Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Featured
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, wellness, style, and being an American living abroad. Hope you find some inspiration!
Amsterdam is known for many stereotypes, but did anyone ever mention how stunning the architecture is?
While this famous city is best known for the elaborately designed canal system, the buildings that it intertwines will keep architecture and history lovers enamored for weeks on end.
If you're looking for some excellent views of the cityscape while avoiding the bicycles or even sipping a glass of wine, you will love the canal tours that are offered in this beautiful city. You can go for the hop-on hop-off style if you want to explore the famous sights a bit in between, a guided version if you'd like to sit back and listen while taking photos, or even a dinner setting to enjoy the night lights and great company.
There are several different companies who have different options, so head to the Amsterdam Tourism website for some recommendations.
Welcome to Grand Central Station, Amsterdam style. Built in the late 1800s, this Neo-Gothic design will certainly be a regal welcome to you as you arrive. Regal being the correct word, as there is even a waiting room or "Koninklijke Wachtkamer" designed especially for the Dutch queen. The ornate gate is visible to tourists, though you'll have to flash your crown to get in.
Approximately 20,000,000 tourists and day-trippers visit Amsterdam in a year, which is crazy as that is also around 20 times as many tourists as locals!
There are still plenty of places to wander, relax, and hang out that aren't crawling with pedestrians in the bike lanes, so be sure to duck into some local restaurants or check out the beautiful parks.
One of the best ways to discover Amsterdam is as the locals do it: by bike. There are guided tours available, or you can just rent one and explore on your own.
There are wonderful guided tours for the architecture and city life as well, so definitely do some research to see what fits your style. There are some great ideas on the Amsterdam tourism site.
Being the multi-cultural hub that it is, Amsterdam offers many options for the foodies of the world. If you're looking for typical Dutch fare, pop into what's lovingly referred to by local as a brown café with it's dark ambience and well-worn interior. They typically serve local beverages including Dutch spirits, as well as pub-type items such as "bitterballen" which are deep-fried dough balls with a ragout filling.
Some great places to check out are Bar Bodega de Blauwe Parade and Papeneiland. For a more modern take on brown cafés with an outdoor terrace, stop by Het Paardje.
While there are reportedly 1,281 bridges in all of Amsterdam, there are 80 just in the center alone. There's even a spot referred to as the Bridge of 15 Bridges, right at the junction of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht, where you can see all 15 of those arched bridges at once. If you're a photography buff, this is definitely aesthetically pleasing for your lens. If you're a romantic, just about any bridge will be perfect for that smooch with your loved one.
With the heart-wrenching true story of Anne Frank that has been told across the world via her diary, this is one museum you cannot pass up. The exhibition itself is extremely well done, captivating and fascinating all while guiding you through the Franks' house and hiding place where they lived together with others until it was betrayed in 1944.
Art and coffee go hand in hand, at least that's how Amsterdam feels. Whether it be for an early breakfast or a decadent brunch after a long night out, there's something for you here. In fact, there are so many great little cafés in this bustling city that you might just have to stay awhile longer to explore them all. To get you started on finding your favorite, IAmsterdam has a great list of top arty coffee houses to check out while you're in town.
