Amsterdam has an appeal that is absolutely unique. It is a vibrant treasure-trove of extraordinary artistic riches, and the living embodiment of 900 years of history. Elegant and serene, Amsterdam also has its seamy side, as much a part of its character as its famous network of canals. This small city packs a big punch. So, what are the best places to visit in Amsterdam ? Here are the best of the best :
- Canals and Waterways
- Rijksmuseum
- Van Gogh Museum
- Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
- Begijnhof
- Amsterdam Museum
- Oude Kerk
- Museum Van Loon
- Anne Frank Huis
- Dam Square
1. Canals and Waterways
With their pretty bridges (1,703 in all), idiosyncratic gabled houses and relaxed waterside cafés, Amsterdam’s 75 km (47 miles) of canals are perfect for a leisurely stroll. They are a constant reminder that the Netherlands is the world’s flattest country, portions of which have been reclaimed from the sea with the aid of dykes, canals, tidal barriers, and man-made land. Before exploring the canals on foot, take a boat tour for a fascinating overview. In 2010, the 17th-century canal ring was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2. Rijksmuseum
The magnificent Rijksmuseum is Amsterdam's most visited museum and houses nearly a million works of Dutch art, only a fraction of which are on display. It was built by King Louis Napoleon in 1808 at the Royal Palace on the Dam and moved to its current location near Vondelpark in 1885. The main building was designed by P.J.H. Cuypers.
3. Van Gogh Museum
The world's most comprehensive collection of Van Gogh's works was collected by his art dealer brother Theo and housed in this museum. It includes more than 200 of his paintings, more than 500 drawings and hundreds of letters, as well as the work of his contemporaries - although not all of them are on display. Located in Gerrit Rietveld's stunning 1973 building, the exhibition explores Van Gogh's life, struggles and development as an artist, and how he influenced and was influenced by other artists.
4. Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder
The 17th-century house is in stark contrast to its surrounding red-light district, and a church is hidden on its upper floors. It is a rare, well-preserved example of many secret churches built after conversion. Local Catholics prayed here from 1663 to 1887. The minimally changed interior takes you back to the 17th century. In 2015, the museum was connected to another building at Oudezijds Voorburgwal 38, which is now the main entrance and houses a café and an exhibition space.
5. Begijnhof
Set in tranquil greenery, this charming and elegant home was built in 1346 for members of the Lay Catholic Sisterhood of the Beguines, who last died in 1971. While neither the original building nor the early designs for the waterside courtyard have survived, there is a charming 15th-century log house, a fine contemporary church and an attractive secluded chapel. Visitors are asked to respect the privacy of current residents.
6. Amsterdam Museum
The Amsterdam Museum houses the city's artefacts, archaeological finds, clothing, jewellery, maps, paintings and sculptures that trace how Amsterdam has changed over the centuries. Originally a monastery, it became a municipal orphanage in 1580. Extensions were added by Hendrick and Pieter de Keyser before Jacob van Campen's magnificent reconstruction of 1634. In 1960 the orphans moved out; in 1975 the museum moved in.
7. Oude Kerk
The town's oldest monument and first parish church stands on the site of a wooden chapel destroyed by fire in the early 13th century. Rebuilt as a chapel in the 14th century, it has been expanded over the years into a magnificent Gothic cathedral and is now in the heart of the Red Light District, hosting regular art exhibitions, performances and debates. It is dedicated to the city's patron saint, Nicholas.
8. Museum Van Loon
Owned by the famous Van Loon family (co-founders of the Dutch East India Company, later bankers and royal courtiers) since 1884, this delightful canal house in Keizersgracht takes you back to the 18th century. In 1973, the family still living here was opened to the public after a meticulous restoration in the 1750s, when it was owned by Dr. Abraham van Hagen and his heiress Katharine Tripp. It is beautifully decorated and comes with the property of the Van Loon family.
9. Anne Frank Huis
This moving museum tells a tragic story. When the Nazis began rounding up Jews in Amsterdam in 1942, Frank and the Van Perls family went into hiding. They hid for 25 months in a back building of the Anne Frank House. In August 1944, they were arrested and deported. Only Otto survived. The diary of his daughter Anne, who died in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February 1945 at the age of 15, made her one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century. The ever-popular museum attracts more than a million visitors each year.
10. Dam Square
