Amsterdam is known for famous for its crazy parties, coffee shops, Red Light Distinct… In fact, it’s not just about them, it’s a place where you can visit to the fullest for a few days. It is a place that can make both nightlife, cultural tourism and nature lovers happy.

The best way to visit the city is to walk or bike like a Dutchman. When you see thousands of cyclists roaming the streets, you will not be able to stop yourself and rent a bike.

Museums in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the cities with the most museums in the world. Especially a paradise for art lovers. You can start the day at the Van Gogh Museum and continue at the Rijksmuseum. You can see the works of many Dutch painters, especially Rembrandt, in the Rijksmuseum. Rembrandt’s house can also be visited as a museum. If you go to Rembrandt’s house, be sure to visit the Waterlooplein flea market right next to it. Don’t forget to bargain while shopping! 🙂

Another must-have museum is Anne Frank Huis, the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazi occupation. You can share the sadness experienced during the Nazi occupation thanks to the documents, photographs and cine-vision show on display. It is possible to enter this museum, which normally has long queues in front of it as it is one of the most visited museums in Amsterdam, with an online ticket as of October 2017.

Apart from classical museums, Tulip Museum dedicated to tulips or NEMO Science Museum, which draws attention with its interesting building resembling a sinking ship, are among the places to visit. NEMO is a museum where you can both experience interesting experiments and enjoy the view on its terrace as it is one of the rare high places of the city.

Especially if you are on a bicycle, you can get away from the city center and smell the atmosphere of different neighborhoods. Make your way to Pijp first. While this was a neighborhood full of workers’ houses, today it has become a cute neighborhood full of hipster cafes and bars. While in Pijp, stop by Albert Cuypmarkt. Be careful not to be hungry when you go to this market, you can find all kinds of street food and drinks from all over the world at the stalls here.

Another neighborhood that I would recommend you to visit outside the center is Noord, which you can reach by a short ferry ride from Central Station. It used to be a cheap neighborhood where sailors lived. Today, this is a place that attracts young people with warehouses converted into art galleries, festival grounds, EYE Film Museum, night clubs and bars.

Vondelpark and Much More

Tired of walking or cycling? Take your breath away in one of Amsterdam’s beautiful parks. Vondelpark is the most famous and most crowded park. Here you can enter the picnic mode and enjoy watching the people passing by. Various concerts, dance performances and shows are held on the open-air stage of this park throughout the summer from May. Plus it’s free! Those who want to escape from the crowd can stop at Oosterpark.

Amsterdam, like Venice, is a city full of canals. It is also possible to take a boat tour on these canals. You can even have your dinner on the boats and be enchanted by the lights of the city.

Let’s come to the part that will please beer lovers. How about a beer-filled experience called the Heineken Experience? This is actually a museum tour where you can get detailed information about the history and construction of Heineken. With a guide, you first learn about Heineken’s history and then its production stages. The part where you can see the production stages is Heineken’s former production facility. Then you learn how to fill your beer, drink a glass of beer, and then drink two more beers at the bar.

Another place to visit for brewing is Brouwerij’t Ij, located under one of Amsterdam’s famous mills. You can do a tasting tour of about half an hour. Before I forget, all the beers here are organic!

Say goodbye to Amsterdam with a beer at Hannekes Boom, the locals’ favorite spot. This is a place that has existed since 1662! Take your place at the tables by the canal in summer and by the stove inside in winter.