Amsterdam is a beautiful, and one of the most famous cities in the world. Mainly known for its artistic heritage, the city also holds great cultural values.
Situated in the Netherlands, Amsterdam is one of the most famous cities, partly because it is one of the prime tourist spots every year. The beauty of the well-kept architecture, museums, and cultural significance. The artistic heritage of the city, elaborate canal system along narrow canal houses, and rich history make it an absolute heaven for tourists from all over the world. Especially, since the Amsterdam Canal ring construction in the 17th century, it has grown to become one of the most unique urban landscapes in the whole wide world. On top of that, the city is also quite known for art and museums, including the Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh. Apart from that, the flowers of the city, especially tulips, which are also a delicacy of the Netherlands attract the greatest number of tourists.
So, if you are planning your next tour to Amsterdam, it might be the best choice of your life. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the places you need to cover while touring the city, here are the 8 must-visit attractions of Amsterdam.
- The Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House in Dutch called the Anne Frank Huis is one of the top attractions of Amsterdam. This is a museum that is dedicated to Jewish war-time diarist Anne Frank. This German-born Jewish girl maintained a diary throughout the times of the Second World War, where she documented her experiences and life hiding from the Nazi persecution when Germany occupied the Netherlands. The museum is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht, close to the Westerkerk, in central Amsterdam in the Netherlands. While visiting, you will get to experience her story through an audio tour, which will include photos, videos, quotes, and other original items. The Anne Frank House can be visited with an online ticket and will take 1-2 hours to complete the tour. The museum is open from 9.00 A.M till 10.00 P.M.
- Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum situated in Amsterdam holds the world’s largest collection of works by the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The museum holds the painter’s significant works like Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, The Bedroom, and The Potato Eaters. Vincent van Gogh is now counted as one of the most influential painters in the history of Western art. He is most known for his world-famous painting of The Starry Night and in just over a decade, he created approximately 2100 artworks. This includes around 860 oil paintings, most of which were created in the last two years of his life. As a tourist, you can experience these distinguished artworks in the museum for which you need an online ticket, booked by the Museum’s online portal. This is open from 9.00 A.M. till 5.00 P.M. and the entire tour can be completed in just 1-2 hours.
- Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is officially known as ‘The Museum’ of the Netherlands which has been recently renovated to enchant more tourists with the rich display of history and artwork of the country. The museum tells the story of the country from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The Rijksmuseum houses 800+ works from Dutch and European history including paintings and artworks by the famous Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Van Gogh. it is where you will be able to witness the most renowned Rembrandt’s masterpiece the Night Watch. Here you will also be able to experience the display of a new collection along with new public facilities, a new building, a revamped garden, and most importantly a new Asian Pavilion. The museum is open every day from 9.00 A.M till 5.00 P.M.
- The Jordaan
This is a charming yet enchanting neighborhood in Amsterdam’s Greenwich Village which will give you your life’s most memorable experience. You will witness indie boutiques, cozy pubs, and hip eateries in its narrow alleys, and leafy canals that are lined with 17th-century houses. At the Noordermarkt Square market, you will find stalls offering clothes, jewelry, antiques, and organic food items. You will also find quirky specialty shops in Jordaan along with the Antiques Centre Amsterdam that sells vintage ceramics and paintings. The small galleries of the village are where you will find pieces focused on innovative contemporary art, squaring up to a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you. The entire tour takes about 2-3 hours to complete so make sure to check this off of your list of visiting the city.
- Vondelpark
Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s most famous park where you will enjoy outdoor activities in the beautiful English-style landscapes. The park gets around 10 million visitors each year and is counted as the most-visited green space, not just in Amsterdam but in the entire country of the Netherlands. In Vondelpark, you will find beautiful greenspaces, ponds, and playgrounds connected by winding paths, also run by an open-air theater, along with a range of sculptures, and statues, including one made by Picasso. You can enjoy a bike ride to spot these sculptures, statues, and charming bandstands or hike the countless trails. The best time to visit Vondelpark is between April and May to witness the park perishing in tulip blooms.
- The Heineken Experience
If you are a fan of alcohol, especially beer then this Heineken experience is a must for you while visiting Amsterdam. By taking the Heineken experience, you can go on an interactive journey at Heineken’s oldest brewery. The tour will be mostly sefl-guided with a guide at certain points of the tour. On this experience, you can learn about the history, while gaining insights into the brewing process of the beer. Most importantly, you can also customize your own Heineken bottle or glass at the souvenir shop. The entire tour will take 1-2 hours to complete between 10.30 A.M. and 7.30 A.M.
- Our Lord in the Attic Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
Our Lord in the Attic Museum is a small wonder that is hidden at the heart of Amsterdam. Here you can experience a unique journey in a well-preserved canal house, built in the 17th century. The narrow stairs and corridors will lead you to historically decorated living spaces with bedsteads and kitchens. The final touch for this tour will be a complete church in the attic, the highlight of the experience. This tour will take 1-2 hours to complete and the place is open from 10:00 AM till 6:00 PM.
- Red Light District
Amsterdam’s De Wallen area is the largest and best-known red-light district of the city. It is also known as one of the world’s most famous red-light areas where you can take a stroll to soak up the arousing yet beautiful lights. You can also visit the Red Lights Secrets Museum where you can learn about the legal sex work profession of Amsterdam. However, the Amsterdam Red Light District is not only about prostitution, you will also find a great deal of trendy coffee shops, bars, strip clubs, sex theatres, peep shows, etc. The best time to visit the area would be at the late night or early evening when the lights just start to illuminate the narrow lanes. The area is safe, however, gets busy and it is also illegal to take videos of the workers here.
So, make sure to visit and experience these 8 places while visiting the most beautiful and popular city in the world, Amsterdam.
