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World Heritage Site in North Holland, Netherlands
Photo: Amsterdam Municipal Department for the Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings and Sites (bMA). The author is BMZ (Bureau Monumentenzorg). Original u, Attribution via Wikimedia Commons
The Canal District (Dutch: Grachtengordel) is the famous 17th-century district surrounding the Binnenstad of Amsterdam. The whole district is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique cultural and historical value, and its property values are among the highest in the country.
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The Magere Brug, literally "Skinny Bridge", is a bridge that spans the Amstel River and connects the Kerkstraat with the Nieuwe Kerkstraat. It's an iconic bridge that consists of nine arches and a drawbridge that is still operated by hand. The current bridge is made of white-painted wood, but it has been rebuilt several times and historically it has also been in concrete. The first bridge here was built in 1691, but the current one dates from 1934. It is one of the most photographed bridges in Amsterdam, especially at night because of the 1200 tiny lights that make it look like a picture-perfect postcard.
Anne Frankhuis
The house where the Jewish girl Anne Frank wrote her diary while hiding with her family from the Nazis. One must buy tickets online, only 20% are issued on the same day so buy them in advance. During high season tickets can be sold out a month in advance. To be safe, you should book 6 weeks in advance. Museumkaart is valid, I Amsterdam Card is not valid.
The Museum of the Canals
Het Grachtenhuis is the gateway to the world-famous Canal District. Het Grachtenhuis tells the fascinating story of how Amsterdam's Canal District was created by a multi-media exhibition.
KattenKabinet
A cat museum. Housed in a beautiful restored palatial home in an upscale area street - very Masterpiece Theater. It was opened by the homeowner after his favourite cat died... and he still lives in the home. Lots of cat-related art, and two real felines. The exhibition is spread across the first floor of the house.
It is the only fully furnished canalside patrician house in Amsterdam that is open to the public. The museum has a large collection of silverware, plates, and books from the Dutch Golden Age. It also has a substantial collection of art.
Pijpenkabinet
Unique collection of smoking pipes in an authentic canal house from 1670. In the historic ambience of the collector's house, his collection of pipes covering 2,500 years is displayed. Visitors get a personal tour by enthusiast volunteers of the foundation that also runs the speciality shop in the basement: a huge selection of nearly 3,000 modern briar pipes are for sale, next to collectables and books on pipes and tobacco.
17th century house with interior restored with furnishings to how it looked in the 18th century. Also interesting to see a garden you would not normally see from the streets.
Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam
Museum about photography. Group tours can be arranged via phone at +31 20 5516 505.
Built in 1620-1631, located on Westermarkt near the Anne Frank House. You can climb the tower (with a guide only) every half hour, M-Sa €6. The tower is also open in the winter by group appointment (maximum 10 people) for €70/hr. In good weather you can see all of Amsterdam, and as far as the coast. Free organ concert held every Friday at 13:00.
The Homomonument is a memorial to gays and lesbians murdered in World War II, a call for vigilance against homophobia, and an inspiration for gays and lesbians the world over. It consists of three equilateral triangles made of pink granite that are connected by an inlaid band of pink bricks. These three triangles represent the past, present and future.
This public square features a larger-than-life statue of Rembrandt on a pedestal.
You really like cats? The poezenboot (cat boat) is a refuge for cats awaiting adoption.
A Jesuit society that organizes classes and activities. Membership is required, but every Tuesday (Sep-Jul) a free concert is given at 12:30-13:00. Everyone can attend.
Since its opening in 1921, Tuschinski has been the country's most breathtaking film theatre. It's worth a visit if only for its interior, a spectacular mix of Art Nouveau, Amsterdam School and Art Deco styles. If possible, get a tour of the building, taking in the sumptuous private rooms upstairs. If you're going to watch a film, pick the one that's in the big auditorium. With the exception of some animated films, all English films are subtitled and not dubbed, so you should be able to enjoy the standard Hollywood fare the way it's meant to be seen.
This institute maintains the archives of the municipality and other organizations that are closely related to Amsterdam. The archives are open to everyone. Most interesting for travelers are the exhibitions and events, see the website.
A boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam is always a good idea. Discover Amsterdam from the water while enjoying a drink.
Amazing variety of both sweet and savory pancakes. The quaint atmosphere and the street side tables are great for watching people. The only downfall is that street-side tables attract too many tourists asking for directions.
Large selection of sweet or savory pancakes.
A stall offering simple Dutch seafood fare like Kibbling (fried fish) and Haring (raw herring).
Dutch restaurant with an extensive menu of hearty home-cooked dishes like herrings, pea soup and hutspot. Unlike most restaurants in this area, this one gets local diners too, and if it gets crowded enough you may have to share tables. Pancakes are served only until 17:00.
They specialise in fish dishes, but they also have a wide variety of meat and vegetarian meals to choose from. With bar.
Indian-owned breakfast, brunch and lunch spot. Letting offers a range of soups, sandwiches and scones, and it's on a street which is packed with an ever-changing line-up of fun boutiques.
Best pastry cafe in Amsterdam. Much better than the Zeitan, which many recommend. Do try the "holdkampf" with fillings! The Sachertorte is famous as a favorite of the former Queen Beatrix.
Uruguayan Steakhouse with well-grilled steaks
Indian restaurant, Muslim (halal) / Hindu (no beef). Good quality dishes from different regions of India.
This Caribbean restaurant offers a huge range of plates, including three different vegetarian options. Every dish comes with ample sides of white rice, black beans, plantains, and vegetables. In addition to having great food, the restaurant is decked out with a range of fantastic and magic-realist art. If you like your food hot, then be sure to ask for the special homemade hot sauce. Reservations accepted.
Excellent biercafe serving only Dutch beers and liqueurs, including jenever. Around 30 beers on tap, 17 or so which change regularly, and over 100 bottled. Very friendly bartenders who know beer well and give great recommendations. Try the €8 sampler, which gives you 12cl (1.2ml) samples of 3 beers with a glass of water and some crackers.
One of the many Irish pubs in the city. People from all over the world meet here and watch football, rugby and typical Irish sports like hurling and Gaelic football while drinking a pint of Guinness.
Cocktail bar with a lovely atmosphere, pleasant music and friendly staff, including one of the Netherlands leading cocktail barmen. Will make any cocktail you ask for.
This is close to, or right next to the Holland Casino also close to the Leidseplein. Great service, great food, and plenty of drinks.
The oldest Irish bar in Amsterdam, Mulligans has live music most nights. This is where the traditional music crowd gathers.
A friendly spot for coffee, a beer, or something stronger. You may at first only notice the outside seating and the enclosed terrace, but there is also an elegant, (usually) quieter indoor area. Food, too, but you don't see many eaters.
If you like whisky, this small, laid-back and friendly cafe is the ideal place to visit. Many unusual whiskies from independent bottlers and closed distilleries are available. The menu stretches along one wall and is about 2 meters in height, the cafe having had 1001 whiskies available since it opened. Just be warned the stairs to the toilets are pretty steep!
Het Wapen van Londen
Amsterdam's nightlife king Casper Reinders joined with the founders of Bitterzoet and the owners of Boom Chicago to bring quality clubbing to the Leidspelein.
A large, fairly uninspiring nightclub that mostly plays mainstream house music. The first hall is large and attracts the more or less wannabe hip people of the city, although the crowd is diverse. The second hall upstairs has a completely different audience, mostly hip-hop and R&B enthusiasts. At some events, Escape is split in two, which means you can use the backside entry at Amstel for a different party.
The most glamorous club in Amsterdam offers a selection of house and R&B, with a spectacularly lit dance floor downstairs. It is relatively small and there is table service, so it feels a bit like a VIP room. Entry policy is strict so dress sharp to get in. And boys, don't come alone.
A former milk factory, now it's one of the best live venues in Amsterdam. Its interior is not as good as Paradiso, but it feels more like a nightclub as the music is dance/trance-oriented. Popular among university students and younger tourists, it's a great place to go out till the sun gets up. Rates can vary widely, and go very steep during special events.
Sometimes referred to as a nightclub, it feels more like a nightly music venue and is the safest bet in town. Its interior is phenomenal as it is housed in a former church, but the main room has relatively bad acoustics. It gets a mixed crowd as there are plenty of rooms with different bands performing and it isn't too crazy expensive. Its music straddles the line between pop and alternative. Much of the performances are rock, but it can really be anything: don't be surprised to be dancing the Russian troika with thousands of people on a Wednesday night. It gets fairly packed, as is obvious by the huge line on the weekends, especially after 01:00.
This is a somewhat more underground, intimate club that's easy to miss because of its flashy neighbours. It prides itself on trying to stay at the forefront of electronic music in the city.
Bit of a remarkable place that integrates art, music, culture, theatre and nightclub into one. It has a relaxed atmosphere with an eccentric, artistic audience.
Cozy metal bar with friendly bar staff and interesting regulars, with live performances by touring metal bands on weekends.
Light rock/funk jam sessions in a dingy but atmospheric bar with pooltables. Live bands play every night of the week.
Absolute gem, cozy and friendly place with moderate prizes and interesting, international crowd.
This is the original shop that used to be a police department. Now it turned into a chain of touristy coffeeshops, bars, hotels and even an energy drink.
Good produce and nice tunes but uncomfortable seating.
Tiny, but famous for their outstanding weed, especially "American" strains.
Gay coffeeshop.
Very light atmosphere and doesn't take itself seriously. Bar and downstairs club.
47 en-suite rooms.
Smallish, but clean and quiet rooms in two buildings across a residential street. Generous check-in/checkout, good breakfast (included). Close to tram stop, walk to Rijks/van Gogh museums.
Bed & Breakfast opposite the Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam's first boutique hostel. Free wifi, garden, fully equipped kitchen for guest use, livingroom. Very social atmosphere. All rooms en suite.
Two star hotel with very friendly staff. Clean rooms and free wi fi.
3-star hotel in the city center of Amsterdam nearby Heineken factory.
Listed as an Art Nouveau monument, the hotel is right in the heart of Leidseplein Square. Both Café Americain and Bar Americain are in the hotel, famous for celebrity and VIP spotting.
Four star hotel on one of the main canals. Writers who stayed here left signed copies of their books in the hotel's library.
25 restored 17th and 18th-century canal houses overlooking two of the city's most picturesque canals, Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, and made famous in Ocean's 12.
The world's only floating flower market, open daily on the Singel between Koningsplein and Muntplein. It is very touristy, but you could do worse than buying your tulips here. Make sure you buy pre-approved bulbs if taking them to the U.S. or Canada. They will have the holographic licence and export tag on the bag.
De Negen Straatjes
Nine narrow streets enclosed between the main canals from the Prinsengracht to the Singel, southwest of Dam Square. The northernmost street is Reestraat and to the south is the Runstraat. The street names are marked with a sign of the Nine Streets, and some shops have a flyer of this area. You can find a lot of boutiques, specialist shops, galleries and restaurants here.
This is a gallery for sculpture lovers, with bronze statues, pottery, abstract sculpture, raku-fired statues and marble figures sculpture to suit every budget and taste.
By metro
The district has one metro station on line M51 running south from Amsterdam Centraal. Metro station Vijzelgracht connects with several tram lines at the Vijzelgracht tram stop.
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