Amsterdam
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Liberal and exuberant Amsterdam – commonly known just as ”Dam” – is the capital of Netherlands and is located in the western Netherlands. The river Amstel terminates in the city centre and connects to a large number of canals. City has appr. 830, 000 residents, having 1,5 million in whole metropolitan area.
Amsterdam was granted city rights in either 1300 or 1306. From the 14th century on, Amsterdam flourished, largely because of trade with the Hanseatic League. The 17th century is considered Amsterdam’s Golden Age, during which it became the wealthiest city in the world.
Significant areas
Most popular area among tourists and known for pubs, canals, coffeeshops and old architecture.
– Jordaan
Here is the Museum Quarter and Vondelpark.
– South
Prices are cheaper here than in the city center. Here is e.g. the Albert Cuyp Market.
Recreation
Leidseplein during summer is a square full of terraces packed with people drinking and chatting. Also Rembrandtplein is one of the centers of nightlife. Lovers Canal Cruise is a splendid way to get acquainted with the city’s canal network.
Shopping
The main shopping district in Amsterdam is concentrated on a line from near Central Station to the Leidseplein: Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg and Leidsestraat. Here can one find many decent boutiques and top clothing. In the older areas surrounding the centre, the main shopping streets are the Kinkerstraat, the Ferdinand Bolstraat, the Van Woustraat, and the Javastraat – Javastraat being most exotic for its many ethnic stores.
Something to explore
Begijnhof
This inner court is one of the oldest in Amsterdam, originally constructed in 1307. The buildings in the court are tall, characteristically Amsterdam-style town-houses. It was originally a béguinage, a community of the religious women who sought to serve God without retiring from the world. Here are 47 regular town houses, each with its individual aspect, and most of them with facades from the 17th and 18th century. Catholic ministry is still organizing masses and other ceremonies at the chapel of the area.
Anne Frank House
This historic 17th -century canal house and biographical museum, situated at the address Prinsengracht 263-265, is dedicated to memory of Anne Frank, Jewish girl who hid from Nazi occupation with her family and four other people in hidden rooms of this house. Here she wrote her famous diary, chronicling her life from 12 June 1942 until 1 August 1944, before her death in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945. Museum holds the preserved hiding place, a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, and an exhibition space dedicated to all forms of persecution and discrimination. Sight of extremely moving and tragic history.
Stedelijk Museum
This museum at Museumplein 10 is concentrated in for modern art, contemporary art, and design. The collection comprises art and design from the early 20th century up to the 21st century, and it features artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Vasily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall and Jackson Pollock.
Pro tip on museums: The Museum Card covers the cost of admission to over 400 museums across the Netherlands and one can buy it at most major museums.
See more about the museum area Museumplein here.
Damrak
This avenue running between Amsterdam Centraal in the north and Dam Square in the south. Its known for picturesque canal houses and pedestrian traffic, being a popular thoroughfare. There is many cafés and restaurants along this avenue, and tram lines 4, 9, 16, 24, and 25 are running down to it. The heartbeat of Amsterdam pulses loud here.
Vondelpark
This 47 hectares wide public park is situated west from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. It has an open-air theatre and four bar facilities. The theatre, Vondelpark Openluchttheater, depicts shows from June until August. There are performances of classical music, pop music, world music, dance, musical theatre, and cabaret. Although all performances have free entrance, visitors are asked for a donation of one euro.
How to get around in Amsterdam
Public transport within the city is operated by the GVB (Gemeentevervoerbedrijf). The OV chipcard is quite handy, offering discount for heavy-users. The tram, with 16 lines, is the main transport system in the central area, and there are also dozens of night buses routes which run in place of the trams between midnight and 5am. There is also a metro system operating with four lines, and several free ferry services across the IJ river, to Amsterdam North, the most frequent runs every 7min. They all leave from a new jetty on the northern (rear) side of Centraal Station. See the journey planner and timetables of the GVB here.
Renting a bicycle is the easiest way to get around in the town area. See a route planner here. Bicycles can be taken on all metros and tram 26 using the bike supplement fee on the OV chipcard. One should use the special bike racks, locations indicated by a bicycle sign on the outside of the carriage.
How to get in Amsterdam
The international Amsterdam Airport Schiphol serves the region, being located 9 kilometres south-west from Amsterdam. The list of its airlines is here, destinations here.
Most trains arrive and depart from Amsterdam Centraal Station, located between the Old Centre and the IJ waterfront. Schiphol Airport also has its own train station.
Thalys operates trains to/from Paris, Brussels and Antwerp, and Amsterdam. The IC train to Berlin runs every two hours and connects Amsterdam Central Station with Osnabrück, Hanover, and Berlin. See all European train timetables here.
Eurolines offers bus routes from various European cities.
Top 5 in Amsterdam
- Jordaan district
- Albert Cuyp Market
- Pubbing in Rembrandtplein
- Begijnhof
- Canal cruises
Text: Timo Hellman
Photos: With the CC-licence / Bert K., Rudolphous (talk), Mark Ahsmann, A. Bakker, Ariel Palmon[/fusion_text]
