Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Overview

As a city that was so close to my then home town of London, I had never ventured over to Amsterdam. All that changed when last summer I went for two nights and crammed a lot in - it was a fun, exciting and exhausting trip. With so much to see, do and eat this sizeable but easily traversable capital is an absolute must visit. If you’ve never been or are thinking about a revisit I’ve included my top tips and an overview of what kept me busy for the two and a half day trip. As there is plenty to cover, this entry is going to be longer than some of my others.

On Arrival

A short flight from London Stansted I arrived at Schiphol Airport and easily found the train platform, bought a ticket and arrived at Amsterdam Central Station without much fuss or issue. Being one of the more advanced European cities, both technologically, socially and culturally, the ease on arrival was a great start to any trip.

Accommodation

My focus for where to stay during any first time visit to a new place is location, I sacrifice almost all other elements to select a hotel in a prime location.

Hotel Atlanta, Amsterdam

Right in the centre of the city, this place is basic but affordable and highly convenient. A long tall building it is a rabbit warren of staircases, corridors and secret doors. The rooms are small and simple, however as the purpose of my visit was very much to fill my days with sites and experiences I wasn’t expecting to be in the hotel much. For my inaugural visit it was just what I wanted, and though it was quite noisy at night - located in the famous Rembrandt Square above several English bars showing the summer’s football - I didn’t mind too much.

UNMISSABLE

Van Gogh Museum

Kicking off with one of the most iconic sites in the city. The Van Gogh Museum is a tribute to the famous Dutch artist and his contemporaries. Whilst I am not an art fanatic, I am always keen to ensure I visit all the ‘must-do’ attractions in any major place I visit. Located within the museum square area I combined going here with the other famous places in the area including the Rijksmuseum. The Van Gogh Museum is vast and spralling with several of his most seminal works, including Sunflowers. You could easily spend hours wandering through the exhibitions, and for art lovers this is an absolute must. For a more casual tourist like myself I spent about an hour here before moving on to the next location and this felt enough time.

Top tip: Book your ticket in advance as the museum is no longer selling them on arrival. You will select a time slot for the day you wish to visit

Westerkerk Tower

For a sky, landscape and cityscape lover like me this was one of the highlights of my trip. Often noted as the best panoramic view of The Netherlands’s capital, the Westerkerk Tower stands tall above the Portestant church of the same name located in the Grachtengordel-West area right by both Anne Frank’s House and the Homomonument. The trips up the tower are by guided tour only in intimate groups of six. Up spiralling stairs, tight ladders and narrow passages the view at the top goes on for miles and give a different perspective on Amsterdam. 

Top tip: Stop by here first thing in the morning to buy your ticket for later in the day and save yourself time queueing up. Groups are small and this is a popular attraction. 

NDSM

The edgy and arty area of Amsterdam is a short, free, ferry ride across from central station. Famed for its music, culture and industrial setting, this place has beautiful restaurants, a boat hotel and several iconic artworks. For a taste of the liberal and inclusive city, a visit to this area is a must to walk around, take pictures and enjoy the good vibes. 

Top tip: Carve out enough time to enjoy the surroundings here, it’s not like the other areas of the centre of the city

KattenKabinet (The Cat Cabinet)

Dedicated to works depicting our furry friends, this is a fun and wholly unique attraction. With works that celebrate and explore the presence of cats within history, there are also several resident felines who hang out in the museum from time to time. I always want to pay a visit to some of the more quirky places in the areas I travel to and this one was unlike anything I’d been to before.

Top tip: There is a discount for those with the I amsterdam card (more on that below)

Sunset on the steps of Nemo Science Museum

As an avid sunset photographer I had done significant research before arriving on the best spots for sundown whilst in the city. Whilst many pointed to the rooftop bar of the DoubleTree Hilton, which does have a good view, the steps of the Nemo Science Museum were a stand out for me. Looking back over the water to the silhouette of Basiliek van de Heilige Nicolaas, the sun frames the city and life below in a stunning picture opportunity. With only two nights to play with I took no chances and visited the steps on both nights. The first was cloudy and unimaginative, however the second was a hazy summer’s evening that gave me some incredible pictures. Whilst the museum itself is likely to be closed by sunset, the steps are open to the public 24 hours. 

Top tip: Check the time of sunset, I was there at the end of June which meant sunset was after 10pm.

Rocycle

I kicked off one of my days in Amsterdam by joining the locals in a spinning class at Rocycle. Much like similar studios in London and New York this is a sensory experience with a clean and well designed interior where you exercise to contemporary music. The instructor taught in English and I was able to book a one off class for the time I was there.

Top tip: Go early in the morning to start your day off in the right way

Signature Eats

With so much to do in Amsterdam, and the above only scratching the surface, I have introduced a new section for some of these blogs. Outlining some of the best places to eat and drink, ‘Signature Eats’ will take you through the most delicious destinations in the city. 

Foodhallen

This indoor food market houses 21 different food and drink stalls-come-restaurants each with its own unique offering. Spend some time wandering around, taking in the smells, before deciding what to eat. In the trendy part of the city, De Hallen, Foodhallen is an absolute must visit for food lovers. I opted for De Ballenbar for their delicious interpretation of the signature Dutch food - bitterballs. 

The Avocado Show

Having seen this place all over social media for months before I even planned my visit, and as an avo lover, I knew I had to make the pilgrimage to The Avocado Show when I touched down in the city. Serving delicious and unique dishes containing the trendy millennial favourite fruit, I trialled the Saint Stack of pancakes along with a Smooth Operator smoothy. 

van Wonderen 

If you visit Amsterdam and don’t have a stroppwafel then there is something seriously wrong. The classic Dutch dish is served at various locations across the city and I tried my fair few even though I wasn’t there very long. My favourites were Confectionery Lanskroon for a traditional version, and this place - van Wonderen. The waffles are dipped in chocolate and covered with toppings or your choice. You may have seen these on Instagram or Facebook, and they definitely live up to the hype.

Top Tips

• Purchase the I amsterdam card. It is available in various time period options (24hours, 48hours etc.) and gives access to a range of attractions, use of the public transport and a 1 hour canal cruise. It’s a money saver and perfect guide for all types of travellers. I bought mine in advance and picked up at the dedicated shop by central station.

• Although I had complementary public transport with the aforementioned card, I still found that Amsterdam was a highly walkable city. Not a huge fan of cycling, another great way to get around, the Dutch capital is perfect to wander around on foot. 

• Plan your time there carefully, in places where there is so much to do and a short amount of time I find that selecting key places I wanted to visit means you can get a lot in. Getting up early in the morning to arrive at attractions before the doors open, to avoid the crowds at some of the more popular ones is also essential.

• If you are planning a visit book tickets to the Anne Frank Museum as far in advance as you can. I didn’t do this and missed out on visiting when I went.

Summary

As with lots of popular European cities, Amsterdam has so much to offer. I was really pleased with how much I managed to squeeze into my time here, and going in the summer with longer daylight hours definitely helped, however I still didn’t get to everywhere I wanted. For a mix of history, culture and social liberalism, nowhere beats the ‘dam.