Amsterdam is one of those must-visit European destinations and I am happy to say that not long ago I was able to spend a long weekend in this vibrant city along with my husband, sister and my oldest friend.
We stayed in an Airbnb apartment which was part of a traditional Dutch house including a very steep set of stairs, right next to the city’s beautiful Vondelpark, a short walk to the main attractions.
Amsterdam has a vast array of things to do including exploring the city’s amazing architecture, restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores to secret gardens, canals and a multitude of museums. Our visit was only short so we had to jam in as much as possible and these 8 were what we managed.
VONDELPARK
As I mentioned our apartment was very close to the Vondelpark, a public park made up of 120 acres which first opened in 1865. The park offers many attractions including an open-air theatre, a playground and several bar/restaurants.
When we were there we saw that the park was very popular with the locals who walk their dogs, cycle, play sports and have picnics in the open grass areas. The Park plays host to many events throughout the year such as
the King’s Day celebrations on 27 April and an annual golf tournament.
We admired the relaxed atmosphere, the lush planting and water features which attracted local wildlife including some cute ducklings. The park makes a great stop off on the way to the Museum Quarter.
VAN GOGH MUSEUM
Speaking of the Museum Quarter, one must-see is the Van Gogh Museum, found in the Museum Square in the south of the city which is dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Three floors showcase works from throughout Van Gogh’s life including 200 paintings, 400 drawings, and 700 letters! It was so exciting to be able to see his famous piece Sunflowers (1889) in person. This is a must-see for any art lover.
While you are in the Museum Quarter why not take a look at the other worthy attractions such as the Stedelijk Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Concertgebouw.
CANAL CRUISE
I have to admit I really wanted to go on a canal cruise and was super happy when we got the chance even though it was chucking it down with rain at the time!
There are 165 man-made canals which were designed to stimulate trade and transport and reclaim land to expand. In 2010 Amsterdam’s canal ring was recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Hop-on-hop-off services, romantic candlelit tours, child-friendly adventures and intimate guided boat tours for smaller groups are all available so there is something for everyone
From the canal, you will have the perfect view of the Dutch architecture and you can marvel at the water-side mansions worth millions while learning about the city’s history.
ANNE FRANK MUSEUM
Nothing was more harrowing on our visit to Amsterdam than a visit to the Anne Frank Museum which can be found in the 17th-century canal house in which Anne Frank along with her family and four other people famously hid from the Nazis.
This is a biographical museum focusing on the life and times for Jews in Amsterdam in wartime allowing you to walk about the building and even enter the rooms in which Anne and her companions hid.
There is a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank as well as an exhibition space about all forms of persecution and discrimination. Despite the sad topic of this museum I definitely recommend a visit.
FLOWER MARKET
I love flowers so I was really excited when we visit the Flower Market in Amsterdam. It is the only floating flower market in the world with the stalls sitting on top of houseboats.
The market was founded in 1862 and since then has been offering passers-by the chance to marvel at a huge range of fresh bouquets, single flowers and bulbs.
I think it is very hard to come away from the flower market without buying something to take home and plant. I certainly bought some tulips and peonies to add to my garden.
BEGIJNHOF COURTYARD GARDEN
It took us a while to find the Begijnhof courtyard garden which speaks to
Originally a sanctuary for the Beguines nuns, the Begijnhof is an inner courtyard garden where a stunning little 15th century English Church stands – one of the oldest buildings in the city.
On the other side of the garden sits a smaller Begijnhof chapel where Catholics and Beguines attended services in secret up until 1795
The Begijnhof courtyard garden itself is picturesque containing a garden area surrounded by traditional houses built from the 16th century onwards.
CONDOMERIE
For something a little different why not visit the world’s first speciality condom shop? Amsterdam has a bit of a reputation with its enlightened attitude towards sex which I think ultimately is a good thing as it raises awareness for STIs as well as teenage pregnancy.
In the late 1980s, Amsterdam’s Condomerie was founded to help battle the rise of AIDS with the aim of removing the taboo surrounding the sale of condoms and to provide information about the different types and sizes of condoms available in an unselfconscious manner.
We were amazed at the wide selection of contraception methods available alongside the expert information and good service, sharing the safe-sex message with a smile.
SEX MUSEUM
If you’re stopping off at the Condomerie you may also be interested in visiting the Sex Museum too. Be warned, this museum is entertaining and disturbing in equal measures!
The Sex Museum opened in 1985 and is unsurprisingly one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands. The museum showcases many aspects of sensual love with an extensive collection of erotic pictures, statues, paintings, recordings, photographs and more from across the ages.
I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t brave enough to see uncensored, graphic exhibits however if you have a good sense of humour and aren’t easily offended it’s worth a visit, if only to marvel at the number of
