Amsterdam, Netherlands

As the capital city of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is the nation's most popular tourist destination. The city has a rich culture and heritage, with incredible attractions including historic structures and monuments, fascinating museums and areas of natural beauty. The city is perhaps best known for its lively and bustling night life with an abundance of bars, lounges and coffee shops. The city’s Red Light District is one the region’s most famous areas, drawing tourists from across the world. Amsterdam is famous for its laid-back atmosphere and liberal attitude, which make it a unique cruise destination and a wonderfully distinctive city.

Sightseeing in Amsterdam

A stay in Amsterdam is a unique experience, as the culture is one of the most liberal in the world. Wandering around the narrow streets of the city centre and the Red Light District is fascinating excursion in itself. The city is also home to a collection of stunning historic and modern architecture with around 7000 registered buildings distributed throughout the city. Visitors may notice the winches attached to the top of all of the buildings, which are necessary to move heavy items to the top floors of the tall narrow houses found all over the city, the majority of which are four or five stories tall.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam’s most visited museums, offering an insight into the life of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl whose war-time dairies were published. The museum offer visitors a moving experience, to discover the location in which Anne and her family hid from the Nazis during the Second World War until they were eventually caught and sent to concentration camps.

Artis Zoo

Amsterdam’s excellent Artis Zoo is another of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. The zoo is home to a wide range of exhibits including an aquarium, botanical garden, planetarium and zoological museum. Over 700 species of animal are housed within the zoo, giving the attraction a very impressive wildlife display.

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum celebrates the work of internationally renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh. The museum contains the largest collection of authentic Van Gogh artwork in the world.

Shopping in Amsterdam

The city centre is littered with shops and retailers selling a variety of souvenirs, clothes and other items. Independent shops are located all over the city, but for a more luxurious shopping experience, go to the large department stores situated in Dam Square, where a range of electronics, clothes, books, household items and gifts can be found. Amsterdam also boasts a selection of marketplaces, mainly selling locally produced provisons and crafts. Popular markets include the Albert Cuyp, Ten Cate Market and Dappermarkt.

Eating out in Amsterdam

Amsterdam contains an extensive variety of restaurants serving cuisine from across the world including Chinese, Indian, Italian and Middle Eastern meals. Local Dutch favourites are cheeses and sausages which can be found all over the city centre, or alternatively, popular fast food outlets are distributed throughout the centre of town for visitors hoping for a familiar meal.