Must-See Places in Amsterdam
Nihan Uğurlu · Keyfi Yazılarım ·
Travel memories from 2016. Hours and prices may change; check official links before visiting.
Personal travel notes, discoveries along the way and photographs from the original story.
Travel notes
I put this page together assuming—and hoping—that you have read my Netherlands–Amsterdam post. Please read the linked account first: it explains the trip in more detail and will help you understand this list. A small request! Thank you, and happy reading.
Rijksmuseum
The museum displaying the largest collection devoted to 17th-century Dutch art.
The Anne Frank House
Excerpts from Anne Frank's famous Second World War diary, historical documents, photographs, film footage and belongings of the people in hiding and their helpers tell the story of the house. Anne's original diary and other notebooks are also on display.
Amsterdam's canals
Countless canals are the defining feature of Amsterdam's historic centre. These beautiful UNESCO-listed waterways, with some 1,500 bridges across the city in my notes, can be explored on foot along the banks, by bicycle like a local, or aboard a sightseeing boat.
The Van Gogh Museum
Home to around 200 paintings by Vincent van Gogh, one of the world's best-known artists, as well as hundreds of drawings and letters.
The 'I amsterdam' letters
The giant lettering that visitors loved to pose in front of, inside—or on top of!
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's huge park: enjoy the trees and greenery in the city centre, in a lovely, quiet and peaceful setting.
Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam's flower market
Although tulips reached Europe through the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands is worth visiting simply for the seas of colour these flowers create.
The Red Light District
An even freer corner of the city of freedoms, with sex workers in windows, coffeeshops, amusement arcades, small gambling venues and peep-show theatres. It felt very strange: couples walked around as though on a promenade, looking at women in lingerie behind windows. A different world!
Madame Tussauds
My original notes described it as the second largest after London. If you want to see wax figures of celebrities, the choice is yours.
Cheese shops
You can't leave without tasting—and buying—some famous Dutch cheese!