Here are five tips from us on what to do in Amsterdam. We travelled to Amsterdam for the big anniversary concert. The best of Armin Only in the Amsterdam Arena, but we also had time to look around the Dutch capital! Do you have more tips?
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1. Browse the channels
Amsterdam is a really charming city with all the canals, boats and houseboats. Here you can stroll around, or why not rent a bike or try a canal boat ride? There are plenty of small outdoor cafes and bars, not so many cars, but a lot of people. lots of cyclists.
Don't miss checking out the cool houses, which all lean slightly forwards and have a hook at the top. The reason is that the stairwells are so narrow that you can't pick up furniture that way. Instead, you hoist goods up on the hook - and it's a good thing the facade slopes so you don't bump into the wall ...
2. try Dutch fast food
In the Netherlands, there are foods from many different cultures, but some things that are particularly popular are pancakes and French fries. For breakfast, people like sweet products and there are plenty of toppings such as pindakaas (peanut butter) and hagelslag (sprinkles).
When you're in town, you can easily find fast food such as thick French fries served in a cone with various sauces, baked sausages or perhaps a stroopwafel (syrup waffle). If you're short on time, there's also the option of small boxes of burgers - you put in the right amount of money and the box opens ...
3. Visit a rooftop bar with light meals
On Friday evening, we found the 5-star hotel W with its restaurant. Mr Porter on the sixth floor. Here you can enjoy the view from the long terraces or order a bunch of appetisers to share.
We chose the tasting menu and got a lot of goodies: chicken liver, roast beef carpaccio, seabass carpaccio, potato carpaccio with cream cheese, jumbo shrimp and grilled corn salad, two kinds of steak, crispy onions and potato gratin and macaroni & cheese. Really good and nice!
4. shopping
We only managed a few hours of shopping, but still made several bargains. I (Helena) found three cheap summer dresses and Peter found both a jacket and a coat. You can find the usual chains, of course, but also many quite cheap little boutiques.
There are also a lot of shops selling locally produced cheese. And it's always interesting to check out what's different from home ... a cannabis ice cream perhaps?
5. Venture out of town
Why not take a trip outside the city centre? We stayed in Zaandam in North Holland, 15 minutes by commuter train from the centre of Amsterdam. This small town may not be considered an attraction, but we loved the canal, the lively outdoor cafes and the cool design of the houses.
Not far away is the Zaanse Schans, where you can see a long row of windmills and buy local crafts.
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Anette says:
The houses in Zaandam are very nice. .
I have only been to Amsterdam for a short visit with work but would like to go again. Easy to fly there from Linköping with KLM.
It looks like you had a nice weekend.
15 May 2017 - 7:40
Helena says:
Like you, I have been there once before with work. This time I was able to see a little more, but I would still like to go there again! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 13:33
Jenn - forever abroad says:
Amsterdam is probably the city in Europe that I most want to visit! Have a friend who lives nearby now so plan to go and visit her soon. COOL info with the houses leaning + hook, had NO idea, haha!
15 May 2017 - 7:56
Helena says:
Of course you should visit Amsterdam! Awesome charming city! Extra nice of course if you have a friend in the neighbourhood who can "guide" a bit 🙂 .
15 May 2017 - 13:36
Goatfish says:
Despite having been to Amsterdam a couple of times, the city is on my list again and I wanted to see the tulip farm!!!
Love the view of the nice houses, full of character, a bit reminiscent of Nyhavn in Copenhagen or vice versa.
Monday hugs?
15 May 2017 - 8:43
Helena says:
I also want to go there again!!! And I also want to see the tulip farm 🙂 .
15 May 2017 - 13:37
Marina says:
It looks very cosy! We will go there sooner or later. We did pass the city once a very long time ago, but then we really just passed. it was when the children were small and on the way home so we only spent one night and the only thing I remember was that it was insanely difficult to find in the dark, the roads were one-way or there was water in the way 😉
15 May 2017 - 9:03
Helena says:
Haha, some sad memories... You simply need to go there and make new memories! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 14:29
LinizTravel says:
Oh lovely!!!! Amsterdam is on
My bucket list 🙂 hugs
15 May 2017 - 9:11
Helena says:
You must go there on occasion, charming and cool city! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 14:30
Imelda says:
Amsterdam is nice to stroll around in ? wonderful pictures you offer as usual! ?
15 May 2017 - 9:28
Helena says:
Glad you like our pictures! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 14:30
Ama de casa says:
The last house was really just soooo delicious! 🙂
Many good tips there, except one... Shopping is a waste of time if you ask me 😉 .
Have a great Monday!
15 May 2017 - 9:48
Helena says:
Haha, not everything can fit everyone ... There is probably something that suits you too! 😉
15 May 2017 - 16:16
Camilla says:
Such great tips! I've been living in Amsterdam since July and there are still so many things I haven't experienced yet. Zaandam is also such a cosy city (:
Camilla http://cammi.dk
15 May 2017 - 10:18
Helena says:
Exciting that you live in Amsterdam! I will of course check out your page ðŸ™'
15 May 2017 - 16:16
åsa in åsele says:
Seriously?
That thing with the hook on the house for hoisting furniture... so 😀.
That was the best thing I read today 🙂
15 May 2017 - 12:22
Helena says:
It was new for me too ...! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 16:17
Lennart says:
The houses are really handsome!
15 May 2017 - 15:22
Helena says:
Can only agree 🙂
15 May 2017 - 16:17
City-lover holidays / Dita says:
See that you found the cool rooftop bar and that you had a great trip! I can't wait to get back to Amsterdam - one of the best cities in Europe if you ask me.
15 May 2017 - 16:37
Helena says:
Yes, we did! 🙂 We didn't have much time in Amsterdam unfortunately, but we really fell in love with the city. Would love to go back!!!
15 May 2017 - 17:58
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
Oh, when I was in Zaandam they were almost finished building the house in the last picture. The other green houses in the picture above were either not finished or hidden behind cranes, fences, signs and materials on the construction site. Fun to see how it has turned out!
15 May 2017 - 17:20
Helena says:
But wow, how interesting! Yes, the houses looked pretty new ... Really cool we thought! Fun with creativity 🙂
15 May 2017 - 18:00
Deciree says:
It is really beautiful in Amsterdam. Longing to return 🙂 Hugs
15 May 2017 - 18:42
Helena says:
Right? We also want to go to Amsterdam again 🙂
15 May 2017 - 19:55
Anja says:
Been there many times with the old folk bus and parked by a quieter canal. Last spring it was a flight instead. A-dam belongs to the absolute favourites! 🙂 🙂 🙂
15 May 2017 - 18:47
Helena says:
Amsterdam is one of our favourites now too! Want to go there again 😉
15 May 2017 - 19:57
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
Yes, Amsterdam is a lovely city. I have only made two short visits there, one of them with children, so it was a canal boat and little else. This year our short weekend trip was completely focused on tulips and flower parade and it was not wrong either. Amsterdam is hopefully still there!
15 May 2017 - 19:18
Helena says:
Yes, Amsterdam is hopefully still there (if the water doesn't rise too much...!). We will also gladly come back!
15 May 2017 - 19:59
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
We have only visited Amsterdam by travelling.
15 May 2017 - 21:44
Helena says:
It is worth staying too! 🙂
15 May 2017 - 22:26
Diana's dreams says:
Love Amsterdam, have worked for a Dutch company so was there about 1-2 times a month in the past hugs
15 May 2017 - 21:58
Helena says:
Glad you've been there so much! I would love to go there more too 🙂
15 May 2017 - 22:27
BP says:
Completely stuck on the last picture and the house in Zaandam. So incredibly delicious! We should send Stockholm City's city architects there, I think.
Also, I laugh at Amsterdam's Pommes frites place which has apparently rivalled Vlamse frites, which I thought were the best I had ever eaten.
What a lovely weekend with perfect weather you have had - absolutely wonderful:-)
15 May 2017 - 23:27
Jeanette says:
I am Dutch and have grown up with hail stones on my sandwiches. I remember that my classmates in Sweden thought it was so strange that I could have sweets on my morning sandwich:) Every time I'm in Amsterdam visiting family, I run to the nearest place to buy their fries as I think they have the best mayonnaise you can find. Gosh now I got really hungry to just write about it:)
16 May 2017 - 12:59
towe says:
Oh I also like Amsterdam, especially in spring!
17 May 2017 - 20:28
Maria's Memoirs says:
Great tips! 1, 2 and 4 we will at least focus on! Have already marked some alternatives that serve gluten-free / low-fat pancakes (as my mum is gluten sensitive). Then of course Keukenhof, which is almost mandatory this time of year, as long as our trip does not rain away completely 😉 Otherwise, we probably do not have time to discover anything outside the city, as we have less than 3 days.
22 April 2018 - 11:06