If you want to combine history, culture, night life, shopping, and more, then you absolutely must spend some time in Amsterdam. It is the capital city of the Netherlands, of course, but is also so very much more. Whatever you want to see or do, Amsterdam is the right place for you. |
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Amsterdam is one of the oldest cities in Europe and as such is home to a huge variety of historic architecture, sights, and culture. It is widely considered the creative centre of the Netherlands, if not of Europe in general, because of the healthy arts community that thrives in many parts of the city. It is no surprise, then, that Amsterdam is home to multiple museums and cultural centres ranging from the very modern to those tracing back several centuries. Some great examples of this include the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House, the Royal Palace, and the Verzetsmuseum (Dutch Resistance Museum).
The Dutch people have a great reverence for the outdoors and the environment so there are plenty of parks, bike paths, walking paths, and the like. Take a self guided walking tour, rent a bike from one of the many friendly rental vendors, or simply pack a picnic and spend the afternoon in Vondelpark right in the heart of the older section of Amsterdam. The summer months are most comfortable for most visitors to enjoy these activities, but the residents of Amsterdam are well prepared to do most of these things all year round.
The canals of Amsterdam are world famous, and rightfully so. Canal cruises are an excellent choice for viewing many different parts of the city in a relatively short amount of time, and some cruise operators even offer you the flexibility to get off at a stop along the way and then get back on another canal boat that comes along at a later time. If you do choose a canal cruise be prepared with your camera and your sense of wonder because both will be used a great deal during your time on the water.
The history of Amsterdam is rich and varied. For instance, the plentiful windmills that surround the city proper are easy to get to and extremely interesting to explore. The churches of Amsterdam are another rich historical resource, dating back as far as the 1300's or so. A few of the best churches to visit and learn about include Oude Kerk, Westerkerk, Zuiderkerk, and Noorderkerk. You will thoroughly enjoy the architecture, the history, and of course the ambiance and sense of purpose contained in these wonderful churches.
Other historical sites in Amsterdam that are well worth exploring include Anne Frank House, the well preserved home where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis and where she recorded her thoughts and feelings in what would later become an internationally famous publication, The Diary of Anne Frank. In the oldest part of Amsterdam you will find the only two surviving medieval era wooden houses, Begijnhof 34 and Zeedijk 1. There are several other historic houses nearby as well, but these only date back to the 1400's and later.
Air travel to and from Amsterdam is easy and convenient, with nearly every major international airline providing service into Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. This is one of the busiest airports you will find anywhere in the world, which means you will have plenty of flights to choose from and you should plan your arrivals and departures for non-peak travel hours. From the airport there are numerous transportation choices for getting into the city, including the direct train, buses, and taxi cab services. Before you decide on using one of these methods, though, check with the hotel where you plan to stay because many of them offer courtesy or discounted shuttle services for their guests.
There is no other place quite like Amsterdam. It is truly a wonderful city with endless character and atmosphere.
Wiki:- Amsterdam
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