Amsterdam, the city we all love
The top thing to do and see in the capital city of The Netherlands is a long walk along the awesome canals of Amsterdam. Furthermore, Amsterdam has everything a big city can offer. Nearly 900,000 people of different races and cultures live on a surface of 21,949 hectares, of which 16,540 is land and 5,409 hectares is water (100 hectares is 1 km²). 1/3 of the population of Amsterdam is between 25 and 45 years old. Amsterdam is known for its artistic heritage, her extensive canal network, and the narrow gabled houses, a legacy of the Golden Age. The true Amsterdammer is kind-hearted, generous, friendly, kind, helpful, and has a big mouth uttering its big heart. When it comes to football, all residents of Amsterdam are big fans and supporters of Ajax.
➔ Musea
➔ Squares
➔ Markets
➔ Music | Concerthalls, Jazzclubs, Poppodium and theaters
➔ Special Shops
➔ Sports
➔ Monuments
➔ Parks, Botanic Garden, Amsterdamse Bos
➔ Zoo and City Farms
Top Museums in Amsterdam
RIJKSMUSEUM AMSTERDAM
The Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam is the number 1 museum in the Netherlands. It’s more than a fantastic museum, the building is more beautiful than the Royal Palace. The Rijksmuseum was designed by the Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers. The Rijksmuseum is located on the awesome Museum Square. The Rijksmuseum contains a major collection of Dutch art and history, including works by 17th-century Dutch masters such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, and Frans Hals. Top pieces are performed in the Hall of Fame. At the end of the Hall of Fame hangs the world-famous painting “The Night Watch” by Rembrandt van Rijn. Temporary exhibitions are organized in the south wing of the Rijksmuseum. All in all, the Rijksmuseum is a museum where you can spend days and then still have not seen everything.
The Rijksmuseum has spent months working on the reconstruction and restoration of “The Night Watch”. This project has now been completed. The Night Watch is currently under investigation, the largest-ever study using the latest and most advanced technology to determine how best to preserve the masterpiece for future generations. This is done in front of the public in a specially designed glass cage.
➔ Rijksmuseum, Museumplein 1, Amsterdam
REMBRANDT HOUSE MUSEUM
And if you are still interested in Rembrandt, you may like to visit the Rembrandt House as well. This museum is the former residence of the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn, who lived here from 1639 to 1658. In addition to a living area, the building contains a studio and an art dealership. In Rembrandt’s time, his house was about 200 meters from the city boundary, he practically lived in the countryside. Today his house is in the center of Amsterdam and the city boundary is miles away.
➔ READ MORE – Rembrandt House Museum, Jodenbreestraat 4, Amsterdam
VAN GOGH MUSEUM
Who doesn’t know the sunflowers of Vincent van Gogh? If you want to know why Vincent van Gogh’s sunflowers are so special, go to the Van Gogh Museum. This museum is a tribute to Vincent van Gogh and is largely devoted to his work. The museum contains a collection of more than two hundred paintings, five hundred drawings, and seven hundred letters by Vincent van Gogh, as well as his collection of Japanese prints, and the library contains more than 23,000 titles.
➔ READ MORE – Van Gogh Museum, Museumplein, Amsterdam
STEDELIJK MUSEUM, MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN
The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam is a remarkable museum that showcases modern and contemporary art and design. The museum has been collecting modern and contemporary art, photography, and design since its inception and currently manages over 100,000 objects. The collection represents virtually all major movements of the 20th and 21st centuries with a focus on De Stijl, the Bauhaus, COBRA, pop art, and older neo-impressionism. The collection includes works by Pieter Mondriaan, Karel Appel, and Gerrit Rietveld, but also features many international masterpieces. Additionally, the museum hosts numerous special exhibitions.
➔ Stedelijk Museum – Museumplein, Amsterdam
ANNE FRANK HOUSE AMSTERDAM
What can we say about the Anne Frank Museum, it is a place with a terrible past. The story of Anne Frank is known worldwide. The Anne Frank Museum is the house where Anne Frank went into hiding during the Second World War, where she and her family were arrested by the Germans, and where she wrote her diary.
➔ READ MORE – Anne Frank House, Westermarkt 20, Amsterdam
NEMO SCIENCE MUSEUM
Nemo is a really nice “Do” museum. The objects in NEMO are often experimental setups in which the visitor can investigate a scientific phenomenon in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and behavioral sciences. Experimentation makes young people enthusiastic about science and technology. The museum is located near Amsterdam Central Station, you can walk to it in no time. Nemo Science Museum has an amazing rooftop, it’s the highest city square in the Netherlands. You will find the open-air exhibition Energetica, a large outdoor terrace, and a restaurant: all with a beautiful view over the city of Amsterdam.
➔ Nemo Science Museum – Oosterdok 2, Amsterdam
HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE MUSEUM
Taste the story of the world’s most famous beer in Amsterdam at the Heineken Experience. Take an interactive tour of the history of the beer producer in the old brewery and end the tour with a beer tasting. In 1988, the former Heineken brewery in Amsterdam moved because the building became too small. The brewery was then converted into the Heineken Experience Museum.
➔ Heineken – Stadhouderskade 78, Amsterdam
FOAM PHOTO MUSEUM
Foam is a fantastic museum for anyone interested in photography. The photography museum is located on the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam. The museum presents rotating exhibitions showcasing all kinds of photographic genres, such as historical photos, art photos, news photos, and fashion photos.
➔ READ MORE – Foam Fotografiemuseum, Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam
STRAAT MUSEUM, NDSM AMSTERDAM NORTH
The STRAAT Museum in Amsterdam is the largest Street Art Museum in the world. It is an awesome museum at NDSM in Amsterdam North and in 2021 this museum was called “The museum of the year”. In Amsterdam Noord on the NDSM site, in an immense former ship shed of 8000 m2, you will find the Graffiti and Street art museum where you can admire 150 huge street artworks made by 130 artists. Some of these works of art were created in the museum. The entire collection is much bigger but not continuously exhibited, the artwork rotates. The museum strives for a national and international collection. STRAAT museum offers a tour where questions will be answered if possible.
➔ READ MORE – STRAAT Museum Amsterdam NDSM-Plein 1, 1033 WC Amsterdam
MOCO MUSEUM MUSEUMPLEIN
The Moco Museum is a private and independent museum at the Museumplein in Amsterdam. It is an institution dedicated to exhibiting modern and contemporary art. The museum aims to make modern and contemporary art accessible to a broad and young audience and has a wide range of inspiring modern, contemporary, and street art. The Banksy exposition features a diverse selection of original works throughout Banksy’s noteworthy career. The new future exposition brings together a selection of NFTs from the art world’s most pioneering digital artists. These rare and unique works express the future of digital art. Moco museum is exhibitions & experiences. the museum has a number of Banksy works in its collection. The MOCO museum organizes exhibitions, and experiences of modern and contemporary artworks.
➔ Moco Museum, Honthorststraat 20, 1071 DE Amsterdam
HERMITAGE IS RENAMED IN AMSTERDAM MUSEUM ON THE AMSTEL
In this temporary museum, you get to know everything about Amsterdam, the city, the neighborhoods, and its inhabitants. The city museum is renovated and temporarily moved to the Hermitage museum.
➔ The New Amsterdam aan de Amstel – Amstel 51, Amsterdam
NIEUWE KERK AMSTERDAM
The Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square Amsterdam is a great place where fantastic exhibitions are organized. You can currently visit the exhibition about the former Dutch queen Juliana. Juliana was the grandmother of the current King Alexander. The Nieuwe Kerk is famous because King Alexander and Queen Maxima married in this church.
➔ READ MORE – Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam
ARTIS GROOTE MUSEUM
In 2022 opened the ARTIS Groote Museum. This part of Artis was closed to the public for 75 years. The building has been renovated and turned into a museum. The Groote museum Artis is part of the Artis zoo, Micropia, Planetarium, and the Botanical Garden. The building in which the Groote Museum is housed is a national monument. Learn and read in this museum the similarities and the connection between all living things. Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but no one can count the apples in a seed.
➔ READ MORE – Groote Museum Artis
HASH, MARIHUANA, WEED, AND HEMP MUSEUM
If you are interested in the history of hash and weed, and if you want more information about how it is grown and sold, and why it is banned in many countries? Then visit the hash and weed museum in the center of Amsterdam.
➔ Hash, Marihuana and Hemp museum
SQUARES or so we say “Plein”
DAM PLEIN – DAM SQUARE
Dam Square is the historic heart of the city of Amsterdam. The Royal Palace, the National War Memorial, and the New Church are located on the Dam. Every day there is something special to experience on the dam.
LEIDSCHE PLEIN
A popular and well-known square, Leidseplein is very cool and the place to be if you are looking for vibrant nightlife. On Leidscheplein you’ll find cafes, restaurants, and many terraces, and there are always performances by street artists. Leidseplein is always busy. On and near the Leidseplein you will find the neo-Renaissance-style Stadsschouwburg and the legendary concert halls the Melkweg and Paradiso. Both Paradiso and Melkweg are internationally renowned pop venues where world-famous artists regularly perform. There are regular parties that last until the early hours.
➔ Leidseplein
REMBRANDTPLEIN
If you want to take a picture with the shooters of the Night Watch of Rembrandt, go to the Rembrandtplein. This square is named after the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn and is in the center of Amsterdam. Go to this square and you will have a great day, evening and night. Rembrandtplein belongs to the most famous entertainment areas in Amsterdam, especially in the evening when it becomes one of the hotspots of nightlife in the city, in addition to the red light district and the Leidseplein. The Rembrandtplein is bustling with activity. The square is flooded with tourists and locals who pass the day strolling, eating, shopping, and people-watching at the multitude of shops, nightclubs, and restaurants. Near the Rembrandtplein in the Regulierbreestraat is the Pathé Tuschinski cinema, this cinema has been called the most beautiful cinema in the world.
➔ READ MORE – Rembrandtplein
WATERLOOPLEIN
Waterloo Square is located in the Joodenbuurt, this is the former Jewish quarter of Amsterdam. At the head of the Waterlooplein is the Moses and Aaron Church. The church originated from a hidden church. The current church was built around 1840. In 1978 the church became a refuge for 182 activists “church Moroccans” and sympathizers who went on hunger strikes in protest against imminent deportation from the Netherlands after their asylum applications were rejected. Since 1980, the church was no longer in use as a place of worship and cultural gatherings were organized. held. Since 2014, the church has been used as a Catholic church again.
Next to and behind the church is the daily Waterlooplein market.
➔ READ MORE – Waterlooplein flea market.
MARKETS
ALBERT CUYP MARKET
Every Amsterdammer knows Albert Cuyp. The Albert Cuyp is a day market, which is open every day except Sunday. On this market, there are stalls with fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, meat, fish, nuts, cheese, and many more products such as drugstore products, shoes, clothing, and so on. The Albert Cuyp Market is located in the cozy De Pijp district where you will find many cool trendy cafes and restaurants. Also on the Albert Cuyp is the statue of Andre Hazes. Andre was a well-known and loved Dutch life song singer who unfortunately passed away much too young. A nice restaurant on Albert Cuyp Market is the Bazar where you can enjoy delicious Arabic dishes and drinks between beautiful Moroccan lamps. Shopping at the Albert Cuyp market is great fun, it’s always a surprise what you can buy there.
➔ AREAD MORE – Albert Cuypmarket
BLOEMENMARKT – FLOATING FLOWER MARKET
The Floating Flower Market on the Singel in Amsterdam has been around since 1862. The Singel is a canal that is part of the canal belt, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the past, flower growers brought their wares into the city center on sloops on the Amstel. The market now consists of fixed sloops with a greenhouse structure. Are you looking for tulips, daffodils, snowdrops, carnations, violets, peonies, or orchids, they are guaranteed to be for sale at the Flower Market every season. In addition, house plants, herbs, seeds, and flower bulbs are also sold here.
➔ READ MORE – Floating Flowermarket Amsterdam – Bloemenmarkt
LINDENMARKT
The Lindengracht is a filled-in canal in the Jordaan. The market on Lindengracht is almost a kilometer long, making it one of the largest neighborhood markets in Amsterdam. The market is every Saturday, has 232 stalls, is 120 years old, is very cozy, and has a diverse range of items. And of course, to round off your market visit, drink a delicious healthy coffee with oats, soya, or almond milk with a delicious piece of homemade pie in one of the neighborhood cafes.
➔ Lindenmarkt, Noordermarkt and Westermarkt
NOORDERMARKT – FLEA AND FARMERS MARKET
Every Monday and Saturday from 9.00 until 16.00 hours there is this great second-hand flea market on Noordermarkt. I love this market. When you finish looking and buying around this market go and have yourself some fabulous coffee with Apple Pie and whipped cream! On Saturday, next to the curiosa and flea market, is a biological market on the Noorder market. This is a so-called farmer’s market where you can buy organic products like vegetables, bread, meat, fish, cheese, dairy products, craft, and durable products.
➔ Noordermarket – Fleamarket and Farmers market
NDSM, IJHALLEN, FLEA AND RETRO MARKET AT AMSTERDAM NORTH
IJhallen, also known as NDSM, is the former Dutch Dock and Shipbuilding yard. A huge flea market is regularly organized in the IJhallen. With good weather partly outside and partly inside, in bad weather entirely in the immense IJhallen. Bargains, fun, and changing offers IJhallen is the largest and most attractive flea market in Europe. Also, unique products in the field of home furnishings and clothing are offered in every market at very low prices. Highly recommended for anyone who likes flea markets and/or cheap shopping.
➔ READ MORE – NDSM IJhallen – Fleamarket and Retro market
WATERLOOPLEIN FLEA MARKET
The oldest and most famous flea market in Amsterdam. Open from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 until 18.00 hours, closed on Sunday. Looking for some Ibiza, hippie style, vintage or retro clothing, accessories, household items, or vinyl records then is Waterlooplein definitely, a place where you will be surprised by the merchandise on sale. New products are alternated with 2nd hand items. There are about 300 market stalls on the Waterlooplein. Some sellers have been here for years.
➔ READ MORE – Waterlooplein
MUSIC, CONCERT HALLS, JAZZ CLUBS, POP PODIUMS, AND THEATERS
PARADISO
Paradiso is one of the oldest and finest pop venues in the center of Amsterdam. From the Leidsche Plein, you can walk to Paradiso on the Weteringschans within seconds. The Rolling Stones, the Police, Nirvana, Igy Pop, and many other famous artists performed in Paradiso. Paradiso has existed for over 55 years and is being expanded and the old building is being renovated.
➔ READ MORE – Check out the agenda of Paradiso
MELKWEG MULTICULTURAL CENTRE.
A multicultural center has been established in the former dairy of Amsterdam for many years. Here you can see the most talked-about concerts. The Milky Way is located just behind the Leidscheplein in the center of Amsterdam. Top location and top entertainment.
➔ READ MORE – Melkweg, concertderthall, filmhouse, club and expo
MUZIEKGEBOUW AND BIMHUIS
Jazz in all his scapes, from classic jazz to the most extreme kinds of jazz performances.
Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam
➔ READ MORE – Muziekgebouw aan t’ IJ
➔ READ MORE – Bimhuis
STOPERA, NATIONAL OPERA & BALLET
Do you like classical music, opera, and ballet? If you like these art forms, the Stopera in Amsterdam is definitely the place to be. The Stopera is the permanent location of the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, the Dutch opera company.
➔ READ MORE – View here the fantastic and richly filled agenda of the Stopera.
SPECIAL SHOPS IN AMSTERDAM
COFFEESHOPS FOR MARIHUANA IN AMSTERDAM
Amsterdam is known for the legalized sale of hash and weed and there are many coffee shops to be found. You will find many coffee shops in the red light area, but there are also coffee shops in the outlying areas. Every coffee shop has its own atmosphere and type of audience. A coffee shop is not only a place where you can buy weed but also a place to meet like-minded people, play a game of chess or cards or have a good conversation. The atmosphere in a coffee shop is always good and relaxed. And you can also drink a nice cup of coffee.
SPORT
SOCCER / FOOTBAL – AJAX – JOHAN KRUIJF ARENA
The football stadium Johan Cruijff Arena is the football stadium of Ajax. Ajax is the Amsterdamsche Football Club and is officially called AFC Ajax and is simply called Ajax by everyone. Ajax plays in the Eredivisie and is one of the 3 top Dutch clubs in the Netherlands. Ajax is loved by many Dutch people. In the Johan Kruijf Arena, you can book a nice stadium tour and visit the gallery of fame. Top best Ajax players are Johan Kruijf, Ruud Krol, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Marco van Basten, Sjaak Swart, and Piet Keizer.
➔ READ MORE – ootbal / soccer stadion Johan Kruijf Arena Amsterdam
SWIMMING POOLS IN AMSTERDAM
The finest indoor and outdoor swimming pools in Amsterdam. Are you ready for some exercise and do you feel like going for a swim? Do you just want to have a nice swim or are you more into doing some laps? There are several cool swimming pools in Amsterdam. The outdoor pools are open from May. The indoor pools are open all year round.
ROLLERSKATING | ROLLER DREAMS
Some say it’s a sport and some say it’s dancing, it doesn’t matter what it is, one thing is for sure roller skating is a lot of fun anyway.
➔ Roller Dreams, Meeuwenlaan 88-B, 1021 JK Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM MONUMENTS
NATIONAL MONUMENT ON THE DAM
The monument on Dam Square was a major attraction for hippies at the end of the 1960s. Hippies from all over the world came to Dam Square to camp. These hippies were called Damsleepers. At the end of the 1970s, the dam sleepers were removed by marines on behalf of the Dutch government. Since then, the national monument has been restored as a war memorial.
The National War Memorial was erected after WW2 in memory of fallen civilian victims, Persecuted the Netherlands, the Resistance of the Netherlands, civilians of the former Dutch East Indies, merchant navy personnel, and soldiers in the service of the Dutch Kingdom 1940-1945 and Soldiers in the service of the Dutch Kingdom after 1945. Every year on May 4, the national commemoration of the dead is celebrated here, with King Alexander and Queen Maxima and members of the government present. The celebration of National Remembrance Day, during which a minute of silence is observed, is broadcast on national TV.
➔ War monument Commemoration
HOMOMONUMENT
The Homomonument is located on the square behind the Westerkerk. The triangular granite monument is the heart of gay life and symbolizes the long road to gay emancipation. At the Homomonument, everyone who was murdered or persecuted is commemorated and is killed because of his or her sexual preference and/or identity.
➔ READ MORE – Homomonument, Westerkerk Amsterdam
NATIONAL WAR MONUMENT ON THE DAM
The National Monument on Dam Square in Amsterdam is a war memorial to commemorate the Second World War in the Netherlands. The monument is central to the annual National Remembrance Day on May 4th. Memorial stone text: Leave here where the heart of the fatherland is, the monument that citizens carry within their hearts, look at the stars of God. On the monument is a curved memorial wall in which twelve urns with earth from execution and honorary cemeteries from the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies have been bricked in. The steps of the National Monument invite you to take a seat, take some rest, feed pigeons and watch people go by.
In the late 1960s, hippies traveled from far and wide to the National Monument to camp out in the open in summer; sometimes several hundred so-called dam sleepers stayed there. In 1970, the municipality banned sleeping on Dam Square, which led to violent riots.
➔ National War monument on the Dam
ANDRE HAZES
A very popular and loved and admired by many is Andre Hazes. A singer and songwriter of the songs of life or sentimental songs. Sadly Andre Hazes passed away some years ago. Andre Hazes was a real folk singer. He has made countless top songs such as ‘Blood, sweat and tears and ‘The kite’. He is generally regarded as a racial AJAXied, this is so to say an extreme AJAX lover. The statue of Andre Hazes stands on Albert Cuyp Market.
➔ READ MORE – André Hazes
Amstedam Parks
VONDELPARK
Near Museumplein, Leidsche Plein you find this lovely park named after Joost van den Vondel a well-known Dutch playwright. Every Amsterdammer loves this park, especially when the sun is shining there al lots of people enjoying being outside. Vondelpark is the most famous city park of Amsterdam.
➔ READ MORE – Vondelpark Amsterdam
Oosterpark
Sarphatipark
Amstelpark
Gaasperplas
Flevopark
Amsterdamste Bos
Hortus Botanicus
Zoo, Petting zoos, Children’s, Urban and City farms
ARTIS, THE OLDEST ZOO IN THE NETHERLANDS
The Artis zoo is located in the center of Amsterdam on the Plantage. This zoo is the oldest in the Netherlands and is housed in beautiful historic buildings. The whole area is great to walk through. There are approximately 800 historic trees in Artis, part of which is in the Arboretum and part is in the zoo. Although this is an old zoo, it is totally modern in its way of working, the animals that live here are extremely well cared for and there are regular newborns to visit. Artis consists of Artis Zoo, Micropia, Planetarium, Groote Museum, and the Botanical Garden, a visit to ARTIS is highly recommended.
➔ READ MORE – ARTIS Zoo, Plantage, Amsterdam
GOATFARM AT AMSTERDAMSE BOS – AMSTERDAM WOODS
The Ridammerhoeve goat farm is located in the middle of the Amsterdam forest. In addition to the goats, chickens, cows, pigs, and horses are also kept here and there is a vegetable garden. The stables of the goat farm can be visited daily. There are about 150 dairy goats and lambs. Butter, buttermilk, cheese, yogurt, and more than delicious goat ice cream are made from goat’s milk. These products are all for sale in the farm shop. You can also buy goat’s milk in small bottles to feed the lambs, how nice is that?
➔ READ MORE – GoatFarm at Amsterdamse Bos
PETTING ZOOS, CITY FARMS, URBAN FARMS
These city farms are not only great fun for kids but also nice to visit by adults. At a petting zoo, you get to know the animals and the activities of a farm.
➔ READ MORE – Children’s Farm | Kinderboerderij | Amsterdam
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