticulous restoration was carried out in 1925. The original stained glass windows were replaced in 1774 and during the restoration of 1984/86, the interior was almost completely restored.
17. Dampkring Coffeeshop
Another coffee house, this one made famous by the crew of the famous movie “Ocean’s 12′. Good drinks and good weed are served here at standard prices. www.dampkring.nl
18. Kalverstraat
A street with many smart boutiques, galleries, perfumeries, cafés, and restaurants, for a completely different shopping experience.
19. Vlooienmarkt
Amsterdam's famous flea market, held here since 1886. It's a veritable smorgasbord of wares, with everything from antiques and food to clothes, both new and used.
20. The Torture Museum
A famous museum that shows the torture methods from the past.
21. The Amsterdam Flower Market
This is the only floating flower market in the world and it exists since 1862. The flower stalls stand on the houseboats and evoke the old days when the market was daily supplied by boat. There all sorts of tulips, narcissus, geraniums and many other types of flowers. You can either buy bouquets, single flowers or bulbs.
22. Blue Amsterdam
Sleek, glass-fronted cafe & bar at the top of the modern shopping complex: Kalvertoren. It has great panoramic city views. Open until 18:30 most days (until 21:00 on Thursdays).
23. The Muntplein
It’s a square in the center of Amsterdam. The square is in fact a bridge, the widest bridge in Amsterdam, which crosses the Singel canal at the point where it flows into the Amstel River. It was once home to a sheep market in the 15th century.
24. Munttoren
Also known as Mint Tower it’s (surprise!) a tower, on the Muntplein Square (see above) which dates from 1672 when Amsterdam was the site of the mint for two years while the French occupied Utrecht.
25. Pathé Tuschinski
Originally Theater Tuschinski, it’s a movie theater commissioned by Abraham Icek Tuschinski in 1921 at a cost of 4 million guilders.
26. De Kleine Komedie
Today this is the oldest theatre in Amsterdam, dating from 1788. Situated on the Amstel near the Halvemaansteeg, the building offers a stage for both upcoming and established Dutch talents. The theatre has 503 seats.
27. Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Founded in 1638, it began as a humble herb garden for doctors and apothecaries. Today, it features rare plants and trees, exotic flowers, and a large hothouse encompassing different tropical zones.
28. The Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum)
It’s housed in four redundant synagogues, one of which, the Grote Synagogue, dates back to 1670. Highlights include a large collection of religious artifacts such as silver Torah containers, Torah robes, and decorated Torah headdresses, as well as hangings and ceremonial canopies (of particular interest is the white marble Holy Shrine). The museum also has a large library, while in the Upper Synagogue, the Obbene Sjoel, there's a kosher restaurant. Of note outside the museum is the Docker Monument, erected to commemorate a strike in 1941 when workers refused to co-operate with the deportation of their Jewish fellow citizens. Also of interest is the Portuguese Synagogue, a late 17th-century temple that houses the Ets Haim Library, the oldest of its kind.
29. Muziektheater (Nationale Opera & Ballet)
Every Tuesday (12.30-13.00) from September through May there is a free lunch concert in the foyer of Dutch National Opera & Ballet at Waterloo Square.
30. Normaal Amsterdams Peil
In the passage between the ‘Stadhuis’ (Town Hall) and the Muziektheater (Opera House) on the Waterlooplein, one can see the Peil (Normaal Amsterdam Peil, or NAP). It’s a bronze button that indicates the exact NAP water level, a standard that is in use in nearly all European countries. Originally created in 1684, the zero level of NAP was the average summer flood water level in the Amsterdam center, which by then was still connected with the open sea.
31. Rembrandt House
Along with his wife Saskia, Rembrandt spent the happiest and most successful years of his life in the house on the Jodenbreestraat, now home to the Rembrandt House Museum. It was here, in the Jewish Quarter, that he found models for his Biblical themes, and where he painted the sights from his many outings along the canals. Rembrandt lived here for 20 years, and the house has been furnished in 17th-century style with numerous etchings and personal objects.
32. Bluebird Coffeshop
Located in a quite modern building, Bluebird was founded in 1982 and has a good name for its range of hash and grass, its food and its multi-lingual staff. www.coffeeshopbluebird.nl
33. Zuiderkerk (South Church)
This church is where three of Rembrandt's children are buried, as well as one of his pupils. Constructed between 1603 and 1611 it was the first Protestant church to be built in Amsterdam after the Reformation and was designed by architect Hendrick de Keyser, who is also buried here. After extensive restoration, it is now a center for local cultural activities and events. Another Rembrandt-related destination in the city is Rembrandt Square, home to numerous cafés and restaurants, along with a statue of the famous painter.
34. Compagnietheater
An Amsterdam theater housed in an old Lutheran church, the building was designed by Abraham van der Hart and built in 1793. The organ of the church which was installed from 1794 to 1796 by organ builder Johannes Stephanus Strümphler moved in 1961 to the church of Sint-Eusebiuskerk Arnhem.
35. Kleinste Huis
The smallest house in Amsterdam is located at Oude Hoogstraat 22 next to the Oost-Indisch Huis and the gate to the Walloon Church. The house is 2.02 meters wide and 5 meters deep. This house represents a miniature version of a typical Amsterdam canal house.
36. The Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum
A museum, located in De Wallen, dedicated to all things cannabis and its historical uses. According to the museum, more than two million visitors have visited the exhibition since it opened in 1985.
37. De Wallen or De Walletjes
This is the famous red-light district of Amsterdam, consisting of a network of alleys containing approximately three hundred one-room cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. These "kamers" are a large tourist attraction. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops that sell marijuana. About 5,000 sex workers practice their profession here.
38. Wynand Fockink
This place started as a liqueur distillery around 1679. Soon a Proeflokaal was added, where customers could taste and buy the products. To this day, this practice has continued. Liqueurs and genevers are still being made using the same 17th century traditional craft methods. Wynand Fockink produces more than 70 Dutch liqueurs and genevers which can be tasted in an authentic 17 century environment in the old time honoured way of bowing to the drink and slurping the first sip from a traditional tulip glass.
39. Cannabis College
This non-profit center educates about Amsterdam's favorite herb. Chat with staff about coffee shop etiquette, browse bong displays, view hemp-made products or try out a vaporizer.
40. Green House
This place delivers some of the best cannabis in Amsterdam. One can find many interesting pictures of celebrities that visited the Green House. The coffee shop is situated nicely in the red light district next to a canal. www.greenhouse.org
41. The Condomerie
It’s the world's first specialist condom shop, a treasure trove of latex artistry that has helped keep the city's famous red-light district safe and sheathed since 1987. The colourful store and information centre on Warmoesstraat – one of the oldest streets in the city – displays an eye-opening collection of rubbers as well as colourful hand-painted novelty condoms in the shape of chickens, frogs and, ahem, Big Ben. There's even a small "condom museum".
42. The Old Church (Oude Kerk)
This church, built in 1306, was the first hall church in North Holland and became the model for many other churches in the region. Numerous additions were built over the centuries, such as the large side chapels from the early 1500s. Also dating from this period is a portal leading to the Iron Chapel, where documents showing the city's privileges, including the freedom from tolls granted in 1275, were kept locked behind an iron door. The tower was added in the 16th century and has a carillon from 1658 that's considered one of the finest in the country (it also offers great views over the city). The interior of the church has features dating from before the Reformation, including three magnificent windows from 1555 from the Dutch High Renaissance, and finely-carved wooden choir stalls.
43. Erotic Museum
This is a museum of erotica exhibiting sex toys, prints & artworks, including sketches by John Lennon.
44. Fo Guang Shan Holland Temple
It’s a Buddhist temple featuring classical Chinese-style roof carvings & a colorful, ornate interior. It’s the largest in Europe that has been built in traditional Chinese palace-style.
45. Zeedijk
Zeedijk is one of Amsterdam's oldest streets. Many houses along here lean at an angle from the vertical, and the 15th-century house at No. 1 is thought to be the oldest surviving building in the city.
46. De Pijp District
Nicknamed the Quartier Latin, this district was once the home of the city's poor students and artists, and is now a lively mixture of cultures, food and sights. It’s a great place to café-hop day or night and the home of artists and sundry, colourful riff-raff. In the second half of the 19th century, the number of residents in Amsterdam exploded and De Pijp was conceived as the centre of a new, prestigious district wrapped all the way around the existing town. Georges-Eugène Haussmann had just spiced up Paris with his famous boulevards, and Amsterdam wanted in on the action. Beautiful houses and wide roads would transform the city into a modern metropolis with a gorgeous central train station at the heart of it all. Logistical and financial issues forced the city council to cancel the plans and come up with something far more modest. No boulevards, no villas and no train station, but long, narrow roads full of cheap and often inferior housing that gave the name of ‘The Pipe’.
47. Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam forest)
This is another of the Dutch’s artificial inventions. Forest is a misleading name though – the area includes small pools, jogging and biking trails and a river. ‘Amsterdamse Bos’ can be found just outside the city on a 20 minute bike ride from the Museumplein. Inside the forest there is a little petting zoo with pigs, cows, horses, goats, sheep and chickens which is great for a visit with your kids.
48. Theatre Vondelpark
From June to August every Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the Open Air Theatre presents a three-month program for free: dance, cabaret, jazz, children’s theatre, stand-up comedy and all kinds of music.
49. Friday Night Skate
If the streets are dry, a skate tour through Amsterdam of about 20 kilometers will be done every Friday 8 PM. Anyone can join but one must be skilled skater who is able to brake well. The starting point is the round bench next to Vondel CS in the Vondelpark. www.fridaynightskate.com
50. The Stedelijk
Amsterdam's Municipal Museum was founded in 1895 and is one of Europe's most impressive modern art collections. With a focus on 19th and 20th-century Dutch and French painting, the museum features works by a number of renowned art movements, including De Stijl, with examples from Van Doesburg, Mondrian, and Rietveld; Pop Art, with works by Rosenquist and Warhol; and painters such as Chagall, Dubuffet, De Kooning, and Matisse. The sculpture garden also contains examples by Rodin, Moore, Renoir, and Visser.
51. The Van Gogh Museum
Few 19th-century artists have captured the imagination quite like Vincent Van Gogh. Whether inspired by his tragic life or his remarkable talent, some one-and-a-half million visitors are drawn to the superb Van Gogh Museum each year. Widely regarded as one of the world's most important art galleries, it was opened in 1973 and houses the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings.
52. Seven Countries-Houses
Right in the middle of the Roemer Visscherstraat one can find a group of houses in the national styles of several countries. The Seven Countries-Houses were built in 1894 and his intention was to introduce how the national architecture developed in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Holland and England.
53. Max Euwe Centre
Play chess on chess board at Max Euwe Plein, the museum is free and here you can find out about the history of chess and more. You can even play a virtual game. It’s named after the only Dutch chess champion, Max Euwe and there is also an exhibition dedicated to his life and works here. You can also test your chess skills on the giant chessboard in the outdoor square.
54. The Rijksmuseum Museum
A renowned museum, the Rijksmuseum was founded in 1809 to house the country's huge collection of rare art and antiquities. The museum's impressive collection includes some seven million works of art, among them more than 5,000 important paintings spread across 250 rooms of this sprawling building. In addition to its paintings, the Rijksmuseum boasts a well-stocked library of more than 35,000 books and manuscripts, as well as numerous fascinating displays dealing with the development of art and culture in the Netherlands. Of special note are its collections of traditional handicrafts, medieval sculpture, and modern art styles.
55. Museumstraat
This street connects the Stadhouderskade at the Museum Bridge with the Museumplein. The street was named after the 18th-century Rijksmuseum. The section below the museum is the Passage Rijksmuseum. Originally the passage was built to ensure the connection between the still-built neighborhoods in Amsterdam-South and the city center. In 1931 the passage was closed for cars due to vibrations that can damage the building and the art collection. Later the passage was only opened for cyclists and pedestrians. During the renovation between 2003/2013 the museum was re-opened on May 13, 2013 and the passage for cyclists.
56. Heineken Brewery
De Oude Pijp is inextricably connected to the rich history of a famous export product: Heineken beer. The first brewery opened here in 1863, years before De Pijp became a part of Amsterdam. It expanded several times with a building constructed in the early 1930s, which still stands today. Some residents of De Oude Pijp spent their entire working lives at Heineken. The brewery closed in 1988 and was largely demolished. The remaining building now houses The Heineken Experience, an interactive museum dedicated to all things barley pop. Discover how they achieved that specific Heineken taste, marvel at 140 years of beer advertising, or get 'brewed' yourself in a 4D movie. And get a cold one afterwards.
57. Albert Cuyp Markt
This is the most famous and largest street market in The Netherlands. This daily market has offered its wares for over a century! The vendors (more than 300 stalls) sell almost everything; cheese, fresh seafood, meat, fruit but also jewelry, clothes and flowers. The market is situated in the heart of the 19th century neighborhood De Pijp, Amsterdam’s “Quartier Latin”.
58. Twenty Third Bar
Twenty Third is the highest and probably swankiest skybar in Amsterdam. Located on the 23rd floor of the hotel, the views are spectacular. The bar is located at the Hotel Okura Amsterdam. Serving not only cocktails and a wide variety of wine, beer and liquor, the bar also offers a selection of small bites from the kitchen of the adjoining two-Michelin-star restaurant Ciel Bleu.
59. Canvas
This was the lunchroom for workers of De Volkskrant newspaper. The building is now the Volkshotel and the lunchroom became a bar, restaurant and nightclub. The Hotel also has a rooftop sauna and hot tubs for guests only. The views from the rooftop terrace are amazing, and the perfect place for lunch, dinner or drinks.
60. Smoke Palace (previously ‘New York’)
Its spacious smoking room is a favorite among locals, and its distance from the city center means that the place is almost exclusively patronised by true Amsterdammers. Above ground, Smoke Palace has a large patio area that looks over the tramlines flowing out of Amsterdam’s periphery. www.smokepalace.nl
61. The Museum of the Tropics
The Tropenmuseum was established in 1864 and hosts the history of the Netherlands' former colonies. Set in a cavernous hall built especially for it, the museum contains numerous displays of art and everyday objects from tropical and subtropical areas. The museum also hosts regular concerts of Eastern and Asian music using traditional instruments.
62. Natura Artis Magistra ("Artis")
Amsterdam's excellent zoo, spotlights creatures from around the world in a shady garden setting dotted with historical buildings. In the aquarium, you can learn about coral reef systems and take a peek under an Amsterdam canal. Other highlights include the nocturnal animal house, zoological museum, Insectarium, Butterfly Pavilion, and Planetarium.
63. Micropia
The world's first zoo for microbes, collecting both the horrible and wonderful things living on and around us.
64. Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam
Established in 1638 to battle the Black Death, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam is a treasure trove of rare flora.
65. Zoku
A hidden spot with great views and informal meeting facilities on a rooftop terrace.
66. Skinny Bridge/ Magere Bridge
Across the river Amstel and opposite of the Carré theatre, there is an Old Dutch design white-painted wooden drawbridge from 1672. Skinny Bridge is one of the most beautiful bridges of Amsterdam. At night many lights illuminate the bridge and then it becomes a very romantic place, popular with lovers and photographers.
67. Stadsarchief (Amsterdam City Archives building)
The permanent exhibition at the Stadsarchief, Amsterdam City Archives, is an ideal place to learn about the history of the city through the unusual and quirky "treasures" in its collection. Among the artefacts are a sympathetic 1942 police report regarding the theft of Anne Frank's bike, a less sympathetic police telegram regarding Karl Marx's visit to the city in 1872, and photographs of the likes of John Lennon and Audrey Hepburn. The collection is contained within a majestic tiled vault in the basement of the Bazel building, a former bank notable for its impressive geometric brickwork designed by ADN van Gendt.
68. Nieuwe Spiegelstraat
A street lined with antique shops each one dedicated to a different obscure collection.
69. Oostelijk Havengebied (Eastern Docklands)
The artificial islands and abandoned docklands east of Central Station are in the midst of a massive makeover, involving some of the most adventurous architecture in the country.
70. Trouw B.V.
It’s a night club, restaurant, and cultural space all rolled into one.
71. National Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum)
It is located in a former naval storehouse on the Oosterdok and home to an impressive collection of model ships, globes, navigation instruments, and paintings.
72. Science Center Nemo Museum
The building houses a stunning piece of architecture that juts over the port area like the hull of a large ship.
73. NEMO Panorama Terrace
The terrace is 22m high. Take the stairs on the eastern edge of NEMO Science Centre museum which is free to the public. During the summer the terrace has a “city beach” theme with comfortable deckchairs to sit on. The terrace also features a large chess set, a water feature and often exhibits some display boards. At the very top you will find the Rooftop Café. The architect was Renzo Piano envisioned a rooftop city plaza when he designed the building.
74. The Mr. J.J. Van der Veldebrug (bridge no. 1939)
This bridge is a bicycle bridge over the Oosterdok in Amsterdam. The bridge connects the Oosterdokseiland with the NEMO building on top of the IJtunnel. It consists of two long arch bridges and has a narrow bascule bridge in the middle. It was named after Mr. Jonas Jacob van der Velde (1887-1980), who was responsible for determining the IJtunnel route.
75. OBA Public Library
Go to the top-floor cafeteria whose deck unfurls an awesome city vista.
76. SkyLounge of The DoubleTree Hotel
Each metropolis has a unique spot to discover the city from great height. It offers a panoramic view, 365 days a year. It’s in the 11th floor of the Hilton.
77. The Bimhuis music venue
It hosts a monthly free jazz night. www.concertgebouw.nl
78. Free Jazz Session on Tuesday Evening
The center spot for the Dutch jazz scene is the world famous Bimhuis. Every Tuesday night at 10:00 PM (except for Tuesdays in July and August) they host a jam session in collaboration with the Music Conservatory of Amsterdam. www.bimhuis.nl
79. The Port of Amsterdam
The port is almost 19 kilometers from the open sea on a former bay named the IJ. It’s unaffected by tidal activity and remains a busy harbor. From here, regular passenger and freight services head up the Rhine to cities such as Dusseldorf, Koblenz, and Basel. The port installations were built in 1872 in conjunction with the construction of the North Sea Canal, the objective being to restore the former importance of the capital city, which was being overtaken by Rotterdam. Take the ferry across the IJ. Ferries run every few minutes from behind Centraal station to the EYE (see below).
80. The EYE film museum
In the basement of this museum visitors can immerse themselves in cinema at a free permanent exhibition. The Panorama room surrounds visitors with around 100 movie clips and scenes, which are projected on to the walls and can be browsed via seven control panels. Perhaps the most popular plaything are the viewing pods, specially designed, futuristic cabins which contain a small sofa for visitors to watch films in. Also visit the new building moved to its current location in 2012. From the bar and restaurant one can enjoy a view of the waterfront towards Amsterdam's Centraal.
81. A’DAM Tower
It’s an 80-metre-high tower, located next to the EYE Film Museum, and it boasts numerous spectacular spots to admire all of Amsterdam. It’s a swanky sky bar with observation deck. It opens for lunch, dinner and Disco after 21hs.
82. De Jordaan
Inviting side-streets, intimate canals, galleries, quirky shops and neighbourhood cafés lure you this way and that in what was once a working-class area.
83. The Nine Streets (De Negen Straatjes)
This is a network of picturesque streets crisscrossing Amsterdam’s canals. The area is just two minutes away from the Royal Palace in Dam Square. The streets are crammed with quirky boutiques, shops, and art galleries. Take a coffee at Espressofabriek and Screaming Beans.
84. The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk)
The church dates from the 15th century and it’s the official coronation church of Dutch monarchs since 1814. The historic square was built around 1270 to separate the Amstel from the IJ and gave the city its name. Today, the square and the church are used for public functions such as antique fairs, art exhibitions and organ concerts. Highlights: the pulpit from 1649 (Baroque wood carving decorated with the four evangelists and figures symbolizing Faith, Hope, Charity, Justice, and Prudence); the organ from 1670 (an exceptionally choir screen cast in bronze and fine choir stalls); the tombs of famous Dutchmen (PC Hooft, Nicolaes Tulp, and Admiral Michiel de Ruyter who died in 1679); the stained glass windows (one dating from 1650); the obelisk (erected here after WWII as a memorial for its victims and a symbol of liberation). The olbelisk was designed by J.J.P. Oud and decorated with sculptures by J.W.Rädeler symbolizing: War (four male figures), Peace (woman and child), and Resistance (two men with howling dogs). Also there are urns containing earth from the 11 provinces, and a 12th urn contains earth from the cemetery of honor in Indonesia. The monument was dedicated by Queen Juliana on 4 May 1956, the national day of remembrance. Every granting of the city's coat of arms by William IV, while the Queen's Window from 1898 commemorates the coronation of Queen Wilhelmina.
85. Homomonument
This monument was inspired by the pink triangle the Nazis forced gay people to wear, a symbol of persecution, which was turned into a badge of pride. It comprises three rose-toned granite triangles, one projecting out over the Keizersgracht canal.
86. Grey Area Coffeeshop
It’s a tiny place but with a big reputation. It has some of the finest weed and is an American favorite. Not a whole lot of seating, but really friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff. It’s a celebrity hotspot. www.greyarea.nl
87. The West Church Amsterdam's (Westerkerk)
It’s famous as the location of the wedding of Queen Beatrix in 1966 and is the most popular church in the city. Completed in 1630, this Renaissance church is unusual due to its many internal and external Gothic features. Its 85-meter tower, popularly known as "Langer Jan" (tall John), is the highest in the city, and on the tip of its spire is a large replica of the emperor's crown, placed there in memory of Emperor Maximilian of Austria who, in 1489, was cured of illness in Amsterdam and gave the city his protection and the right to include his crown in its coat of arms. Inside the tower, a carillon proclaims the hours, its hammer weighing an impressive 200 kilograms, while the largest of its 48 bells weighs some three-and-a-quarter tons. Other highlights include a fine organ dating from 1622, along with an interesting marble column placed there in 1906 in memory of Rembrandt, who was buried outside the church (he was later reinterred inside the church).
88. Church Carillon Concerts
The Westerkerk (Western Church) is definitely one of the most prominent landmarks on the Amsterdam skyline, as well as in the collective memory of residents: even Anne Frank wrote in her diary that she could hear the chimes of the church bells from her attic hide-out.
89. The Anne Frank Museum
This museum is dedicated to the all-too-short life of one of the world's best-known Holocaust victims. In the actual home in which Anne's family hid for much of WWII - they were Jewish refugees from the German city of Frankfurt – and it was here that Anne wrote the diary that became an international bestseller after the war, just a few years after her death at age 15 (she died just two months before the war ended). Much of the home has been kept as it was during Anne's time, and it serves as a poignant monument to a tragic period of history.
90. Electric Ladyland
AKA The Museum of Fluorescent Art, it’s the world's only museum devoted to the wonders of fluorescence.
91. The Narrowest House in Amsterdam
It’s on 7 Singel street. With a width of only one meter, the house is barely wider than its own front door. In all fairness, it should be said that this is actually the rear façade of a house; the front is a bit wider. Visit also the one located at Oude Hoogstraat 22. This tiny house features a typical Amsterdam bell-gable. The façade is 2.02 meters wide and the house itself is six meters deep.
92. Cat Boat (Poezenboot)
If one is a cat lover then visit the ‘poezenboot’, a sanctuary for cats on an Amsterdam houseboat.
93. Siberië
A 28-year-old coffeeshop situated on the beautiful Brouwersgracht. It’s a small and comfy with a laid back style and a great menu. Siberië has regular free horoscope readings, acoustic concerts, exhibitions, and DJ performances at weekends. There’s also internet access and plenty of board games. www.coffeeshopsiberie.nl
94. Barney's
It’s a coffeeshop located in a 500-year-old building and is one of most popular in Haarlemmerstraat. www.barneys.biz
95. The Bulldog
Probably the most well-known in Amsterdam thanks to the central location at Leidseplein (ironically, the building is a former Amsterdam police station). The Bulldog is actually a chain of Bulldogs spread around the city center. www.thebulldog.com
96. Baba Coffee shop
Styled with an Eastern-theme and surrounded by sex shops and adult theatres in the Red Light District. See the various statues around the shop, deities in realistically created stone with mystical robes.www.babashops.com
97. Urban Beaches
Despite the fact that Amsterdam is not located by the seaside, the Dutch have still managed to create three beaches in Amsterdam: 1. Blijburg, Muiderlaan 1001 (at this beach you can actually swim). 2. Strand West, Stavangerweg 900. 3. Strand Zuid, Europaplein 22.
98. REM Eiland
It’s a roof top bar at 22m above the IJ in an old pirate television tower with views of Amsterdam from Zuid to Noord.
99. Sunday Markets
Every first Sunday of the month the ‘Westergasfabriek’ in the Westerpark Area turns into a big market. Besides free food and drink tastings, these markets are perfect places to find one-of-a-kind souvenirs. www.sundaymarket.nl
100. Blauwe Theehuis
It’s a nice cafe at Westerpark with vast terrace for drinks, light bites & summer BBQs.
101. The Fourth Wall B.V.
A theater that explores a new hybrid of the performing arts in which musicians are also dancers and actors.
Other places
102. North/South Metro Line Viewpoint
Descend the stairs in the middle of Rokin Street and behold the new subway system being excavated. Colossal digging machines roar in the abyss and the whole place rumbles when a tram passes overhead.
103. Reinier Sijpkens Music Boat “The Notendop”
The Music Boat man, Reinier Sijpkens, travels around the world making magic and music for children. At home in the Netherlands, he haunts the canals of Amsterdam. www.reiniersijpkens.nl
104. Barrel Organs in the Streets
The iconic organs are as Dutch as canals and clogs. They give an extra flair to the already colorful streets of Amsterdam. Barrel organ music is in theory free but the organ-man very much appreciates a small contribution in his collecting-box. The best chance to see a barrel organ is to go to the ‘Kalverstraat’ or Dam Square.
105. Floor 17
The Ramada Apollo hotel welcomes you at Floor 17; see Movie Nights during the summertime.
106. Dakterras NEST
Fly way over the treetops at NEST, a rooftop terrace celebrating the greenery of Amsterdam with its border of flowers and green plants. Only open when the sun is shining, NEST offers a place to wine, dine and spend more than a couple hours. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menu comprises healthy eats such as beetroot hummus sandwiches and salads; the drinks menu features local beer, wine and plenty of liquor—including The Hangover, NEST’s version of a Blood Mary, best drunk with breakfast.
107. Oude Zijde and Nieuwe Zijde
The oldest district of the city, also known as "the wall", because most of the canals run parallel to the old wall, although there is a street called Zeedijk that crosses them, as its name says (Dam-see). Follows the path of the first dam that was built in Amsterdam to protect the population from flooding. Its boundaries overlook the harbor and include the surroundings of the Dam.
108. Nieuwmarkt The Waag
It’s a 15th century building on Nieuwmarkt square in Amsterdam. It was originally a city gate and part of the walls of Amsterdam. The building has also served as a guildhall, museum, fire station and anatomical theatre, among others. It was destroyed around 1810. Today the place is a nice cafe.
109. Museum Vrolik
An anatomical collection dedicated to human mutants.
110. Restaurant Bureau roof terrace
A rooftop “park” located on the fifth floor of B. Amsterdam, and with its abundance of potted plants and ivy-covered trellises, it truly is a park. Open from Mondays to Fridays to the public for lunch and dinner (weekends are reserved for private events), the restaurant serves a unique menu that changes every two months, featuring creative ingredients such as sea lavender and wood sorrel.
Where to Stay in Amsterdam
- Luxury Hotels: In a collection of 17th century palaces on the prestigious Herengracht, Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, Ambassade Hotel, The Toren is a family-run, boutique hotel in two historic canal houses, with individually decorated rooms and suites.
- Mid-Range Hotels: Hotel Sebastian's, Hotel Fita, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Amsterdam Centraal Station.
- Budget Hotels: Hotel La Boheme (rates include breakfast), Hotel Museumzicht, Clemens Hotel.