NEMO Science Museum

Amsterdam

　　Perched atop the entrance to the IJ Tunnel is this unmissable green-copper building with a slanted roof, designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano and almost surrounded by water. Its rooftop square has great views and water- and wind-operated hands-on exhibits. Inside, everything is interactive, with four floors of investigative mayhem...

Concertgebouw

Amsterdam

　　The Concert Hall was built in 1888 by AL van Gendt, who managed to engineer its near-perfect acoustics. Bernard Haitink, former conductor of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, remarked that the world-famous hall was the orchestra's best instrument. Free half-hour concerts take place Wednesdays at 12.30pm from September to June; arrive...

OBA: Centrale Bibliotheek Amsterdam

Amsterdam

　　This being Amsterdam, it has one of the coolest libraries you can imagine, built in 2007 and spread over multiple light, bright floors. The basement is devoted to kids, and has a wigwam, a huge polar bear and the magical, marvellous Mouse Mansion, with 100 beautifully detailed rooms, the work...

Frankendael House

Amsterdam

　　This area was rolling countryside several centuries ago. In the 18th century, wealthy Amsterdammers would pass their summers and weekends in large country retreats on a tract of drained land called Watergraafsmeer. There were once around 40 such mansions, but the last survivor is Frankendael, an elegant, restored Louis XIV–style...

Below the Surface

Amsterdam

　　During the construction of Amsterdam's 2018-opened Noord/Zuidlijn (North–South metro line), more than 134,000 archaeological finds were unearthed from beneath the streets and waterways. Now 9500 of them dating as far back as 2400 BC are stunningly displayed in glass cases between Rokin metro station's escalators (visitors need a valid public...

De Duif

Amsterdam

　　In 1796, following the French-installed government’s proclamation of religious freedom, De Duif became the Netherlands’ first Catholic church to be built with a public entrance in more than two centuries. The original church was demolished due to unstable construction; its replacement was built in 1857. Today, De Duif is an...

Poezenboot

Amsterdam

　　Cat-lovers may want to check out this quirky boat on the Singel. It was founded in 1966 by a local woman who became legendary for looking after several hundred stray cats at a time. The boat has since been taken over by a foundation and can hold some 50 kitties...

Oosterpark

Amsterdam

　　The lush greenery of Oosterpark, with wild parakeets in the trees and herons stalking the large ponds, brings an almost tropical richness to this diverse neighbourhood, despite being laid out in English style. It was established in 1891 as a pleasure park for the diamond traders who found their fortunes...

Albert Cuypmarkt

Amsterdam

　　Some 260 stalls fill the Albert Cuypmarkt, Amsterdam's largest and busiest market. Vendors loudly tout their array of gadgets, homewares, flowers, fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. Many sell clothes and other goods, too, and they're often cheaper than anywhere else. Snack vendors tempt passers-by with raw-herring sandwiches, frites (fries), poffertjes...

A'DAM Tower

Amsterdam

　　The 22-storey A'DAM Tower used to be the Royal Dutch Shell oil company offices, but has had a makeover to become one of Amsterdam's biggest attractions. Take the trippy lift to the rooftop for awe-inspiring views in all directions, with a giant six-person swing that kicks out over the edge...

't Smalle

Amsterdam

　　Dating back to 1786 as a jenever (Dutch gin) distillery and tasting house, and restored during the 1970s with antique porcelain beer pumps and lead-framed windows, this locals' favourite is one of Amsterdam's most charming bruin cafés (brown cafes; pubs). Dock your boat right by the pretty stone terrace, which...

Café Papeneiland

Amsterdam

　　With Delft Blue tiles and a central stove, this bruin café (brown cafe; pub) is a 1642 gem. The name, 'Papists' Island', goes back to the Reformation, when there was a clandestine Catholic church on the canal's northern side. Papeneiland was reached via a secret tunnel from the top of...

ARCAM

Amsterdam

　　The curved Amsterdam Architecture Foundation, a striking waterside building designed by Dutch architect René van Zuuk, hosts changing architectural exhibitions plus Architecture Talk & Walk tours (€24.50). The tours consist of a 45-minute lecture followed by a guided two-hour walk, and run on Fridays at 1.30pm from April to October....

Prik

Amsterdam

　　'Lovely liquids, sexy snacks and twisted tunes' is the siren call of this hyper-retro bar with cocktails galore and Prosecco on tap. DJs spin pop, house and dance tunes on Friday and Saturday. ...

Hôtel Droog

Amsterdam

　　Not a hotel, but a local design house. Droog means 'dry' in Dutch, and these products are full of dry wit. You'll find all kinds of stylish versions of useful things – a clothes-hanger lamp or streamlined hot water bottle – as well as the kind of clothing that should...

Amsterdamse Bos

Amsterdam

　　Amsterdam's forest is a vast swathe (roughly 1000 hectares) of almost countryside, 20 minutes by bike south of Vondelpark. Planted in 1934 to provide employment during the Great Depression, its lakes, woods and meadows are criss-crossed by paths and dotted with cafes. You can rent bicycles, feed baby goats in...

Pllek

Amsterdam

　　Uber-cool Pllek is a Noord magnet, with hip things of all ages streaming over to hang out in its interior made of old shipping containers and, when the weather allows, lounge on its artificial sandy beach. It's a terrific spot for a waterfront beer or glass of wine. 　　Locals flock...

X Bank

Amsterdam

　　More than just a concept store showcasing Dutch-designed haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion, furniture, art, gadgets and homewares, the 700-sq-metre X Bank – in a former bank that's now part of the striking W Amsterdam hotel – also hosts exhibitions, workshops, launches and lectures. Interior displays change every month; check...

Melkweg

Amsterdam

　　In a former dairy, the nonprofit 'Milky Way' offers a dazzling galaxy of diverse gigs, featuring both DJs and live bands. One night it's electronica, the next reggae or punk, and the next heavy metal. Roots, rock and mellow singer-songwriters all get stage time too. Check out the website for...

De Belhamel

Amsterdam

　　In warm weather the canal-side tables here at the head of the Herengracht are enchanting, and the richly wallpapered art nouveau interior set over two levels provides the perfect backdrop for exquisitely presented dishes such as poached sole with wild-spinach bisque, veal sweetbreads with polenta and spring onion jus, or...

Brouwerij 't IJ

Amsterdam

　　Can you get more Dutch than drinking a craft beer beneath the creaking sails of the 1725-built De Gooyer Windmill? Amsterdam's leading microbrewery makes delicious standard, seasonal and limited-edition brews; try the smooth, fruity 'tripel' Zatte, which was their first creation back in 1985. Enjoy yours in the tiled tasting...

Museumplein

Amsterdam

　　Amsterdam's most famous museums cluster around this public square, which has that Amsterdam essential: a skateboard ramp, as well as a playground and ice-skating pond (in winter). Locals and tourists mill around, everyone picnics here when the weather warms up, and there are food and craft stalls on the third...

De Silveren Spiegel

Amsterdam

　　Hung with replicas of Old Masters, the 'Silver Mirror' is an exceedingly elegant space inside a 1614-built, step-gabled red-brick townhouse. Exquisite dishes served on handcrafted porcelain might include lobster stuffed with North Sea crab with vintage Gouda foam or Texel lamb crown with asparagus mousse and cinnamon jus (set menus...

Rembrandtplein

Amsterdam

　　First called Reguliersplein, then Botermarkt for the butter markets held here until the mid-19th century, this somewhat brash square now takes its name from the statue of the painter erected in 1876. Beneath Rembrandt is a photo-op favourite: imposing life-sized bronze sculptures re-creating his famous painting, The Night Watch (see...

Café Pieper

Amsterdam

　　Small, unassuming and unmistakably old (1665), Café Pieper features stained-glass windows, antique beer mugs hanging from the bar and a working Belgian beer pump (1875). Sip an Amsterdam-brewed Brouwerij 't IJ beer or a terrific cappuccino as you marvel at the claustrophobia of the low-ceilinged bar (people were shorter back...

Leidseplein

Amsterdam

　　Historic architecture, beer, clubs and steakhouses – welcome to Leidseplein. The square is always busy, but after dark it gets thronged by a mainstream crowd of party lovers (more tourists than locals). A major hub for nightlife and trams, it has countless pubs and clubs, masses of restaurants and an...

Gathershop

Amsterdam

　　The beautifully curated Gathershop is a gift buyer's dream, stocking handmade and fair-trade items from clothing to homewares. Between the carefully arranged plants and cacti, which are also for sale, you’ll discover delicate jewellery, simple glazed ceramic cups, minimalist stationery and natural skincare products. ...

D'Vijff Vlieghen

Amsterdam

　　Spread across five 17th-century canal houses, the 'Five Flies' is a jewel. Old-wood dining rooms overflow with character, featuring Delft Blue tiles and original works by Rembrandt; chairs have copper plates inscribed with the names of famous guests (Walt Disney, Mick Jagger…). Exquisite dishes range from smoked goose breast with...

Café de Ceuvel

Amsterdam

　　Tucked in a former shipyard and designed by architect Wouter Valkenier, built from recycled materials and with a focus on sustainability, this waterside spot is built out onto an island. With drinks including homemade lemongrass and ginger soda, plus bottled beer from local heroes Oedipus Brewery and Brouwerij 't IJ,...

Wynand Fockink

Amsterdam

　　Dating from 1679, this small tasting house in an arcade behind NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky serves scores of jenevers (Dutch gins) and liqueurs. Although there's no seating, it's an intimate place to knock back a shot glass or two. At weekends, guides give 45-minute distillery tours (in English) that are...

Stedelijk Museum

Amsterdam

　　This fabulous museum houses the collection amassed by postwar curator Willem Sandberg. The ground-floor Stedelijk Base exhibition displays a rotating selection of the amazing collection's highlights, featuring works by Picasso, Matisse, Mondrian, Van Gogh, Rothko, Jeff Koons, Yves Klein, Lichtenstein, Yayoi Kusama and more, plus an exuberant Karel Appel mural....

Verzetsmuseum

Amsterdam

　　The museum of the Dutch Resistance brings the horror of German occupation in WWII vividly alive, using personal stories, letters, artefacts, films and photographs to illuminate local resistance to (but also collaboration with) the Nazis. There's also a section on the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) pre- and postwar. Labels...

H'Art Museum

Amsterdam

　　Formerly a branch of St Petersburg’s State Hermitage Museum, H'Art Museum cut ties with Russia and now operates as an independent museum. Blockbuster temporary exhibitions show works from H'art's vast treasure trove; the Outsider Gallery also has temporary shows. I Amsterdam and Museum cards allow free entrance or a discount,...

Museum het Rembrandthuis

Amsterdam

　　Housed in Rembrandt's former home on lively Jodenbreestraat, this evocative museum provides an unparalleled insight into one of the Netherlands’ greatest artistic geniuses. This is where the master painter spent his most successful years, working on major commissions such as The Night Watch and running his painting studio.  　　The interior...

Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam

　　The Netherlands’ top treasure house, the Rijksmuseum (pronounced ‘rikes’), is among the world's finest art museums. With over 1.5km of galleries, it packs in around 8000 artworks with paintings by homegrown heroes Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh, as well as plenty of other masterpieces. 　　The museum is spread over four...

Anne Frank Huis

Amsterdam

　　Visiting the Anne Frank Huis is one of Amsterdam's most profound experiences. Tragically, of the 107,000 Jewish adults and children deported from the Netherlands to concentration camps during WWII, only 5000 survived. 　　Entering the Secret Annexe where the teenaged girl and her family desperately hid from the Nazis for over...

Vondelpark

Amsterdam

　　Attracting over 12 million visitors per year, Amsterdam’s favorite playground is the green expanse of Vondelpark, with its 116 acres (47 hectares) of manicured lawns, ponds, quaint cafes, charming footbridges and winding paths. 　　It holds a special place in the city’s heart ­– a lush green egalitarian space where people...

Van Gogh Museum

Amsterdam

　　This wonderful museum traces Van Gogh's life and artistic development via the world's largest collection of his work. More than 200 canvases are on display, stretching from his early, bleak portraits of peasants in the Netherlands through to his later years in sunny France, where he produced his best-known work with its...