Amsterdam: opportunities for city tourists

The Dutch metropolis of Amsterdam is located in the north-western part of our neighboring country, near the IJsselmeer and the North Sea. The city, which has a population of just over 925,000, has been the capital of the country since 1983, although the seat of government is in The Hague. Amsterdam is well known far beyond the borders of the Netherlands. The metropolis is considered cosmopolitan and tolerant, is a special feature due to its canal belt, and is also very popular among city tourists. The following sections are intended to provide a brief overview of the interesting leisure activities available to tourists in the canal city.

Places of interest in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a lot to see, including architecturally fascinating buildings. These can be admired everywhere in the central part of the city, as many houses were built according to the Amsterdam School, an architectural style of classical modernism. A particularly large number of captivating buildings can be seen along the canals, for example. The metropolis also has various religious buildings worth seeing, such as the Oude Kerk (Old Church), which was originally built in the 13th century. Equally fascinating is the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), which was built in 1408 in the style of a late Gothic basilica. Incidentally, the Dutch monarchs are crowned in this church. The Amstelkerk, the Protestant church Westerkerk and the Protestant Reformed Noorderkerk are also worth a visit. Another building that is a must-see for many city tourists is the Royal Palace. This beautiful representative palace is used by the Dutch royal family for state receptions, events or award ceremonies, for example.

In addition to the architectural sights, some travelers are also interested in the charming parks of the tulip city. The Amstelpark and the Vondelpark are particularly worth mentioning in this regard. Amstelpark is located in the Amsterdam South district and was created in the 1970s on an enormous area for a horticultural and agricultural exhibition. The charming Vondelpark, on the other hand, is centrally located in the city, is extremely idyllic and is popular with tourists and locals alike as an oasis of relaxation close to the city.

The Amsterdam canal belt

For many tourists, one of the most important sights in Amsterdam are the many canals that surround the city center in a ring. Today’s canal belt was built in the 17th century, the so-called Golden Age of the city. Previously, there were already two older canals that served to defend the city. The new canals also served this purpose: Prinsen-, Keizers- and Herengracht, but these waterways were mainly built for the purpose of transporting goods. During this period, more and more people settled in the city, often choosing to live along the canals. Today, the three main canals and the countless connecting canals are a special feature of Amsterdam, which is why the metropolis is often referred to as the Venice of the North. City travelers are recommended not only to take walks along these waterways, but also to take part in a canal cruise.

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Interesting museums and exhibitions

The Dutch capital Amsterdam is home to a large number of interesting museums. Most tourists therefore have the opportunity to visit exhibitions in their preferred subject area. For example, there are several interesting museums for art lovers. One of these museums, the Rijksmuseum (National Museum), is dedicated to Dutch art from the last few centuries. There, interested visitors can view classics such as Rembrandt’s Night Watch alongside many other paintings. The Van Gogh Museum is, of course, all about the famous painter Vincent van Gogh, while the Rembrandt House focuses on Rembrandt’s life and works of art.

Tourists interested in history should visit the Amsterdam Museum, which focuses specifically on the history of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. More recent German history is the focus of the Anne Frank House, which is dedicated to the Holocaust victim Anne Frank. The Jewish woman fled to Amsterdam with her parents in the 1930s to escape persecution by the National Socialists.

In addition to art and history, many other Amsterdam museums cover various other topics. For example, there is a marijuana and hemp museum, science museums, a houseboat museum, a tropical museum and many more.

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Enjoy Amsterdam’s nightlife

Many Germans have the wrong idea about Amsterdam’s nightlife. It is often mainly associated with crime and drug abuse. These negative aspects can certainly also be observed, but they are at most one of the many facets of Amsterdam. On the whole, Amsterdam in the evening and at night can be described as extremely varied, lively and multi-layered. The metropolis literally never sleeps and offers almost everyone enough opportunities to enjoy themselves according to their individual preferences.

Night owls will find a particularly wide range of activities around the two central squares, Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Around these squares, there are various clubs, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, and many establishments that offer live music or other live performances. If you take a stroll through this area of Amsterdam, you will most likely find a restaurant that suits your personal taste.

The Amsterdam district of De Wallen deserves a special mention. This is where the red-light district is located, which is most comparable to the Hamburg neighborhood in St. Pauli. In addition to the many ladies offering their services, there are various coffee shops, strip clubs and sex stores in this district. This area of Amsterdam is often visited by tour groups who prefer this kind of entertainment.