De Waag

The oldest remaining non-religious building in Amsterdam, Now a pleasant restaurant in the heart of a square that overlooks a particularly pretty canal, you would never have guessed that De Waag was once part of the historic city walls of Amsterdam. Dating all the way back to the 15th-century, De Waag is the oldest non-religious building in the Dutch capital and has since been used as a guildhall, museum, fire station and anatomical theatre.

Amsterdamse Bos

Covering an area of almost 1000 hectares, the Amsterdamse Bos is one of the largest city parks in Europe. It contains 150 indigenous species of trees and over 200 species of birds. The park sits to the South of central Amsterdam and can easily be reached by bike, tram or metro from the city center.

Blijburg

Blijburg is based on the eastside of the Central Station. Its large beach on the IJ lake is perfect for kids to run around in, which is a common sight during the day. At night Blijburg is trendy in a relaxed alternative sort of way with parties where Amsterdam’s respected DJ’s do their thing.

The restaurant offers food influenced by a mix of Spanish, French and African cuisine. Blijburg has a strong focus on organic and biological ingredients. It’s relaxed atmosphere and music make this one of the locals’ favorite city beaches. Blijburg is a 15 minute ride on tram 26 from Central Station.

Eating the Best Cookie in Amsterdam at Van Stapele Koekmakerij

Crumbly, warm, and still fresh from the oven: “the best cookies in Amsterdam” are often said to be those from Van Stapele Koekmakerij. Located down a little cobbled alley off Spui and close to Amsterdam’s main Begijnhof, you’ll smell this nostalgic sweet shop before you even see it. Often with a long line out the door and decorated in traditional wooden furniture, this is one bakery you won’t want to miss off your Amsterdam bucket list.

The Netherlands’ oldest Jewish cemetery

The Beth Haim cemetery at Ouderkerk aan de Amstel is filled with hauntingly ornate gravestones carved in marble and featuring beautiful symbolism and inscriptions in Dutch, Portuguese and Hebrew. The graves belong to Spanish and Portuguese Jews who fled to the Netherlands in the 17th century, along with their descendants. Among other public figures buried here, Rabbi Menasseh Ben Israel was a colleague and collaborator of Rembrandt.

Shop at the Waterlooplein Flea Market

One of the larger and better flea markets in the city, that of Waterlooplein is the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands. For 6 days a week, every week, some 300 vendors tout their wares in this 19th-century marketplace. Antiques, vintage clothing, and antiquarian books are all to be found for sale here, making this a treasure trove of hidden gems and the kind of place where you’ll never know what you’ll stumble upon next!

De Otter Windmill

A little way out of the city centre, De Otter windmill is in the non-touristy ‘windmill district’ to the North of Jordaan. Once upon a time, just under fifty windmills graced the landscape here. Predominantly used as sawmills, just one 17th-century windmill is still in existence today, De Otter Windmill.
Constructed as early as 1631, this wind-powered mill is sadly closed to the public, but can still be admired from the exterior! Nearby, the district is more residential than some of the other Amsterdam districts and is filled with parks, houses, and fewer shops than in Centraal.

Secret Library in the Rijksmuseum(Cuypers Library)

You may well not know this (I certainly didn’t back when I visited the Rijksmuseum a couple of years ago!), but there’s actually a secret library in the Rijksmuseum. All wooden shelving and books stacked from floor to ceiling, wandering inside this hidden gem feels akin to stepping back in time, right into the 19th-century.

The Rijksmuseum Research Library is accessible to the public with and it’s the largest public art library of its kind in the Netherlands. For more information on how to visit the Renaissance and Gothic Cuypers library, check the library’s website. Otherwise, if you’re planning to enjoy the highlights and secrets of the Rijksmuseum, then book your skip-the-line ticket here in advance.

Rijksmuseum

One of the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam for art fanatics, this Museum goes back to 1809 when it was built to house the brilliant art and antiques of the nation in more than 250 rooms. There is also a huge library with an extensive collection of more than 35,000 books and manuscripts. Traditional handicrafts, medieval sculpture, and modern art styles are also on display here. You can hire an Amsterdam tourist guide or take a language guided tour of this museum.

Anne Frank House

This is one of the most popular historical Amsterdam attractions. There cannot be a trip to this city without a visit to this house first. Anne Frank was a young Jewish girl who lived at the time of the Second World War. While hiding from the Nazis she left a diary that describes the hardships her community went through. This museum contains the building where Anne’s family remained in hiding.

Van Gogh Museum

If you are wondering what to see in Amsterdam, the Van Gogh museum is an ideal pick. 1.5 million visitors flock to the museum annually which makes it one of the most important art galleries in the world. Gogh’s tragic life and extraordinary talent make it the second most visited museum in Amsterdam. There are more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters from Van Gogh that are on display here.

Begijnhof

If you are looking for some calm and serenity, this is one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam. It is one of the oldest hofjes and is primarily a group of historic buildings. It was originally a Béguinage and in present times is the site of two churches, the Catholic Houten Huys and the English Reformed Church. It has a secluded garden where one can enjoy a peaceful time as well as wondrous Mondrian-designed pulpit panels.

Vondelpark

Amsterdam’s most popular park, it allures thousands of tourists and residents everyday. It is home to many restaurants and cafés, including the Blauwe Theehuis, Café Vertigo, Vondelpark3, De Vondeltuin, and the Groot Melkhuis. There is a skate rental shop, an open-air theatre, and a rose garden with more than 70 types of roses in the park.

Heineken Brewery

This is one of the best places to visit near Amsterdam, especially if you are a beer buff. It started in 1864 and a tour around the brewery will help you understand the Heineken magic that works behind beer-making. We would recommend you buy a VIP tour where you can taste 5 different beer types with complimentary fromages.

Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Located in Dam Square, it is one of the most popular places to visit in Amsterdam on every tourist’s list. It was earlier a town hall but is now in hands of the state and used for Royal Official Dutch functions by the family. The palace remains opens to visitors throughout the year who love to look at the Citizen’s Hall at one of the best Amsterdam attractions.

Keukenhof

Famed as the Garden of Europe, Keukenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the world and is situated in South Holland. When you are exploring Amsterdam, you can easily head to Keukenhof as it just 40 mins drive away from Amsterdam. If are a lover of tulips you should visit the garden in mid-April. Don’t forget to add this place to your itinerary as it will completely bewitch you!

EYE-Film Museum

This is one of the most interesting places to visit in Amsterdam. It is located in a building that resembles a spaceship on the main waterfront of the city and is an expansive archive for Dutch films. Many screenings for international and Dutch films are organised here that are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

The White Room

(With its tall columns and metallic flourishes, it would perhaps be more accurate to call this restaurant the “White and Gold Room.” Jokes aside, it’s considered the oldest restaurant in Amsterdam, having opened in 1885 inside the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky on Dam Square.

The wine list mixes well-known and surprising bottles, including many natural wines. Guests have the option to add wine pairings with the tasting menus.)

Librije’s Zusje

Librije’s Zusje is like a posh cocoon—gray walls, plush chairs, white table clothes—hidden away inside the Waldorf Astoria and overlooking a garden. The intimacy is a fitting ambiance for the sister restaurant to the renowned, three-Michelin-starred De Librije (“zusje” literally means sister in Dutch), in the northeastern city of Zwolle.

Vermeer

Vermeer offers a simple choice between four, five and six courses. The ingredients are all seasonal, so the dishes vary daily. Our Sommelier has selected forty top wines specially chosen to compliment your menu. For the wine connoisseur there is also a very well-stocked wine cellar, representing the whole world of wine.

Moon

Moon is the kind of place you go to impress a date or a client: Chef Jaimie van Heije’s multicourse tasting menus have as much wow factor as setting on the 19th floor of the A’DAM Tower, with panoramic views of the city.

Proeflokaal A. van Wees

This brown cafe, in operation since 1973 on the Herengracht, is located inside a former distillery dating back to the 19th century.

Sandwiches, salads, soups, bar snacks, and fondue made from Dutch cheese.It’s the perfect place to refuel with a snack or drink while shopping in the Nine Streets.

De Vier Pilaren

Just across the Marriott hotel near the Leidseplein,in a little beautiful park (het Leidsebosje) stands the typically Dutch Poffertjes & Pancake house. The “poffertjeskraam” used to travel the carnivals(funfairs) of Holland,but is now (almost 20 years) a favorite among tourists & locals forPoffertjes & Pancakes.For the pancake. It’s been used: *organic flour *fresh fruits*Dutch cheese *Dutch bacon/ham only.

Gastrobar

(Much like the cuisine, the design at Ron Gastrobar is stylish yet accessible—clean lines, neutral tones, and an open kitchen. It’s the brainchild of chef/owner Ron Blaauw, one of the most well-known culinarians in Amsterdam. In 2013, he closed his two-Michelin-starred restaurant and reopened this more easygoing spot in its stead. Since then, the Gastrobar has been setting the tone for Amsterdam’s unpretentious, next-gen dining scene.Ron Gastrobar attracts a discerning crowd of enthusiast eaters of both the local and touristic variety.

De Kas

De Kas has its own greenhouses and garden near the restaurant, where we grow vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. We also have a large field about 10 kilometres from Amsterdam in the Beemster region, where we grow seasonal vegetables outdoors.

With 8-metre high glass it provides spectacular views during the day and is beautifully lit at night. Our advanced heating and air conditioning system makes it a pleasant place to enjoy a meal in both summer and winter.