The city of freedom, the city of love, the city of sins… These are all nicknames people call the capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam! The city received this title thanks to very liberal laws that allow the use of many types of drugs. However, not everyone comes here for affordable marijuana. Many tourists are attracted to Amsterdam due to the incomparable atmosphere of freedom and tolerance.
“Venice of the North” is how tourists often call the city of Amsterdam, with 150 canals paving the city. Amsterdam is the largest city in the Netherlands and the capital of the kingdom since 1814. The Kingdom of Holland was founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806, and he made Amsterdam it’s capital. During the golden age of Holland, the city became a major trading center and a world port.
There are a lot of attractions in the city. It is home to the world’s oldest stock exchange, the City Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Hermitage on the Amstel, the famous Red Light District, the Museum of Sex, the Museum of Tulips, the Museum of Torture, the Madame Tussauds Museum. Thus, if you come to Amsterdam for the first time, you will be at a loss for which place to visit first. After all, you want to see everything, and there is not always enough time. To help you, we have made a selection of 5 must-see places in Amsterdam.
1. Must-see places in Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum
Where should you go in Amsterdam first? Of course, to the Rijksmuseum – one of the must-see places in Amsterdam. This is one of the best places to explore the history of the country and one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. It is an art history museum in the Northern Netherlands. There you will find paintings by Dutch masters of the Golden Age, as well as really interesting exhibitions dedicated to crafts and art. It is famous all over the world for the fact that Rembrandt’s painting “Night Watch” is located here. At a point in history, the museum building was rebuilt in order to adequately place this painting here. Young visitors will definitely like the exposition of dollhouses of the XVII century, completely reproducing the architecture and the atmosphere of everyday life of the Golden Age.
What you should know:
- The museum is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00.
- Entrance fee to the museum: an adult ticket costs € 20, for children under 18 years old inclusive admission is free.
2. Must-see places in Amsterdam: Vincent Van Gogh State Museum
One of the must-see places in Amsterdam is the Vincent Van Gogh State Museum. The son of Vincent’s beloved brother Teo, Willem, who inherited all his uncle’s wealth, helped to found this museum. He secured the establishment of a museum from the Dutch government and the Amsterdam City Government. The museum was founded in 1973. Now it contains more than 200 paintings by Vincent Van Gogh, about 500 drawings, as well as an impressive archive of letters. In addition to Van Gogh’s paintings, there are works by his contemporaries K. Monet, P. Picasso, P. Signac, P. Gauguin, and others. There is also a library and scientific laboratories. More than a million people visit the museum annually.
3. Must-see places in Amsterdam: The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace definitely deserves your attention. From the moment of its appearance to the present day, the palace remains one of the most significant and largest buildings in the Netherlands. Important events such as the transfer of the throne from one monarch to another and royal weddings take place here. In addition, official receptions and various award ceremonies are arranged here.
In the luxurious halls of the Royal Palace, there are paintings by great Dutch masters: Rembrandt, Jordaens, Lievens, Bol, as well as other art objects.
What you need to know:
- Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 12:00-17:00, on Monday and on days of official events of the royal house, the palace is closed.
- The cost of the visit: €10, for children under 18 years — free of charge.
4. Amsterdam Canals
Boat trips along the canals of Amsterdam are the most popular source of entertainment for tourists. Every year millions of visitors make excursions on a river tram or boats with a glass roof. Amsterdam’s canals are 75 kilometers long, but they are practically not used for cargo shipping. There are approximately 165 canals in the city, and there are more bridges than in Venice — about 1,500. Tourists can visit excursions in many languages of the world.
Do not be lazy and visit the most beautiful — Singel and Grahtengordel. Take a walk along the water, look at the old fairy-tale houses or enjoy an evening view of the canal from one of the many bridges. And what’s best is that it’s free!
In the city center, boats depart:
- From the square near the Central Station;
- From the piers on Damrak and Rokin streets;
- And from the pier next to the State Museum.
5. Amsterdam Zoo
Thinking about where to go in Amsterdam with the kids? Any local resident will advise you to go to the zoo. There are 6 thousand species of animals from all over the world, a planetarium, an aquarium, a botanical garden, and even a geological museum. The planetarium and aquarium feature inhabitants of the seas, oceans, and canals. In the tropical pavilion and the insect pavilion, butterflies live in conditions as close as possible to their natural habitat. The animals in the zoo are kept in excellent conditions, which is very important. The zoo staff sincerely love their work, so the atmosphere in the zoo is amazing.
What you need to know:
- You can get to the zoo from November 1 to February 28 daily from 09:00 to 17:00 and from March 1 to October 31 from 09:00 to 18:00.
- The ticket costs €25, for children 3-9 years — €18.50, for children 0-2 years — free of charge.
