A Small City With A Big Personality – Amsterdam Is For Everyone

Bijou but buzzing, Amsterdam enjoys all the advantages of a large city – a diverse and tolerant population, rich culture, lively nightlife, an excellent transport system and international dining.

Yet it’s compact, easy to explore and, thanks to its extensive canal system, light on traffic which gives it a relaxed vibe that everyone will appreciate.

You’ll even find all the traditional icons of the Netherlands in the neighbouring towns and villages. Just a short drive away windmills, tulip fields and traditional architecture are picture perfect.

For town or country, give Klook a click for top tourist tips and great value attraction tickets. From must-see museums to sought-after sights, download the Klook app and discover a European destination that keeps on giving!

You’ll be spoilt for choice for what to do first. Dam Square is a great place to begin your adventures. Just five minutes from Central Station and surrounded by popular shops and restaurants, there’s always something going on for both tourists and locals alike. You’ll find entertainment, food stalls, festivals and… plenty of pigeons!

It’s also home to the impressive Royal Palace and Madame Tussauds where you can snap a selfie with your favourite celebs.

Klook can help you get your bearings when you book a great value private walking tour with a local. Must-see sights include St Nicholas Church, Chinatown, the famous floating flower market and the renowned red-light district, but your friendly guide will happily tailor the tour to your preferences, so you’ll be in the know about the best places to eat, drink and explore.

Alternatively a City Bike Tour offers a truly authentic Amsterdam experience. Cycling is central to Dutch culture so don’t miss your chance to see all the landmarks on two wheels, as you spend 2-3 hours exploring the most bicycle-friendly city in the world.

A canal cruise is another popular way to see Amsterdam from a new perspective. Set sail on the UNESCO World Heritage canal system, built in the Netherlands’ 17th century ‘Golden Age’. Complimentary audio guides detail the districts as you pass under the beautiful bridges and gaze at the brightly coloured canalside houses. Take the one hour cruise or click here to see how you could combine your voyage with a host of other city experiences.

Is Van Gogh the most famous ever Dutch person? There’s possibly no more famous painter, so, for a glimpse of his eccentric genius, be sure to pick up a ticket to the Van Gogh museum, Come face-to-face with his ‘Sunflowers’ and ‘Self-Portrait’, along with over 200 more of his works, and others by contemporaries like Monet and Gaugin..

The Museum District also encompasses the unmissable Rijksmuseum – you could spend a day (or longer) in its 80 galleries, featuring over 8,000 historical objects and works of art by masters like Rembrandt, Rubens and Vermeer.

But why stop there? There are around 400 museums in Amsterdam and adventurers with more niche preferences might want to get a taste of the Cheese Museum, delve into the Museum of Bags & Purses or peer into the National Museum of Spectacles?!

Those with an interest in wartime history and human spirit will be both moved and fascinated to walk in the footsteps of brave diarist, Anne Frank, on our Anne Frank Story and Neighbourhood Walking Tour.

Even more humbling is a visit to the Anne Frank house itself, to glimpse the secret hiding place virtually untouched since the 1940s. A famous landmark of historical and cultural importance, this is a powerful and poignant addition to any Amsterdam visit.

The Heineken Experience is an entirely different kind of museum but one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions. Grab Klook’s Heineken Experience Fast Track ticket, to beat the queues and discover how one of the world’s favourite beers is brewed and bottled. You can visit the original brewery opened in 1867 and raise a glass or two yourself along the way.

Or why not tick off all three of Amsterdam’s favourite things at once on a fabulous Bike, Food and Beer tour which covers all three of the city’s top tours in a fun-filled 9 hour day?

Stroll and cycle the city’s streets including the infamous red light district, visit boutique bars and breweries, sip local spirits and stop off for samples of delicious Dutch cheese and vlaams friets (that’s chips with mayonnaise!) Yum!

Later on, you’ll find the hottest ticket in town is to the ultra-cool Xtracold Icebar, where the temperature never gets above  -10°C and all the furniture and fittings – even the glasses – are made of ice!

Score a ticket from Klook to the Xtracold Icebar Experience and you’ll receive three drink tokens to redeem for cocktails, beer or juice. Thermal jackets and gloves are provided so you can stay warm whilst your chilling!

For a change of pace after all your city adventures, take a day out to experience the highlights of rural Holland on Klook’s Countryside and Windmills Tour. Just a short drive from Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans is famous for its picture-perfect windmills and green houses. Afterwards we’ll whisk you to the seaside towns of Volendam and Marken where you can soak up more idyllic views as you cruise between the two traditional fishing villages. There’ll be chance to see a traditional clog maker fashioning the famous wooden shoes and to visit to a cheese factory where you can taste fresh Dutch delicacies and maybe pick up a wheel of delicious Edam to take home?

Whilst we’re on taste, we hope we’ve given you just a flavour of the many and varied experiences on offer in Amsterdam. A perfect destination at any time of year, the Dutch capital has something for everyone and it’s all just waiting to be explored…

 

 

Original article researched and written by Klook contributor, Jo Cooke.