Destination attractions things to do in amsterdam

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Amsterdam has always had something of a dubious reputation. It is well known for its tolerance to drugs as well as its huge red-light district. The red light district, one of Europes largest, is a tourist attraction in itself, with tours and guidebooks dedicated to it. But there is much more to Amsterdam than this; the city is one of Europes most beautiful and fascinating smaller cities.

One of the best things you can do in Amsterdam is simply to walk and admire the city. Amsterdam is one of the easiest cities in Europe to stroll through, being relatively flat and compact by European standards, and most of the main sights are in the historic center. Walking in Amsterdam is pleasurable C the city is relatively free of traffic and modern buildings. Much of the historic center still consists of lovely old gabled houses alongside picturesque canals. At first glance, most of the houses look the same, but watch for unusual decorative features, designs and murals. Many of the taller houses still use a rope and pulley system to get furniture in and out of the houses, as the staircases are too narrow. Over half a million visitors and residents also travel by bicycle C cycling in the city is relatively inexpensive and safe. Another way to get around and to give yourself a different perspective is to take one of the many canal cruises that are available. If you take a canal cruise, look out for some of the more than 2000 houseboats throughout the city, many of which are uniquely decorated by their owners.

Nightlife in Amsterdam is legendary. Apart from the red light district which occupies a large center of town near the main railway station, there are other nightlife areas. Leidseplein is the Dutch answer to Times Square with restaurants, movie theaters and plenty of bright neon lights. Amsterdam is one of the few cities in Europe where recent films from the United States are shown in English. The famous Concertgebouw, which was originally built on wooden stilts, is still one of the most acoustically perfect concert halls in the world. For eating out in the city, try one of the numerous Indonesian restaurants, a legacy of the time when the Netherlands colonies stretched all the way to the Far East. There are many bars and cafes in Amsterdam where it is acceptable, if not strictly legal, to smoke marijuana; these establishments can sometimes be recognized by a green leaf painted on their window. For a uniquely Dutch experience, go for a drink in one of the brown cafes (so-called because of the dark brown stain on the walls, the result of years of tobacco smoke) which can be found all over the city, but especially in the working class Joordan neighborhood.

For a change of pace, visit one of the citys many museums. Amsterdams museums range from the tiny but fascinating Tattoo museum to the Rijksmuseum, which is one of the greatest museums in the world. The Rijksmuseum has over 200 rooms and contains the largest collection of paintings by the Dutch masters. Its most famous painting is Rembrandts The Night Watch. Another museum which is extremely popular is the Anne Frank house. This house is where a young Dutch girl hid from the Nazis in occupied Holland for several years until finally the hideout was discovered by the occupying forces. The attic where Anne hid, and wrote her famous diary has been left exactly as it was 50 years ago and although there is little actually to see here, its a moving experience and the small museum is usually crowded. The third must-see museum in the city is the Vincent van Gogh museum. Nearly every painting Van Gogh produced, along with his sketches and letters, are on permanent display here, along with temporary exhibitions.

Amsterdam is also famous for its diamonds, having been a major center of diamond cutting since the 15th century. Today it is still one of the biggest diamond markets in the world. Many showrooms in the city offer guided tours and demonstrations of cutting diamonds C of course you are generally pressured into buying something, but there is no obligation. One of the best places to go just to watch - or to purchase - is the Amsterdam Diamond Center, in the center of the city. If diamonds are not in your budget, Amsterdam has some of the best street markets in Europe C there are over 50 markets in and around the city every week, the biggest and best being the flea market at Waterlooplein.

Outside the souvenir shops, you wont see many of those symbols of Dutch culture in Amsterdam C windmills and tulips. If you feel a visit to Holland is not complete without them, two easy day trips from Amsterdam by train or bus will take you to the wonderful tulip gardens at Keukenhof, and the spectacular row of 19 working windmills at Kinderdijk.