Things to do in Amsterdam
While Amsterdam might be best known for its cafe culture, it also offers plenty more cultural attractions to entertain visitors. A stroll around the city is an experience in itself, with a maze of medieval streets and canals offering plenty of scope for exploring off the beaten track. Amsterdam is also famous for its hofhes, which are peaceful courtyards hidden behind houses. One of the largest and best known is the Begijnhof, accessible via an unassuming doorway in the Spui. Once inside, visitors can discover an old English church, built around the turn of the 15th century, and some of the oldest house in the city, including some of the few remaining traditional wooden houses.
Outdoor lovers should also check out the Hortus horticultural gardens, which like the hofhes offers a natural retreat in the heart of the bustling city centre. The Artis Zoo is also worth a visit, not least for its impressive planetarium and aquarium.
Anne Frank's house is one of the most popular attractions in the city, with thousands of tourists coming every year to pay their respects to the Jewish family that hid from the Nazis in the attic of the house. The building has now been turned into a museum, open from 09:00 to 19:00, or 21:00 in summer, with savvy tourists advised to arrive early or late to avoid the queues.
Given Amsterdam's reputation as a bit of a hedonistic city, many tourists may also feel it's only right to visit the Heineken Brewery. A working brewery until a few years ago, it is now a museum and visitors centre, which means the beer is free and you can justify a visit as an "educational experience". Unaccompanied children are not allowed.
Amsterdam is home to three main museums, all centred around the Museumplein. The Rijksmuseum is an imposing museum, containing works by the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer and the Netherlands's other great 17th century painters. The Stedelijk is Amsterdam's modern art museum. Visitors should be warned, however, that it is closed in its normal location until 2008, with the major works now housed in the Post-CS Building. Finally, art-lovers should include a visit to the Van Goth museum, dedicated to the Dutch master and his contemporaries. The Amsterdam Historical Museum is also popular.
Amsterdam is a city built around its canals, making a canal trip the perfect way to see the whole of the metropolis. Trips typically last around 90 minutes, although energetic holidaymakers can hire their own boat and explore the city at their own speed. A more impressive overview of the city can be found by climbing to the roof of the New Metropolis building, where visitors can enjoy the spectacular vista of the city in full.
Tourists planning a slightly longer stay in Amsterdam may wish to explore outside the confines of the city. In season, trips to the surrounding tulip fields are popular, although travellers can enjoy a similar effect by wondering around one of the many flower markets in the city. Marken is also a popular out-of-town attraction. Once an island, it is now connected to the mainland but has retained much of its historical charm. It is home to some of the few remaining traditional wooden Dutch houses, while many of the locals still wear traditional costume.
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Things To Do
