What Are The Top Things To Do In Amsterdam?

Amsterdam, a city celebrated for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system, and narrow houses with gabled facades, is a destination that should be on every traveler’s list. Ready to explore this incredible city? With SIXT.VN, your dream Amsterdam adventure can become a reality. We provide convenient solutions to make your trip memorable, including tourism information, airport transfers, hotel bookings, sightseeing tours, flight bookings and tour packages.

1. Explore Museumplein

Is Museumplein the cultural heart of Amsterdam? Yes, it definitely is. Museumplein is more than just a square; it’s a cultural hub located in Amsterdam’s upscale Oud-Zuid district. Known for its stunning museums, high-end shopping on Hoofstraat and Van Baerlestraat, and the lovely Vondelpark, Museumplein is a must-see.

What makes Museumplein a must-visit?

The grassy square is home to top-notch museums like the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Stedelijk Museum, as well as the Concertgebouw. The area was developed in the 1880s after the Rijksmuseum was built, and it was renovated in 1999. Year-round outdoor events and celebrations are held here, including an ice-skating rink from November to February.

2. Immerse Yourself in the Van Gogh Museum

Is the Van Gogh Museum worth visiting? Absolutely. Opened in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s biggest collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s works.

What can you see at the Van Gogh Museum?

The collection comprises 200 paintings, over 500 drawings, and 750 letters, as well as works by contemporaries and influences such as Rodin, Monet, Signac, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet, and Gauguin. Van Gogh’s work is shown chronologically, spanning five eras: Nuenen/Antwerp (1880-86), Paris (1886-88), Arles (1888-1889), Saint-Rémy (1889-90), and Auvers-sur-Oise (1890). Sunflowers, Almond Blossoms, Bedroom in Arles, and Wheatfield with Crows are among the must-see works. The Van Gogh Museum, which receives over 2.1 million visitors each year, is the most popular museum in the Netherlands.

3. Discover Dutch Masters at the Rijksmuseum

Is the Rijksmuseum a good place to see Dutch art? Indeed, it is. The Rijksmuseum is a remarkable showcase of Dutch art, applied art, and historical artifacts, taking you through 800 years of Dutch history in a custom-built neo-Gothic palace.

What are the highlights of the Rijksmuseum?

Around 8,000 pieces are on display at any given time, with the Dutch Golden Age paintings collection serving as the museum’s high point for many. Masterpieces include Johannes Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, and Frans Hals’ Portrait of a Young Couple. You can embark on an adventure through Dutch culture and design, with Delftware, fabrics, glass, armor, clothing, sculpture, and magnificent 17th-century dollhouses.

4. Reflect at the Anne Frank House

Is the Anne Frank House a somber but essential visit? Yes, it’s a significant historical site. The Anne Frank House, located on the Prinsengracht, preserves the secret annex where young diarist Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution from 1942 until her capture with her family and four other residents in 1944. The rooms are located in an enclosed courtyard behind a 17th-century canal house that served as the Dutch headquarters for the spice and gelling firms owned by Frank’s father, Otto.

What will you experience at the Anne Frank House?

Otto was the Frank family’s lone survivor of the Holocaust, and he published his daughter’s diary in 1947. You will see the original copy of this defining work, as well as images and items belonging to the Frank family and the annexe’s other four residents. The hidden rooms provide a gut sense of what it was like to live in hiding, while temporary exhibitions on persecution and fascism will inspire increased awareness.

5. Explore Modern Art at the Stedelijk Museum

Is the Stedelijk Museum worth visiting for modern art lovers? Absolutely, it is. The Stedelijk Museum, which opened in 1895, is the third of the Museumplein’s cultural giants, dedicated to modern and contemporary art from Vincent van Gogh forward.

What kind of art is on display at the Stedelijk?

All major art movements involving the Netherlands are represented, including Neo-Impressionism, De Stijl, Bauhaus, CoBrA, and Pop art. There are paintings, sculptures, installation art, video art prints, posters, graphic designs, and artists’ books. You can enjoy works by Piet Mondrian, Karel Appel, Willem de Kooning, Kandinsky, Cézanne, Chagall, Matisse, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, and Gilbert & George, to name a few.

6. Cycle Through Amsterdam

Is biking a common way to get around Amsterdam? Yes, it’s a way of life. Amsterdam has 800,000 bicycles, as many as people in the city center, making it possibly the most cycle-friendly city on the planet, owing to its easy terrain and well-planned infrastructure.

What makes biking in Amsterdam special?

Most streets have bike lanes, allowing you to go anywhere safely and quickly, feeling like a native Amsterdammer. All ferries across the IJ allow you to bring your bike for free. You won’t have to look hard for a rental shop, and MacBike, whose fleet is easily recognizable by its red paint and logos, is the most popular.

7. Relax in Vondelpark

Is Vondelpark a good place to relax? Definitely, it is. Amsterdam’s favorite park, Vondelpark, is a quiet strip of ponds, rolling lawns, and mature trees stretching west from Museumplein.

What can you do in Vondelpark?

The park, which was landscaped in 1865, is continually sinking and must be renovated every generation to avoid being entirely flooded. The Openluchttheater hosts a vibrant program of free live music, musical theatre, and cabaret from June to August. The rose garden in the center of Vondelpark was planted in 1936 and has over 70 varieties of roses, while the park also has a sculpture, The Fish (1965) by Pablo Picasso.

8. Stroll Along Herengracht

Is Herengracht worth a stroll? Absolutely, it is. Herengracht, or Patrician’s Canal, is the first of the four main canals in the city center’s Canal Belt.

What is special about Herengracht?

This waterway, along with its neighbors, was completed in the 17th century as part of an expansion project that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Herengracht was where Amsterdam’s social elite constructed their magnificent gabled residences, and that sense of prestige has lasted into the twenty-first century. There is much to see, and nearly every structure is a work of art.

9. Visit Museum Het Rembrandthuis

Is the Rembrandt House Museum a must-see for art enthusiasts? Yes, it is. Surprisingly, the house at Jodenbreestraat 4, where Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 to 1658, has been maintained as a museum dedicated to one of the masters of the Dutch Golden Age.

What can you see at the Rembrandt House Museum?

The house was initially built in 1606 and rebuilt around 1627. By the early twentieth century, the structure was in bad shape, but it was restored by notable architect Karel de Bazel and opened as a museum in 1911. A new extension was erected next door in the 1990s, housing a vast collection of Rembrandt’s drawings and etchings, while the real Rembrandt house recreates the artist’s living space and workshop.

10. Wander Through the Jordaan District

Is the Jordaan district a charming area to explore? Definitely, it is. Whether it’s your first or tenth time in Amsterdam, you must visit this grid of small streets and filled-in canals bordered by the Singel.

What is the Jordaan known for?

The Jordaan, created during the great expansion in the 17th century, was first inhabited by Amsterdam’s working class and an international array of migrants, such as Huguenots from France and Puritans from England, seeking the city’s renowned religious tolerance. Up until the twentieth century, the Jordaan was largely a working-class neighborhood and a radical left stronghold. In the second half of the twentieth century, it was gentrified and transformed into a treasured shopping and nightlife district.

11. Take a Canal Cruise

Is a canal cruise a quintessential Amsterdam experience? Absolutely, it is. A canal cruise in Amsterdam is practically a cliché, yet water is such an important part of the city that you must get on board.

What will you see on an Amsterdam canal cruise?

You’ll get the finest views of those 17th-century merchant and patrician residences, countless bridges, historic churches, and adorable houseboats. It’s an opportunity you can’t pass up, day or night.

12. Discover Peace at Begijnhof

Is Begijnhof a peaceful retreat in the city? Yes, it’s a serene oasis. Founded about the early 14th century, the Begijnhof is an enclosed courtyard established as a Beguinage, a community for lay religious women (beguines). Entered through a stairway from Spuiplein, it is a tranquil sanctuary, with a green wooded square bordered by elegant gabled houses.

What is the history of Begijnhof?

Wooden buildings were outlawed in 1521, therefore the Begijnhof was rebuilt in brick in the 17th and 18th centuries, with the exception of Het Houten Huis (1420), which stands on the southwestern facade and is officially the oldest house in Amsterdam. The English Reformed Church, another of Amsterdam’s oldest monuments, is also on Begijnhof, with roots as a 14th-century Catholic chapel.

13. Admire Keizersgracht

Is Keizersgracht a beautiful canal to explore? Yes, it is. The Keizersgracht, the widest of the three main canals on the Canal Belt, is located between Herengracht and Prinsengracht and is named for Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor (1459-1519).

What are some of the notable sights along Keizersgracht?

As with Keizersgracht’s neighbors, it pays to be methodical as you go, so you don’t miss anything. The Greenland Warehouses (1620), readily identified by their three crow-stepped gables, can be found at No. 44. As many as 50,000 liters of whale blubber could be stored in the basements of these buildings, a far cry from their current function as luxury apartments!

14. Experience Dam Square

Is Dam Square a central hub in Amsterdam? Yes, it’s the heart of the city. Dam Square, a square for the entire country, is traced by the Royal Palace, the National Monument (a remembrance obelisk from 1956), and the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk.

What is the significance of Dam Square?

Dam Square is located where the Amstel River was dammed in the 13th century, and it served as Amsterdam’s central market in Medieval times. This space has a rich history, and not all of it is pleasant. Whenever there has been civil disturbance, whether Anabaptists in the 16th century or students protesting the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s, Dam Square is where things have escalated.

15. Discover Prinsengracht

Is Prinsengracht a canal with a unique character? Yes, it offers a distinct charm. The Prinsengracht, Amsterdam’s third and outermost main canal, is also the longest, named after William, Prince of Orange, famed for his revolt against the Spanish.

What makes Prinsengracht special?

The Prinsengracht, unlike the other waterways encircling the old center, has traditionally been fairly poor, in keeping with its location near the Jordaan. However, there is no shortage of magnificent Golden Age canal residences, as well as tiny workshops and dwellings, and rows of charming houseboats on the water.

16. Explore Singel

Is Singel a picturesque canal in Amsterdam? Yes, it’s known for its beauty. Unlike its neighbors Herengracht and Keizersgracht, the innermost Singel is a canal that flows into the IJ in the north.

What is the history of Singel?

This was Amsterdam’s outer moat in Medieval times, and it was only used for shipping goods. However, the canal was enlarged and developed in the 16th and 17th centuries, and there are numerous holdovers from the Golden Age on its beautiful banks. Singel is one of the city’s poshest districts, with unbroken rows of gabled canal homes.

17. Visit the Red Light District

Is the Red Light District a unique area to experience? Yes, it’s a distinctive part of Amsterdam’s culture. Oudezijds Achterburgwal, nestled in a historic cityscape that includes the Gothic Oude Kerk and the bustling Nieuwmarkt square, is home to the world’s most famous Red Light District.

What can you expect in the Red Light District?

The Red Light District, a product of the Dutch tradition of tolerance, is a difficult area to describe. Brothels, peep shows, sex shops, and theaters cater to most desires, but everything is strictly regulated, video surveillance pervades the area, there is a strict code (no photographs allowed), and sex workers even have their own union.

18. Experience the Heineken Experience

Is the Heineken Experience an interesting tour for beer lovers? Yes, it is an engaging and interactive attraction. After Heineken relocated to a modern facility on Amsterdam’s outskirts in 1988, the massive 19th-century brewery building in the De Pijp neighborhood reopened as a museum dedicated to one of the world’s favorite pilsners.

What can you see and do at the Heineken Experience?

The Heineken Experience spans four floors and will educate you on the brand’s origins, when a student of Louis Pasteur collaborated with Gerard Adriaan Heineken in 1873 to develop a special yeast. There are brewing artifacts such as enormous copper vessels still in situ, as well as multimedia exhibits, a weird 4D ride where you will discover what it’s like to be brewed and bottled, and, of course, a tasting bar.

19. Explore NDSM Wharf

Is NDSM Wharf a cultural hotspot? Yes, it’s a vibrant, alternative district. This former industrial shipyard, the size of ten football fields on the north bank of the IJ, has evolved into a whole cultural neighborhood, providing an antidote to the tourist trail.

What can you find at NDSM Wharf?

You can take the 906 ferry from Centraal Station, and one reason to go is for the monthly flea market in the gargantuan IJ-hallen, considered to be one of the largest in Europe. Industrial remains have been re-evaluated throughout the NDSM Wharf. Pllek, for example, is a waterside cafe in old shipping containers by a man-made beach. You can book a room at the Faralda Crane Hotel for a night you won’t soon forget.

20. Take a Bike Tour

Is a bike tour a great way to see Amsterdam? Yes, it’s an immersive way to experience the city. For the ultimate introduction to Amsterdam, get on a bike and take a three-hour tour of the city.

What will you see on a bike tour of Amsterdam?

You can book this trip through the world-famous canals and see all the sights that you can’t miss on a first visit to Amsterdam. The Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, and Jewish Museum are all on the itinerary, but because you’ll be in the company of a knowledgeable Amsterdammer, you’ll also see things and hear stories that you might otherwise have missed.

21. Visit Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder

Is Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder a unique historical site? Yes, it’s a hidden gem. We’ve discussed how Catholicism became a more clandestine practice in Amsterdam following the Reformation, and you may visit a real Schuilkerk, or clandestine church, at this 17th-century canal house.

What makes Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder special?

The name translates to “Our Lord in the Attic,” which comprises the top three stories of this magnificent residence. It was no longer utilized as a place of worship by the nineteenth century, and it was maintained as a museum in 1888. So, while you may examine a refined bourgeois home decorated with period furniture, table clocks, and Delft tiles, there are also religious artifacts on exhibit in the church upstairs, such as paintings, marble altar columns, wooden liturgical fixtures, and silverware.

22. Experience Leidseplein

Is Leidseplein a lively entertainment hub? Yes, it’s a popular nightlife spot. If you’re going out in Amsterdam, you’ll almost certainly find yourself on Leidseplein at some point.

What can you do at Leidseplein?

Discos, cinemas, theaters, restaurants, and a casino are all located directly on this central square. The Bulldog, Amsterdam’s most renowned coffee shop, is located on Leidseplein, while De Melkweg is a concert venue with a great pedigree, having hosted the Beastie Boys, U2, and Prince, to name a few.

23. Explore the Tropenmuseum

Is the Tropenmuseum a culturally enriching experience? Yes, it’s a museum with a global perspective. The Tropenmuseum, a nuanced and thoughtfully presented ethnographic museum, is a tour of the world’s numerous cultures.

What does the Tropenmuseum showcase?

The museum began as a platform for the Netherlands’ colonial lands, but after Indonesia gained independence, the focus shifted to developing regions in general. These include Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, and North Africa, all with an emphasis on tolerance and environmental concern.

24. Visit Westerkerk

Is Westerkerk a significant historical church? Yes, it’s an iconic landmark in Amsterdam. Amsterdam’s major Protestant church dates from the 1620s and was erected in the westernmost section of the Canal Belt, near the Jordaan.

What is the historical importance of Westerkerk?

It was one of the city’s first purpose-built Protestant places of worship at the time, shortly after the Reformation. Walking around Amsterdam’s old center, the church’s 85-meter tower, the tallest in the city, will occasionally come into view. Anne Frank could see it from her secret annex and mentioned the tower and its carillon several times in her diary.

25. Discover the Portuguese Synagogue

Is the Portuguese Synagogue a symbol of Amsterdam’s multicultural history? Yes, it represents the city’s tolerant past. This Sephardic Jewish synagogue is the one monument that could sum up just how much of a melting pot Amsterdam was in the 17th century.

What can you see at the Portuguese Synagogue?

Following their expulsion from Spain and Portugal, a Sephardic Jewish community thrived in Amsterdam’s tolerant climate from the 16th century onwards. Worship was initially limited to relative secrecy, but as the 17th century progressed, synagogues were permitted in prominent locations. The Portuguese Synagogue, completed in 1675, was the world’s largest at the time, and one of the city’s largest monuments.

26. Walk Across Magere Brug

Is Magere Brug a charming bridge to see? Yes, it’s a romantic spot in Amsterdam. This spectacular bascule bridge over the Amstel, known as the “Skinny Bridge,” may not appear so slim today.

What is the story behind Magere Brug?

The name comes from a 17th-century building that was so narrow that two pedestrians would struggle to pass each other on the crossing. According to tradition, the name comes from the Mager sisters, who lived on opposite sides of the Amstel and used their wealth to build the bridge so they could visit each other.

27. Visit Hermitage Amsterdam

Is Hermitage Amsterdam a worthwhile art museum? Yes, it showcases a variety of exhibitions. The Amstelhof, located on the riverfront, houses the largest satellite attraction for Saint Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum.

What can you see at Hermitage Amsterdam?

This exquisite building, with its elongated Classical facade, was erected in 1682 as a charitable retirement home for women. The final residents moved to new apartments in 2007, and the Amstelhof became a mini-Hermitage over the next several years. There is a long relationship between Amsterdam and Saint Petersburg, as Peter the Great founded the city in 1703 after visiting Amsterdam and relying on Dutch expertise to turn swampy ground into something habitable.

28. Take the Amsterdam North Ferry

Is the Amsterdam North Ferry a useful and scenic way to travel? Yes, it’s a free and convenient service. Amsterdam provides endless inspiration for free activities, and the free 24-hour ferry service over the IJ from the Centraal Station terminal always surprises newcomers.

What can you explore in Amsterdam-Noord?

Amsterdam-Noord is lush and quiet, providing a respite from the tourist traps on the opposite bank. As you exit the ferry, the EYE and A’Dam Toren will be your first ports of call. However, you may want to bring a bike and explore Amsterdam’s residential side in a location known as a “village within a city.” If you’re truly dedicated, you can cycle all the way to Durgendam, a charming old village on the water.

29. Visit the EYE Film Institute Netherlands

Is the EYE Film Institute Netherlands a must-visit for film enthusiasts? Yes, it’s a modern and engaging film center. The EYE Film Institute Netherlands, impossible to miss on the other side of the IJ from the Centraal station, is housed in a striking white structure created by Delugan Meissl and opened in 2012.

What can you experience at the EYE Film Institute?

The institute was formed in 2009 when four film organizations, including the Dutch Film Museum, were combined into one. You can get there by taking the free ferry across the IJ, a journey well worth making whether you want to see the permanent and temporary exhibits or catch some independent cinema (four screens), archival documentaries, or classics ranging from Tarkovsky to Rademakers.

30. Visit A’Dam Lookout

Is A’Dam Lookout a great place for panoramic views of Amsterdam? Yes, it offers stunning vistas of the city. This landmark tower, originally built for Royal Dutch Shell in 1966, reopened and was renamed the A’DAM Toren after a two-year renovation.

What can you do at A’Dam Lookout?

The tower has 22 stories, is 100 meters tall, and provides a magnificent view of the IJ, Amsterdam’s historic center, its numerous canals, and the reclaimed polder landscape of North Holland. There is a smart interactive exhibition about Amsterdam’s culture and history at the top, while Moon, a contemporary restaurant using local, seasonal ingredients, is located in the revolving capsule on the 19th floor.

31. Explore Westergasfabriek

Is Westergasfabriek a trendy cultural and dining venue? Yes, it’s a vibrant hub for culture and cuisine. A cluster of late-nineteenth-century industrial structures on the outskirts of Westerpark was converted into a cultural, retail, and dining center in 2003.

What can you find at Westergasfabriek?

This was formerly Amsterdam’s gasworks, and the dignified old brick buildings are now hip restaurants, an arthouse cinema, a microbrewery, design shops, fair trade food stores, a wine bar, and exhibition spaces. The gas holder has also been repurposed, and with a capacity of 3,500, it is now a magnificent location for club nights.

32. Visit Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum

Is Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum a must-visit for maritime history enthusiasts? Yes, it’s a museum dedicated to Dutch maritime history. The National Maritime Museum, set on approximately 18,000 wooden piles on an artificial island in Amsterdam’s Harbour, is housed in the Dutch admiralty’s former main warehouse, built in 1646.

What can you see at the Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum?

Even now, it’s a remarkable technical achievement, with an inner courtyard covered by a massive glass canopy. The museum depicts how the sea has influenced Dutch culture for over 500 years, with exhibits of maps by eminent 17th-century cartographers Willem Blaeu and son, navigational instruments, maritime paintings, ship models, weapons, and more.

33. Explore the Royal Palace

Is the Royal Palace a majestic historical building? Yes, it’s a symbol of Amsterdam’s rich history. This large building on Dam Square was not always a palace; it was erected as Amsterdam’s city hall in the mid-seventeenth century.

What can you see inside the Royal Palace?

The monument, composed of yellowish sandstone imported from Bentheim in Germany, reflects a city brimming with confidence and was considered to be the largest secular building in Europe at the time. Louis Napoleon converted the building into a palace in 1806, and there are numerous reminders of the city hall era.

34. Visit the Moco Museum

Is the Moco Museum worth visiting for contemporary and street art? Yes, it’s a unique and modern art museum. Lionel and Kim Logchies, well-connected art lovers, founded this boutique contemporary art museum in 2016.

What kind of art is on display at the Moco Museum?

The couple’s two decades of contacts have granted them access to major pieces previously hidden from the public, so you’re sure to see something new. In 2018, there was an exhibition of Banksy’s works, the world’s first formal collection of his art. This included icons such as the Flower Thrower and Girl with Balloon, all complementing the Banksy police van, which is owned by the museum and on exhibit in the garden.

35. Explore Foodhallen

Is Foodhallen a food lover’s paradise? Yes, it’s a culinary hotspot in Amsterdam. A former tram depot in the ultra-trendy Oud-West neighborhood is the ideal location for an indoor food market (part of the larger De Hallen complex) with a diverse array of small pop-up restaurants.

What kind of food can you find at Foodhallen?

There are more than 20 in all, and the wide choice ensures that even the pickiest eaters will find something to their liking. People with a globetrotting palate will have to choose between Greek meze, temaki rolls, oysters shucked on the spot, American barbecue, Vietnamese summer rolls, falafel, dim sum, tapas, gourmet hot dogs, wood-fired pizzas, and the list goes on.

36. Experience the Concertgebouw

Is the Concertgebouw a world-class concert hall? Yes, it’s renowned for its acoustics and performances. The stately Concertgebouw concert hall on the Museumplein was given the Koninklijk (Royal) prefix by Queen Beatrix on its 125th anniversary.

What can you experience at the Concertgebouw?

And for good reason, as the Concertgebouw is one of the world’s great concert halls, with a Main Hall known for its finery and acoustics ideally suited to late-Romantic classical music. So, if you enjoy Mahler and Strauss, check out the program. You can also attend a free lunchtime concert in the Recital Hall on Wednesdays (except July and August).

37. Visit Albert Cuyp Markt

Is Albert Cuyp Markt a bustling local market? Yes, it’s a vibrant street market. There is a street-length outdoor market on Albert Cuypstraat, from Ferdinand Bolstraat to Van Woustraat, in Oud-Zuid’s De Pijp.

What can you find at Albert Cuyp Markt?

The Albert