‘A place where man is in harmony with nature’; Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is the home of ‘houseboats’, ‘a cyclist’s paradise’ and also the land where dancing was once forbidden (yes, you heard me right). Amsterdam is also a bee sanctuary as efforts have been taken since 2000 to abolish harmful pesticides (hence its continued greenery).
Amsterdam tourism consists of amazing places which you make your trip the most memorable one. It is a historical hotspot where each and everything has a history of its own. So, you can do quite a lot in Amsterdam and even much more! You can go there on a family vacation or with friends and especially for honeymoon (imagine going on a romantic boat ride along the canals of Amsterdam).
10 Tourist Places Of Amsterdam
Here is the detailed list of tourist which you should not miss –
1. The Westerkerk:
The Westerkerk is translated as the ‘West Church’. It is one of the oldest churches in Amsterdam and is famous for having housed royal weddings in the olden days.
Westerkerk is well admired for its architecture. It has been referenced many times by Anne Frank (a World War II German-born Jewish, Holocaust victim) in her diary due to its nearness to the place where she and her family lived (or rather hid) during World War II.
2. The Rijksmuseum:
The Rijksmuseum is a monument that is dedicated to the art and history of Amsterdam. Not only does its house artwork and antiques (which took hundreds of years to accumulate) and 250 rooms, but it also contains about 35,000 books (for the bookworm in you). Talk about a historian’s paradise!
3. The Anne Frank House-Museum:
The most famous landmark of Holland itself is the Anne Frank House, or as she called it, ‘The Secret Annexe’. Journey into the house of Anne Frank and experience history as you explore the house and its secret passages, which were constructed by Anne Frank’s father to hide the family from the Nazi. The house was transformed into a museum and was made available to the public in 1960.
4. The Van Gogh Museum:
It is located at the Museum Square and is close to the Rijksmuseum. It is the most visited museum in the Netherlands and is one of the most visited museums in the world. It contains many of his unsold works and is also home to some of his more famous works such as the ‘Self Portrait’ and ‘Sunflowers’.
The museum itself consists of two buildings: the Rietveld building, which was designed by Gerrit Rietveld, and the Kurokawa wing, which was designed by Kisho Kurokawa. The Rietveld building consists of Van Gogh’s work, whereas the Kurokawa wing is used to host major temporary exhibitions. The entrance to the Kurokawa wing is via an underground tunnel which gives a thrilling experience.
5. The Royal Palace:
It is the official residence of the King of Holland. It was inspired by Roman architecture. This Royal Palace is one of the best Amsterdam tourism attractions.
6. The Canals of Amsterdam:
Nothing is more romantic than a ride along the canals of Amsterdam. The water is crystal clear and is frequently cleaned. It’s like the canals of Venice, but with much more history. You get to see the slanting buildings of Amsterdam (due to the wooden supports on which they were built) from your boat.
7. Food in Amsterdam:
Amsterdam is the most happening place, especially with about 1,515 bars. Herring (a fish) is the sweetest at Amsterdam and try it raw. Enjoy beer tasting at the windmill themed, microbrewery ‘Brouwerij’t IJ.
When we talk about Amsterdam tourism not to forget, the Westergasgabriek, where restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are the main highlights. If you are up for street food, go to De Hallen (a former tram depot).
8. Sunset at Pllek:
The beautiful sunset across the landscape of Amsterdam during winter, as the sun hides behind the city of Amsterdam while lighting up the sky in orange in the process. Don’t forget to grab some pictures as you get immersed in the astounding sunset.
9. The Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam:
It is the home to Amsterdam’s flowers. It houses a lot of species of flora. The Hortus Botanicus is where you can soak up all the natural, aromatic fragrance that Amsterdam has to offer to you. It is best during Summer when exotic and tropical flowers bloom. Plus it’s a garden dedicated to medicinal herbs.
10. Natura Artis Magistra:
It is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands and is one of the oldest zoos in Europe. With about 900 species of fauna, it also contains an aquarium and a planetarium. It also houses many of Amsterdam’s historic buildings and works of architecture. Not to forget the world’s first museum of microbes, ‘Artis Micropia’.
