Free Things to Do in Amsterdam

Free Things to Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam can be an expensive city, but there are also plenty of great things you can do completely for free. If you are exploring the city before or after your Free Walking Tour Amsterdam, here are some excellent places and activities that won’t cost you a thing.

1. Take the Free Ferry Across the IJ to NDSM Wharf

Behind Amsterdam Central Station you will find several ferries that cross the IJ River. These ferries are completely free and operate throughout the day.

One of the most interesting routes takes you to NDSM Wharf in Amsterdam Noord. This former shipyard has been transformed into a creative district filled with street art, artist studios, cafés and cultural events. It is a fascinating place to explore and shows a very different side of Amsterdam.

You can read more about the area on the official Amsterdam tourism website: NDSM Wharf.

2. Visit the Gardens of the Rijksmuseum

If you do not have time or budget to enter the Rijksmuseum itself, the museum gardens are still worth visiting. When the museum was renovated, the surrounding gardens were redesigned as a beautiful outdoor exhibition space.

The gardens include statues, fountains, ponds and historic architectural fragments from around the Netherlands.

More information about the gardens can be found on the official museum page: Rijksmuseum Gardens.

3. Attend the Free Lunchtime Concert at the Concertgebouw

The famous Concertgebouw regularly hosts free lunchtime concerts. These performances allow visitors to experience world-class classical music inside one of the most celebrated concert halls in the world.

Tickets for some concerts are available from the entrance hall from around 11:30. Because these concerts are very popular, it is best to arrive early.

You can check the schedule here: Concertgebouw Lunchtime Concerts.

4. Visit the Vondelpark Summer Festival

During the summer months, Vondelpark hosts an outdoor festival almost every weekend. Visitors can enjoy free performances including music, theatre, dance and comedy.

It is a great place to relax like a local and enjoy the lively cultural scene of Amsterdam.

5. Walk on the Roof of the NEMO Science Museum

One of Amsterdam’s best hidden free viewpoints is the rooftop terrace of the NEMO Science Museum. The striking green building near Central Station was designed to look like a large ship rising from the water.

You can walk up the large staircase to the roof and enjoy panoramic views of Amsterdam. Access to the rooftop terrace is completely free, even if you do not enter the museum itself.

More information about the rooftop terrace is available here: NEMO Rooftop Terrace.

6. Visit the Amsterdam Flower Market

The Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market. Historically flowers and bulbs were delivered here by boat, which is why the stalls are built on floating platforms along the canal.

Today the market mainly sells flower bulbs and Dutch souvenirs, but it remains one of the most colourful stops in the city centre.

7. Explore the Albert Cuyp Market

The Albert Cuyp Market in the De Pijp neighbourhood is Amsterdam’s largest street market and has existed since 1904.

Here you will find clothing, souvenirs, household items and street food.

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 09:30 – 17:00.

8. Visit the Cannabis College

The Cannabis College in the Red Light District is a non-profit educational centre dedicated to cannabis culture and hemp products.

Visitors can learn about coffee shop etiquette, cannabis history in the Netherlands and responsible use.

More information is available here: Cannabis College Amsterdam.

9. Visit the EYE Film Museum

The EYE Film Institute, located across the IJ River, offers free interactive exhibitions about Dutch film history in the basement area of the building.

To reach the museum, simply take the free Buiksloterweg ferry from behind Central Station.

For more tips on places for all budgets, check out our guides' personal recommendations.