Amsterdam Travel Guide

General

A visit to this beautiful city is sometimes like taking a walk in the 17th century. The center of Amsterdam has a lot of charming architecture dating from this period. It’s an excellent city to tour on foot. However, Amsterdam may boast a lot of 17th century architecture, but that's about all that's old fashioned about the place.

Amsterdam (pop. 724 100) was originally built on the shores of the saltwater 'Zuiderzee' but as a result of centuries of land-reclamation projects the city now borders the freshwater of IJsselmeer. The center of Amsterdam is shaped like a horseshoe, surrounded by three famous canals called the "Herengracht", "Keizersgracht" and "Prinsengracht". These are best to walk along if you want to see the city’s beautiful gabled houses. At the open end of the “horseshoe” you will find the ornate Central Train Station.

You can easily fill your day touring the city and be prepared to get lost a few times as the it can be quite difficult trying to figure out where you are going some times. The city also provides excellent services for seeing other interesting towns close to Amsterdam.

Accomodation

Amsterdam has a large variety of hotels. From the luxurious Amstel Hotel to the small boat hotels to the run down places in the red light district. For the cheapies, check out the region around the Warmeostraat, although some youth hostels are a little further afield. Try to book a place before you arrive because it can be very hard to find place during the summer and during most other seasons also. We have put the places to stay in four categories. Probably the cheapest way to stay in Amsterdam is camping, but this obviously not for all. The cheapest has some the smaller backpack places that could set you back usually around 50 Euro's for a double room.

Middle places go up all the way to slightly over a hundred and are usually you can book directly over the Internet. Note that if you show up directly, you usually pay more than if you book ahead. The top hotels are of course the nicest, but only for those who can afford them.

Shopping

Amsterdam is no fashion capital like Paris or Duesseldorf. It is more of a place to hunt for bargains and feel comfortable in what ever you wear. Prices are relatively low, compared with other European capitals and has a wide selection to offer. Most shops close at 18:00 and on Thursday nights most shops are open until 21:00. Shops in the center are open on Sunday, usually between 12:00 and 17:00. The shopping streets get extremely crowded on Sundays as alot of people from around Amsterdam pour in to do their shopping. So your have been warned.

A definitely recommend checking out H&M for bargains and the Waterlooplein market for a wide selection of classy second hand goodies.

Sights

Amsterdam is home to some of the most beautiful sights in Europe. The canals that flow through the city give it great character and style and the museums are renowned all over the world.

Amsterdam has several excellent museums and two of the best are next to each other. The Van Gogh Museum is a must for anyone interested in the artist’s work. It house’s some of his most famous masterpieces beginning with his time in Holland to the period of his death in France. On the same square is the 250-room Rijksmuseum, which contains among its treasures a handful of exquisite Vermeers and one of the best Rembrandt collections in the world. "The Night Watch" is exhibited in the Hall of Honor and is most definitely a "work of art". Astonishing is only a portion of the original painting which had to be cut down to fit its intended spot in the city’s old town hall. There is a copy of an uncut version of the painting hanging in the room just before the Hall of Honor.

The excellent Stedelijk Museum displays contemporary art including traveling exhibits from other countries. Museum Amstelkring also known as "Our Lord in the Attic" is set in a 17th-century merchant house. It contains a secret Catholic church on the top floor. The house has its original furnishings giving a good idea of what life at that time was like.

If time permits take a look a Rembrandt’s house near the Waterlooplein (the artist lived there 1639-1657). And the church where he is buried at the Westerkerk, (you’ll walk passed it on the way to The Anne Frank House). Have a look for the crown on top of the church given to Amsterdam by Maximilian I in 1489 and you can also climb the spire for a great view of the city. There are also a number of other Rembrandt-related sites: the 13th-century Oudekerk (Amsterdam’s oldest church), where Rembrandt’s wife Saskia is buried. The 15th-century Waag (weigh station) where Rembrandt painted "The Anatomy Lesson" (it now houses the Jewish Historical Museum) and the Zuiderkerk (South Church) where he painted "The Night Watch".