5 Things You Must Do On Your First Visit To Amsterdam
I’m fortunate to have many friends and family who live in London. For many years it served as a jumping-off point for our Europe travels, and we were able to fly cheap budget airlines out of London to France, Spain and Italy. But Amsterdam seemed so close that we always eschewed it for a more exotic destination. But on a recent trip to London we could only spare a couple of days, and Amsterdam turned out to be the perfect 48-hour destination.
Getting around Amsterdam
Amsterdam is made up of a series of canals that make up semi-circles, with the center of the circle being the portion of the city referred to as Centrum. There are trams, buses and ferries that run through the city, but it’s extremely walkable. The distance from the center where the central train station is located to the outer Singelgracht canal is only about 1.5 miles. But note that the cobblestone streets, while pretty, aren’t kind to the feet. So we can’t stress this enough: wear supportive footwear!
Things to Do in Amsterdam on Your First Visit
Like any other sophisticated European capital city, you can spend an unlimited amount of time in Amsterdam. But if you’re short on time and looking to get the most out of a quick escape, our recommendations can comfortably be completed in two days. But this list can also serve as a foundation to build a more robust vacation on. Here is our list of things you shouldn’t miss on your first visit to Amsterdam:
Do a canal tour
If you’re wary that this sounds like a terribly touristy activity, you’re absolutely right. But even though Amsterdam is a city that is best enjoyed on foot, a canal tour is a necessary supplement. Why? The canal ring of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because “it is a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering, town planning, and a rational programme of construction and bourgeois architecture”. We took a basic one-hour tour that gave us a brief history of the city and pointed out significant buildings from the water. We were also able to enjoy views only accessible from the canal.
Many reputable tour operators are located right outside of the Amsterdam Centraal station, such as Lovers and Stromma. Tours operate frequently, and much of it is available as an audio guide in multiple languages. There are also niche operators that offer longer, more customized experiences. If you decide to do that, just be sure to check ratings and reviews ahead of time.
Pro Tip: In colder weather many boats are heated, but windows can still be opened. If you'd like a clear view for photographs, be sure to grab a window seat. If temperatures are mild, some boats have an uncovered section in the back for unobstructed 360-degree views. Consider all your options ahead of time and make a selection that suits your personal needs.
Go up the A'DAM Lookout
It’s a little known secret that the best views of Manhattan are from outside Manhattan, like from Long Island City or Hoboken. For a similar perspective in Amsterdam, head to the A’DAM Lookout. To get there, walk through Amsterdam Centraal to get to the GVB ferry quay. Jump on the free Buiksloterweg ferry which will take you across the IJ in 3 minutes. When you get off, head to the A’DAM Hotel. There is a separate entrance for the Lookout, which requires an entry fee. A basic fee allows access to the top, with options to upgrade the experience as desired.
There’s an indoor lounge at the top, so if you’re interested in resting your feet for a few minutes, you could do worse than enjoying a drink here while you take in the view. On the outdoor rooftop, Over The Edge allows you to swing off the side of the 20-story building (though just the thought of this gives me heart palpitations!). The ride up and down the elevator includes a snazzy light show, and you have the option to get your photos super-imposed onto fun, albeit slightly cheesy, backgrounds. But all gimmicks aside, the views from the A’DAM Lookout are simply unparalleled and well worth the visit.
Pro Tip: If you can spare the time, the futuristic building next to the A’DAM Hotel is the EYE Film Institute, which is the national museum for film. Its collection represents an outstanding sample of film history, from classics and blockbusters to cult films.
Fall in love with the Dutch masters and more
Amsterdam is home to several spectacular museums. If you’re anything like us, you could get lost in museums for days on end, so if you’re strapped for time you might need to choose wisely. At the top of the list should be Anne Frank House. I have a small confession: we almost passed on this completely. The subject is never easy to digest, and we were clinging to our special experience at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. Thankfully, my sister-in-law pushed for us to include it, and we’ll do the same here. It’s a gut-wrenching experience, but one that’s entirely unique and special.
The Van Gogh Museum is also high on our list of recommendations, because it captures the artist’s life in such a personal way. Rijkmuseum houses amazing works by the Dutch masters and is housed in a stunning building with both gothic and renaissance elements. If you’re not sure where to start, Rijkmuseum sorts its collection by century, and does a wonderful job of highlighting key pieces in their visitor guide. Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are both located on Museumplein, where you’ll find other great museums like the Stedelijk and Moco Museums for modern and contemporary Art.
Pro Tip: If you’re visiting more than three museums on your trip, check out the Museumkaart option. You can buy it at any of the participating museums and use it immediately for entry. It’s good for 30 days, so it’s also a great savings if you'd like to make repeat visits.
Enjoy authentic Indonesian cuisine
Amsterdam is a pretty cosmopolitan city, but there’s a special relationship between Indonesia and the Netherlands. Indonesia is the largest former Dutch colony, with Dutch control and influence exerted there from 1602 to 1949. Because the two are intrinsically tied, there is a large Indonesian presence in Amsterdam. Which means you can find authentic Indonesian food here. If you are new to the cuisine, try the Rijstaffel, which serves as an Indonesian food sampler of sorts.
Indonesian food centers around rice. Rijstaffel offers a selection of small dishes to accompany the rice, and the options will vary from place to place.If you’re familiar with the cuisine, then feel free to order a la carte based on your preferences. We tried Sampurna, which offers a more elegant and familiar culinary experience. But we also thoroughly enjoyed Sari Citra, where you make a selection from pre-prepared dishes behind a glass case (which is extremely common in Asia). The food you select is warmed up and paid for by weight.
Sample world-famous Dutch specialties
The Dutch love their bread and cheese, which is enough to endear them to us. But there are a number of Dutch sweets that we also sampled, and dare I say, fell in love with. At the top of our list is Stroopwafel, made up of two thin waffles with a special sweet and sticky syrup (the ‘stroop’) sandwiched in between. While you can find varieties all over Amsterdam, the undisputed best can be found at a food stand in Albert Cuypmarket: Original Stroopwafels. If you choose the chocolate version (and why wouldn’t you?), only half is covered in chocolate. You’re supposed to eat towards the chocolate.
We also thoroughly enjoyed poffertjes, which are essentially fluffy baby pancakes. How could we say no? The original version is served with powdered sugar, but there are many varieties of toppings available. We enjoyed ours at De Vier Pilaren, a well-known local spot. But as long as you’re getting them fresh, I don’t think you can go wrong with these. Other local specialties include bitterballen (savory meat-based balls deep fried and traditionally served with mustard), kroket (a deep fried roll with meat ragout inside, covered in breadcrumbs) and Haring or Hollandse Nieuwe (raw herring served with chopped raw onions and gherkins).
Conclusion
Even though it took us a while to make our first visit to Amsterdam, it took us no time at all to fall in love with it. These five options are just the tip of the iceberg, and we can’t wait to return to Amsterdam or to explore more of the Netherlands. And next time, we’ll bring home a year’s supply of Stroopwafels. You live, and you learn.
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