Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a global village, and the largest city in the Netherlands. It is a top global tourism destination, with beautiful architecture, romantic canals, trendy shopping, and is full of friendly people who nearly all speak English. There is something for everyone: culture, history, nightlife, arts, and a relaxing charm. It is a huge, safe, modern, and very cosmopolitan city.

Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands and has over a million inhabitants. It is the biggest city and the cultural and creative centre of the country. Amsterdam is part of a large urban area, however, the city center that most tourists visit is a dense, walkable, and culturally diverse, mixed use urban core, giving it a feel more like Venice or Cambridge than a major European capital. There are plenty of green spaces, and the city exhibits an elegant beauty and sophisticated charm like no other on Earth.

Orientation

The "Amsterdam" that most people know is the city centre, the semi-circle with Central Station at its core. It corresponds to the city as it was around 1850. Five major concentric canals ring the Old Center; the Singel, the Herengracht, the Keizersgracht, the Prinsengracht, and the Singelgracht, together forming the Canal Belt.

Other districts inside the city center are the Jordaan, a hip & rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, and Plantage, a quiet, leafy and spacious area known for its zoo and botanical gardens.

The roads Nassaukade, Stadhouderskade, and Mauritskade surround the center and mark the location of the former city moat and fortifications. Almost everything outside this line was built after 1870. Without a doubt the most popular district outside of the city centre is South for it's quality museums and street markets and shopping.

The semi circle of the city is on the south side of the Ij River. East of Central Station, are the islands of the redeveloped Eastern Docklands. North of the Ij (Amsterdam North) is mainly residential, although a major dockland redevelopment has started there recently.

The river Amstel flows into the city from the south. Originally, it flowed along the line Rokin-Damrak. The dam in the Amstel River, which gave the city its name, was located under the present Bijenkorf department store. The original settlement was on the right bank of the Amstel, along the present day Warmoesstraat which is the oldest street in the city. In the last several decades, Amsterdam has expanded in all directions, except to the north of the ring motorway, which is a protected area of open fields and small villages.

Liberal Attitudes

Many visit Amsterdam because of its reputation for tolerance of things illegal in most other parts of the world. Prostitution is legalized and licensed in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam has very visible window prostitution.

The sale, possession, and consumption of small quantities of pot, while illegal, is allowed by the police (the policy of gedogen). This does not mean that you can get away with anything in Amsterdam, and public attitudes and official policy have hardened in recent years. For the most part, Amsterdam has become a clean, efficient and well run city.

Top 10 things to do in Amsterdam

These are our picks for the best things to do in Amsterdam. If you only have a limited time, or want to see the best of the city, check out these sights and attractions.

1) Take an Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Take a tour of Amsterdam's world famous canals in a canal boat. Amsterdam is famous for its canals and there are a number of companies that offer tours o the city in Dutch canal boats. Get a different perspective on the city, and enjoy a tour that is unique to the Netherlands!

2) Rent A Bike

See Amsterdam by bike on a Dutch push bike. Amsterdam is one of the worlds most bicycle friendly cities, with bike lanes and even traffic lights for cyclists. Even if you havent been on a bike in years, the flat terrain and excellent bicycle infrastructure will allow any visitor to have a wonderful day on 2 wheels!

3) Visit the Anne Frank House

Visit the Anne frank House, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe, where the Frank family hid from the nazis during World War II. This museum is visited by millions of people each year and serves as a stark reminder to the horrors of the holocaust.

4) Visit The Van Gogh Museum

Experience the art and life of Vincent Van Gogh at the Van Gogh Museum. Housed in a modern building on Museumplein, witness a large collection of the works of Holland's most famous artist. Learn about his life and enjoy his own personal collection of Japanese woodcuts.

5) Walk Through Vondelpark

Walk through one of the world's great parks. If you have time, spend an afternoon sitting on the grass people watching. This "central park" of Amsterdam
is the jewel of the city's green spaces. If the weather is nice it is sure to be full of locals sunbathing, cycling, skating, jogging, and socializing.

6) See the Flower Market

See millions of flowers at Amsterdam's floating flower market. A perfect place to buy souvenirs and gifts, the flower market has millions of cut and potted flowers, as well as bulbs, pots, and other gardening essentials. See why Holland is famous for flowers!

7) See the Begijnhof

Find a hidden refuge from the chaos of the center in the Begijnhof.

8) Shop at the Waterlooplein Market

Buy something you didn't know you needed at this massive street market.

9) Visit A Coffeshop

Have a smoke at one of Amsterdam's world famous cannabis bars.

10) Red Light District

Walk through the Red Light District and witness the liberal Dutch attitude towards prostitution.