Amsterdam & around the Netherlands

Fast Facts 

Languages spoken: Dutch, Frisian, English

Currency: Euro €

So you're about to begin your journey through Europe in Amsterdam and there's no better way to begin it! Amsterdam is beautiful, cosmopolitan yet laid back, and offers quite a view of canals and bridges, and one of my favorites is that you can bike everywhere!

• How to get there and how to get around:

Schiphol Airport is the point of arrival. If you need the airport offers one hour of free Wi-Fi, I'd highly recommend to take advantage of it to download any Google Maps into your smartphone if you'll later be offline. 

Getting from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centraal (Downtown Amsterdam), here's a very clear guide by Mike Young utilizing the train system.

Once you're in Amsterdam, it's very easy. It's the kind of place to get to know by walking or biking. Bike rentals may be available at the hotel/hostel you'll be staying, or at least they can direct you where you may find them.

• Where to stay:

The Flying Pig - I cannot stop bragging about the amazing service I received in this place. They have two locations: downtown and uptown. For first timers, I'd highly recommend the downtown location due to the fact that it's very close to Amsterdam Centraal and to all major attractions.

I amsterdam/I am visiting - A website with an array of accommodations, from posh hotels to affordable hostels to staying on houseboats. 

TripAdvisor + Google - TripAdvisor's recommendations by area while having the selection of hotels by area via Google makes a great combo!

AirBnB Amsterdam - Because most of us love AirBnB. The great thing is not only the cost but that most of your hosts will provide you with guides and inside tips on how to enjoy the city.

And of course you may always visit Lodging Reservation Tips by TravelingKim.

• What to do - MUST DO's:

Most of these recommendations are very affordable, and some are even free!

Amsterdam's Canal Belt - Walk or bike around the unique architecture of canals and bridges this city has to offer. With 165 canals I recommend the next ones for the perfect Instagram picture: Prinsengracht & Herengracht. Also a a canal tour is an excellent idea to be able to cover the majority of them.

Free Walking Tour by SANDEMANs NEW Amsterdam - Daily at 11:15AM and 1:15PM in front of the National Monument in Dam Square, you’ll find a group of guides who work on a tip basis, and will give you a tour of about 3 hours through the main points of the city and will explain interesting details about its history.

Red Light District - One of the attractions that the majority of tourists obsess with. Yes, prostitution is legal and is regulated in The Netherlands. This area is located on a very old part of the city and it’s beautiful and comes alive at night, though you won’t find many locals and you might witness groups of English gentlemen celebrating their bachelor party (Las Vegas of Europe). You’ll see ladies in glass windows, tons of erotic shops, sports bars. With half hour walking at night you’ll see what the deal is about. VERY IMPORTANT: Do not take pictures in this area, strictly prohibited. You will not only be yelled at, your camera/phone might get destroyed!

I Amsterdam Sign - Obligatory tourist picture! Crowds can get tumultuous, so it’s highly recommended to visit early. It’s location is at the back of Rijkmuseum on Museumplein.

Vondelpark – A scenic public park located west of Museumplein, perfect to walk or a bike through, then relax near a pond with a picnic or go to Blauwe Theehuis [Blue Tea House], and you may even catch a performance or festival. If you’re a Picasso fan, you’ll be able to find “The Fish” sculpture.

Jordaan - It’s the neighborhood not to be missed during your trip to Amsterdam, and it’s adjacent to Amsterdam-Centrum (downtown), and while hanging out there you’ll be able to enjoy art galleries, markets, cafés and restaurants. 

Bibliotheek Amsterdam - For a free view of Amsterdam I recommend this secret jewel: their Central Library.

Free boat trip - In front of Centraal Station from 6:30AM to 6:00PM/9:00PM (verify list of itineraries in situ) , you’ll find ferries that will take you to the less visited parts of Amsterdam. Hostelworld recommends taking the one that will take you the furthest: east to Bulksloterdijk. 

• Museums:

With around 1,250 museums in the Netherlands, it's hard to come up with a short list of recommendations.

Anne Frank House - One of the most popular tourist sites and very important part of the description of the Nazi invasion. Very important: buy your tickets online in advance.

Rijksmuseum - One of the most impressive dutch art pieces resides in this art cathedral: The Night Watch by Rembrandt, father of the playfulness between light and shadows. Also, you'll be able to enjoy and learn about dutch art and history. Located in Museumplein.

Stedjelik Museum - For modern art lovers will find heaven here. Basically, it's the dutch MoMA. From performance film reproductions of Marina Abramovic to some selected paintings from Keith Haring and Andy Warhol to sculptures by Jeff Koons and installations by Bruce Nauman and Dan Flavin. Located in Museumplein.

Van Gogh Museum - This place holds the biggest collection of one of the biggest representatives of post-impression: the one and only Van Gogh. Here you'll enjoy pieces such as Almond Blossoms and Whitfield With Crows and the first version of Bedroom in Arles. It is highly recommendable to buy your tickets online in advance. Located in Museumplein.

Rembrandt House Museum - Rembrandt van Rijn is considered the most important painter in dutch history and to get a deeper knowledge of him this is the perfect place. This is the house where he lived and worked for twenty years and exhibits not only his paintings but also belongings that were recollected from all over the world.

• Please, be safe:

Regarding money, most of businesses will prefer to be paid in cash and others only by credit card or debit; therefore you do need to carry cash and your cards. Just be careful where you exchange your money. Exchanging in the airport or at Amsterdam Centraal is quite expensive and most banks will not exchange currency without having an account with them, but if you’re using an ATM to withdraw cash, make sure it’s not a generic/independent one, but one from a formal bank such as ABNAmro, ING or Rabobank.  Dutch Amsterdam highly recommends Pott Change, which is very close to Dam Square. If you using your credit or debit card make sure you’re being charged in the local currency (€), your bank will provide you a better exchange rate than the company charging you if they were to place in dollars.

Now, for that cash and your belongings (especially that important document called passport) be very careful, just as you would in any other major city. Pickpockets love tourists because they’re easy targets. Many of these pickpockets are underage and is said the majority are immigrants from Romania. Be careful, with the type of purse and wallet you’re carrying. There also have been stories of people giving away free cookies that contain certain type of drug that will weaken you and make you again an easy target.

Contrary to popular belief not all drugs are legal in The Netherlands, cannabis is tolerated, but not legal if sold other than a coffeeshop. Avoid hard drugs and the sellers, since you might get tricked. And, if going to a coffeeshop pace yourself, be prudent, getting too stoned might make you an easy target to be mugged.

Don’t get scammed. Watch out for places presented as museum, and you paid to only enter a shop (e.g. erotic shops presented as sex museums). 

Around the Netherlands:

Even though The Netherlands is not a big country, its cities are very different from one another. Here a short list of few places near Amsterdam:

Utrecht - With a lot of architecture from the Middle Ages, this town because of its geographical spot is an important train hub. 

Rotterdam - Here relies Europe's largest port and this city offers beautiful modern architecture. This city had to reinvent itself after the painful destruction of most part of its infrastructure during WWII, and was able to do so in magnificent ways.

Delft - Between Rotterdam and The Hague, you'll be able to find the capital of blue & white pottery. This dreamy town is also home to TU Delft, which counts with more than 16,000 students.