It’s the fourth most popular European holiday destination (after London, Paris and Rome), but Amsterdam remains lumbered with a reputation for Premier League seediness. Certainly those who go for the brothels and marijuana won’t have too much trouble finding either, but the city ought to be equally renowned for its friendly inhabitants, lively atmosphere and architectural and spatial virtues, not to mention its rich culture and fascinating history.
Things to see and do:
- Canals – the canals are what make Amsterdam stand out: it’s just as much fun crossing the hundreds of bridges that link up the city’s concentric sections as it is taking in the sights on a canal boat tour.
- Cafes – cafes of all different shapes, sizes and atmospheres are dotted all over the city and are an essential part of the Amsterdam experience – beer lovers will be particularly pleased with the range and quality of wares on offer.
- Rijksmuseum – the city’s main art museum houses a number of hallowed originals, including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and Steen amongst many others.
- Anne Frankhuis – the house in which the Frank family were sheltered from the occupying Nazis is now a museum dedicated to their own experience and to the Holocaust and anti-Semitism throughout history.
- Red Light District – now a major tourist attraction in itself, Amsterdam’s Red Light District is certainly an experience; you may well find the prevailing atmosphere to be one of ennui rather than erotica though.
Getting there:
Amsterdam Schipol airport is 11 miles southwest of the city centre, and is one of the world’s biggest and busiest. There are taxis and car hire available, as well as frequent trains running to Centraal station.
Location and weather:
Amsterdam is in the west of the Netherlands, just over ten miles inland from the north sea. Weatherwise, UK visitors know what to expect: grey and cold but not freezing in the winter, erratically sunny and warm in the summer.
Top tip:
Visit Amsterdam in the winter: everything’s cheaper and easier to get into, and if you’re really lucky the canals might freeze over and the locals will be out in force with their ice skates.
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