Things to Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Centraal

If you arrive in the center of Amsterdam by train, the first structure you’ll see is the train station, Amsterdam Centraal. While inside, you don’t get the same “what a beautiful building” feeling like you would at Grand Central Terminal in New York, but get your camera ready as you step outside. By the way, according to the information I got from Piri, about 1,500 trains arrive at the station every day. Hopefully, one day, our stations will be this busy too.

Right across from the station is the Tourist Information center. Exactly 8 years ago, when smartphones hadn’t yet become part of our lives, we waited in line here for a long time and left without finding a place that met our criteria and budget. We returned to the station hopelessly, planning to catch a night train to another city. When those plans fell through, Turkish workers at the station came to our rescue. Anyway, I’ll stop rambling and return to my recent trip. You can also take your first canal photos from across the station. I used the luggage storage at the station, and if you need it, it’s self-service and easy to use.

Amsterdam Canals

The canals of Amsterdam are one of the city’s most iconic features, giving it the nickname the “Venice of the North.” In 2010, the Amsterdam Canal Belt was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its cultural and historical importance. The canals are seen as an outstanding example of innovative urban planning and hydraulic engineering from the Dutch Golden Age.

Some of these houses along the canals are now museums, cafes, or offices, but many still serve as private residences. The interiors often feature high ceilings, large windows, and views of the canals.

The best ways to experience the canals is walking or cycling along the canals especially on a Sunday morning or by taking a boat tour. Various options of boat tours are available, from open-air boats to luxury dinner cruises, offering different perspectives of the city. I haven’t had a chance yet to experience this one.

Amsterdam has over 1,500 bridges, with many crossing the city’s canals. Some, like the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), are especially famous for their design and historical importance. The bridges are often beautifully lit at night, creating a romantic atmosphere.

Weeping Tower

From here, my second stop was the Weeping Tower on the Piri route; you can also take photos of the Old Church with the canal from here. There’s also a plaque on the tower’s wall about the famous sailor Hudson departing from here to New York; the Hudson River is named after him.

Nieuwmarkt

I headed to Nieuwmarkt as the next stop. In the center of the square, you’re greeted by De Waag. It was a place where executions were carried out in the 16th century. I recommend taking a photo of De Waag and then diving into the market set up in the square, as the bread and sweets are so tempting that it’s hard to resist buying them. I even considered bringing bread as a gift instead of the usual souvenirs. There are quite a few cafes and restaurants around Nieuwmarkt, but finding a spot on weekends can be challenging, just so you know.

Red Light District

And here we are at one of Amsterdam’s most famous spots: the Red Light District. This neighborhood, dating back to the 1200s, is one of the world’s oldest red-light districts. Although I didn’t feel completely comfortable while walking around here, somehow, you find yourself passing through this area. The contrast it creates with the Old Church next to it was one of the things that intrigued me the most, both in the past and during this visit. One thing I don’t like about Amsterdam is that almost all the churches are treated as tourist money-making spots. As a result, I chose not to enter any of them, as I think I’ve seen enough churches in other cities.

By the way, one of the things that will catch your eye most when you first visit Amsterdam is the narrow buildings. Since taxes were based on the width of the buildings, they are very narrow, and there are hooks at the top of the buildings for moving furniture, as some houses are even tilted. Additionally, there are many houseboats; in fact, the latest issue of the Pegasus magazine mentioned villas built on water, with one floor submerged underwater. I don’t know if it’s a different feeling to sleep underwater at night, but it seems that these types of houses are quite popular too.

Dam Square

Dam Square is probably the most central square in Amsterdam. Madame Tussauds Museum, the not-so-new New Church, and the Royal Palace of Amsterdam are located here. I took two photos of this square, one on a Saturday and the other on a Monday, and they are proof of the weekend crowd; be sure to check out the square photo above to see what I mean.

Even if you don’t enter the Amsterdam Museum, I recommend walking through its courtyard, as it’s free to explore 🙂

Rembrandt Square

Rembrandt Square and its surroundings became one of my favorite areas. You reach the square by passing through the flower market, but it’s hard to enjoy the market on the weekends due to the crowds. Famous cheese shops are also along this route. In the square, in addition to Rembrandt’s statue, there’s a 3D representation of the characters from his famous painting The Night Watch. The canals around Thorbecke Square, which is nearby, are quieter than others, making it ideal for taking photos. According to what Mr. Saffet said, Rembrandt Square is also beautiful at night.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark became another of my favorite spots in Amsterdam. On our way here, we passed by Museum Square, briefly admiring the museums from the outside while listening to the Piri app. As we hurried to reach Vondelpark before it got too late, we didn’t linger long. Since I love parks, I absolutely adored Vondelpark, and seeing the year’s first storks there made me even happier 🙂 Even though we only explored a part of it, we found peaceful spots to enjoy the park despite the crowds.

Anne Frank Museum

The only museum I visited in Amsterdam was the Anne Frank Museum, for which you need to buy tickets online. How did I manage to find a spot one day in advance? Purely intuition. When I first checked, all the time slots were fully booked, but the next day, a little voice inside me said, “check again,” and I’m glad I listened. A spot had opened up at the perfect time. Considering you buy the tickets directly, I don’t think anyone canceled, so it might have been a tourist marketing trick, or maybe I was just lucky—I’m not sure—but I’m glad I went.

Even if you can’t visit the Anne Frank Museum, be sure to walk around the area, as the canal photos here turn out especially beautiful. The museum itself is quite small, and as you try to listen to everything while moving from room to room, it can get overwhelming; just as you start to get emotional, you’re suddenly surrounded by lots of people, and you feel the urge to move on to the next room. Still, being able to witness the story in such detail and up close felt like watching familiar scenes from movies come to life, as if history were unfolding before your eyes.

You might also check out my post on “Where to Eat and Drink in Amsterdam“.