Top Things To Do in Amsterdam

Flag Ship | Complete your visit to Amsterdam, by exploring the city on its canals. For a quality tour with excellent service, I highly recommend this boat tour company.  You can take a regular tour, but while you are here, I would recommend upgrading the boat tour with wine and Dutch Gouda cheese.

This is Holland | I really enjoyed this ‘flight ’ over the Netherlands. If you fly across the tulip fields, you smell them. Talk about 5D! It gives you a great impression of our country.

Rent a bike | Before you hire a bike, the main rule in Amsterdam is: Go with the flow. You can ride in Amsterdam or cycle towards the windmills at the Zaanse Schans.

Eating in Amsterdam

‘t Heemelrijck | This lunchroom is located on the Singel and every visit feels like home. Treat yourself to a delightful lunch or indulge in a classic wentelteefje at the cozy bakery. Nestled in the heart of Amsterdam, this is where tradition meets the true soul of the city.

Van Kerkwijk | I have my daily lunch at this great venue. It’s right in the center of Amsterdam and they don’t have a menu! They will explain the daily options at your table, once you sit down. Two Amsterdam sisters run the place. Great soups, salads, sandwiches, and warm dishes, for about €20 per dish.

De Blauwe Pan | It’s more a bar than a restaurant, but that’s what makes the vibe so special. It’s in the middle of the Jordaan area so the atmosphere is great anyways. You can get a pizza here, but of course, the thing to do is order a traditional Dutch stamppot. If you finish your plate, you might become as tall as an average Dutch person:-).

Kam Yin | Fast and cheap, this Surinamese eatery is a great pick if your budget is low and your appetite large. Do not expect a cozy atmosphere. The food is great, however!

Thai Deum | A good place for Thai food in the cozy neighborhood de Pijp. You could combine it with a visit to the biggest daily street market Albert Cuyp. It’s a nice and small family restaurant and the food is always good! Ask for the table left on the platform, you have a bit more privacy there. For the lovebirds, they serve the rice in the shape of a heart. About €17 for a dish.

Broodbar | For great sandwiches and breakfast go to the this lunchroom.

Longpura | For a great rijsttafel (rice table; assorted Indonesian specialties served with rice or noodles), visit this restaurant from the country my father was born in, Indonesia. A great experience in the Jordaan area where the waiters are dressed traditionally and the food is delicious.

Drinking in Amsterdam

In ‘t Aepjen | If you want to have a very special experience, go to this 400 years old bar. The owner was known to accept monkeys as payment, after a sailor spent all his cash in the Red Light District. You will find yourself surrounded by stuffed monkeys. Busy, but very cozy.

Brouwery ‘t IJ | Great for special beers is this brewery (it’s next to a windmill), a bit out of the center but worth going to. You can check out the mill and enjoy drinks with the locals in the sun.

De Prael | This pub employs mentally challenged staff, which I think is a great thing. There’s also a brewery in the back, where you can take a tour and participate in beer-tasting.

Madam | At the top of the Amsterdam Tower is this high end bar with a great view over Amsterdam. Drinks are pricy but hey, it’s your holiday.

Nightlife in Amsterdam

The Shelter | In case you want to go clubbing, take the ferry to the other side of the IJ river. Below the Amsterdam Tower is this very cool club.

Leidseplein | A lot of clubs are found around this centrally located square. In most of these places, you can just drop in, drink, and dance.

Gay Amsterdam | The (legendary) gay areas can be found around the Reguliersdwarsstraat and the Zeedijk.

Getting High in Amsterdam

In the Netherlands, small amounts of marijuana are decriminalized and sold in places known as coffeeshops. Meanwhile, smartshops offer natural hallucinogens (magic truffles) and enhancers for the mood and libido. The goal of decriminalization is to ensure safe and controlled use. These shops provide valuable guidance, make sure to be well-informed before taking a trip.

The Bulldog | Go to the very first Bulldog on the Oudezijds Achterburgwal 90. For takeaway, your best option is Boerejongens.

The Dampkring | This shop boasts stunning decor and achieved renown as the backdrop for scenes in the iconic film “Ocean’s 12”. A visit is highly recommended, even if you only plan to drop in for an actual cup of coffee.

Grey Area | Visit Snoop Dogg’s favorite place when he visits Amsterdam, located in the Red Light District.

Kokopelli | This smartshop offers products like CBD oil, tea chocolate, or magic truffles. You can make a reservation for a seat in the back with a view over the Damrak canal.

Do not buy anything on the street! Also, avoid buying CBD products or spacecake in tourist shops. It’s crap.

Top Museums in Amsterdam

Vincent van Gogh Museum | The Dutch painter that made a difference with his beautiful impressionist artwork was Vincent van Gogh.  You can see how his work developed in different phases of his life. I visited Arles in France where he became depressed, which clearly shows in his work.

The Rembrandthuis | This museum is my favorite in the city. It shows you how the people used to live during the time of the grandmaster painter Rembrandt. It’s not too big, so it’s a great place to go to if you have a spare hour or two.

Het Grachtenhuis | This lovely museum is all about the canals in Amsterdam and all the beautiful houses surrounding the canals!

Dutch Resistance Museum | If you want to learn more about the Dutch Resistance (and collaboration) during the Second World War, I recommend you visit this museum. You can see in a chronological order how the war developed and how the Dutch in different roles reacted. Takes about 1,5 hours to explore.

Shopping in Amsterdam

Boutique Shops | For nice boutique shops, go to the 9 streets or the Haarlemmerstraat in the Jordaan area. They have small, mostly privately owned, shops which offer products you can’t find in the big stores.

High End Shopping | For the expensive big-brand fashion shops go to the Pieter Cornelis Hooftstraat between the Vondelpark and the museum square.

Basics | All the ‘standard’ shops (like H&M or Nike/Adidas) can be found at the Kalverstraat and the Nieuwendijk. Frankly, it is a boring place and only good for the essentials.

Albert Cuyp Market | The biggest market of Amsterdam is open every day except Sunday, offering a wide variety of fresh produce and food stalls. It’s in the cozy neighborhood of the Pijp with lots of cafes (not to be mistaken with coffeeshops, where coffee is not the main product).

Noordermarkt | Visit the Farmer’s Market (every Saturday 9AM – 4PM) or Flea Market (every Monday 9AM – 1PM). Mind you, this antique & vintage market is 400 years old! If you are visiting the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, make sure to stop by the food market on the Lindengracht right next to it.

IJ Hallen | The biggest flea market in Europe, they have surprising second-hand items for sale. You have to check their website to see when the market is there. About one or two weekends a month, so you might not get the chance to visit.

Parks & Outdoors

The Vondelpark | It’s in the middle of the city and always nice to visit. See and be seen!

Amsterdam West Neighborhood | This great area hosts the Foodhallen (great for dinner), the Kinkerstraat (which is a great street to walk through and admire the scenery), and the Ten Kate Market (food/clothing).