Explore Amsterdam - An Exclusive Guide

A perfect day in... Amsterdam, Holland

This charming city is one of the most picturesque in Europe, filled with winding canals, magnificent architecture and some of the world’s most renowned galleries and museums.

What to see in Amsterdam

Get your bearings by taking to the water in a glass-topped boat, one of the best ways to get an overview of the city while also offering the finest views of Amsterdam’s gorgeous architecture. Hop on at the docks in front of Central Station, where most of the tour boats leave from.

Afterwards, walk ten minutes to the historic neighborhood of Oudezijds Voorburgwal and pay a visit to the ancient parish church of Oude Kerk. The oldest building in the city, its tower dates back to 1300 while the rest of the church is 16^th-century Renaissance in style and features some stunning stained glass.

From here, stroll along the waterways and over pretty bridges to the Grachtengordel district, which lies at the heart of the concentric rings of grand canals first laid out in the 17th century. The most spectacular view is at the point where Prinsengracht and Reguliersgracht meet.

What to do in Amsterdam

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to museums in Amsterdam, but the main ones are in the square of Museumplein. Here you can get acquainted with Dutch Old Masters at the enormous Rijksmuseum, filled with Rembrandts and Vermeers, or explore the Van Gogh Museum to see the world’s largest collection of the artist’s work, before getting your contemporary art fix at the stylish Stedelijk.

For a bit of history, make sure to leave time for the incredibly moving Anne Frank House – you’ll see the attic rooms where the Frank family hid during the Second World War, as well as Anne’s original diary.

Over in the Plantage district is the Hortus Botanicus, one of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, home to a vast collection of plants and trees, including several ancient varieties of tulips.

For fashion finds and quirky gifts head to De Negen Straatjes (The 9 Streets), where you’ll find great vintage clothing and bookshops sitting alongside concept stores that sell just one thing, like the candles of Pontifex or the brightly colored bags of Dutch designer Hester van Eeghen.

What to eat in Amsterdam

You can’t leave Amsterdam without trying one of their sweet treats, whether it’s sticky stroopwafels (round waffle cookies held together with caramel filling) – best enjoyed fresh from a stall in one of the city’s many street markets – or a bag of light-as-air poffertjes (Dutch pancakes) sprinkled with powdered sugar.

For those with less of a sweet tooth, pay a visit to one of the city’s Henri Willig Cheese & More shops to sample the finest Dutch cheeses, from Gouda and Geitenkaas to Maasdammer. It’s also worth stopping off for an Indonesian Rijsttafel – a flavorsome multi-dish meal that literally translates as ‘rice table’ – to taste the fragrant Indonesian influence on Amsterdam’s food scene.

For more information, go to iamsterdam.com