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Amsterdam: Local Attractions

During our European honeymoon, I fell in love with every city we visited. I couldn’t get enough! Over the next while, I’ll share our destinations, the attractions worth seeing and of course the local eats and drinks you need to try.
 
First up, the stylish and hip Amsterdam! This city was our entrance and exit point, so we didn’t have too much time here, but we managed to cover a lot of ground. I encourage using Airbnb to get that “local living” feel. If you can handle it, rent a canal house (like this). Picturesque and so Dutch, remember these tall and narrow homes result in steep stairs and no elevators. Depending on your floor, you might be in for a mini workout with your luggage as weights. Also, watch out if you’re drunk (arriving or exiting the building), no joke!
 
As for where to stay, it helps to look up the neighbourhoods in advance. Airbnb offers profiles on each neighbourhood so you get an idea of their personality. We chose De Pijp (“The Pipe”), and couldn’t have been happier. De Pijp had plenty of good food, shopping and sights to see nearby. Wherever you stay, Amsterdam is SUPER commutable. It’s no problem to walk or bike (if you’re daring) everywhere. The biking skills are impressive, so as long as you’re confident in the saddle you’ll be fine!
 
I know I’m missing some amazing sites on the list below. Unfortunately, we had a very limited time to explore. So, at the end I shared some extra attractions in the hopes that you venture over, and as a reminder of why I need to go back. Enjoy!

 

MUSEUM MARKET

Before you take in the art and culture at the Rijksmuseum (a must) take a stroll to the Museum Market. You want to go here for the fun “I amsterdam” sign (selfie alert!) and the endless stalls of local vendors. Shop for everything from food, handmade trinkets to jewellery and artwork. Make sure you have a good budget, I wanted to buy everything!

RIJKSMUSEUM

After your wallet takes a beating, it’s time to take in the culture. There’s no better place to do this than at The Rijksmuseum. Opened in 1885, Rijkmuseum is the largest in the Netherlands. Expect to find works by Rembrandt, a stunning library and beautiful examples of dutch architecture.

ALBERT CUYP MARKET

This street market in De Pijp falls between Ferdinand Bolstraat and Van Woustraat. Named after Albert Cuyp, a 17th century painter, the market offers a variety goods. Closed off to traffic, shop at your leisure for groceries, clothing and more. Make sure to bring an appetite, there are so may delicious things to taste at the market including Stroopwafels.

VAN GOGH MUSEUM

Out of all the museums we saw, the Van Gogh Museum was one of my favourites. Each level of the museum tells a piece of Van Gogh’s story along with the evolution of his artistry. The museum is beautifully arranged and the audio tour is the best way to soak it in. Notable paintings have numbers that correspond to an audio segment. Learn about Van Gogh’s preparation, technique, inspiration and other fun facts. This made me appreciate Van Gogh’s hard work and his artistic journey on a whole new level!

Must sees are “Almond Blossoms”, “Vase with Fifteen Sunflowers”, and all the self-portraits. Sorry, no “Starry Night”, that’s at the MOMA in New York City.

DE WALLEN (RED LIGHT DISTRICT)

When night falls, there’s no better time to explore the Red Light District! The neon lights in the display windows at night add to the surreal nature of the famous district. This is THE best place to people watch, and I’m not even talking about the beautiful women on display. Tourists from all around the world flock to this tiny neighbourhood to catch a glimpse of the taboo, so foot traffic is slow moving. If you’re crowd shy, best to steer clear.
 
While a picture is worth a thousand words, this adage doesn’t apply to the Red Light District. Photography of the sex workers is strictly prohibited and anyone caught taking photos will be approached by a bodyguard and asked to delete the pictures. Better to take a mental photo!

CASA ROSSO

Unless you’re ready to call it a night (ya right!), no visit to the Red Light District would be complete without some entertainment. If you’re brave and comfortable enough, try watching a sex show. Shows can range anywhere from 20 – 60 euros and are quite fun. We settled on Casa Rosso, the building with a big pink elephant. It’s not as if anything was extremely out there, but at least we had a good story for our trip home.

WISH LIST FOR NEXT TRIP

 

If you’re as big a food lover as I am, watch out for my second instalment of this Amsterdam feature. I share all the delicious places we ate and drank in the city. Exploring builds up an appetite!

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