Amsterdam Tourism Guide

Several companies offer canal cruises, usually lasting from one to two hours. Most canal cruises depart from: Prins Hendrikkade across from Central Station, The Damrak (also very close to central station), Rokin near Spui Straat Stadhouderskade near Leidseplein.  Canal bus also has stops located around the city. Amsterdam Boat Guide Local company offering private boat … Continue reading »

A pleasant way to cover a lot of ground is to rent a bicycle. There are approximately three-quarters of a million people living in Amsterdam and they own about 600,000 bicycles. Amsterdam is very, very bike-friendly, and there are separate bike lanes on most major streets. In the city centre, however, there is often not … Continue reading »

According to a recent UNICEF report, the Netherlands is number one on the world for childhood wellbeing. You can’t miss all the bikes zipping around the city with bubbling, happy children seated on the back. There is plenty of stuff for kids to do in Amsterdam and if you know where you are going, it … Continue reading »

The Begijnhof is a courtyard tucked into the middle of Amsterdam that gives a glimpse of what life was like several hundred years ago. Withing the area are historical Dutch houses, including a restored antique wooden house, and a tranquil escape from the nearby hustle and bustle of the busy center. Founded in the 14th … Continue reading »

The Artis Royal Zoo is Amsterdam’s only zoo and the biggest zoo in the Netherlands. It is in the Plantage neighborhood in the East of the city, very near the Plantage Kerklaan tram stop. The Artis is a wonderland of plants and animals set among stunning examples of 19th century Dutch architecture. In addition to … Continue reading »

When you arrive in Amsterdam, there are two great packages available to you that allow you to see the sights on a discount. They are the iamsterdam card and the Museumkaart.  Odds are, you really only need one, but which one depends upon what you’d like to see. Th iamsterdam card is a combination public … Continue reading »

For it’s size (700,000 people), Amsterdam is a very safe city. That being said, taking a few precautions to ensure your safety from crime or misfortune can go a long way to ensuring that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons. Violent crime is all but nonexistent in the city, but petty theft … Continue reading »

Internet Only a few small internet cafes remain in the Old Center. Unless you have a laptop or smart phone, your best bet for internet access is the Amsterdam Public Library (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam) wich offers free internet access.  Located near the Central Station the modern and clean library has hundreds of terminals and wifi as well. … Continue reading »

Amsterdam fans out south from the Amsterdam Central Station. The Damrak is the main street and continues past Dam Square, turning into the street Rokin. The oldest area of the town is known as de Wallen (the quays in Dutch). It lies to the east of Damrak and contains the city’s famous red light district. … Continue reading »