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DESTINATION GUIDE

Travel Guide Amsterdam printable version
Amsterdam Introduction
Amsterdam by night. Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board. Photo: Jochen Tack

Liberal, loveable Amsterdam captivates with narrow canals and grand manors, moody cafés and Old Masters

Escape: To the tree-top walkway in De Hortus botanical gardens, sheltering 8000 species, Amsterdam's peaceful birch woods, Vondelpark's vast expanse of greenery and Sarphati Park 's fountains.
Discover: Amsterdam's lattice of tree-lined canals speckled with 17th century gabled townhouses, the Spui canal's flower market, one-offs in De Negen Straatjes' boutiques and Dutch Masters in the Rijksmuseum.
Take Home: A pair of cow print Cloggy slippers (more comfortable than the real thing), red wax-coated Edam cheese, genever (Dutch gin), salty liquorice dropjes and blue-and-white Delft Tiles.
Amsterdam Lowdowntop
Highlights

Enjoy cult flicks at Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival (Apr), impressive parades and fireworks on Queens Day (Apr), cutting-edge arts at the Holland Festival (Jun), the Amsterdam Canal Festival's classical concerts (Aug) and the Crossing Borders Festival (Nov).

Electricity

220 volts

International Dialling Code

+31

Money (currency)

Local currency is the Euro (€)

Time

GMT: precisely, GMT plus 1 hour in summer

British Consulate

Address: Koningslaan 44
1075 AE Amsterdam
Holland
Tel: +31 0 20 676 43 43

Amsterdam Tourist Board

Address: 10 Stationsplein
1012 AB Amsterdam
Holland
Tel: +31 0 20 20 18800
Web: Amsterdam Tourism

Halifax Travel Insurance

Tel: 0800 032 1751

Web: Halifax Travel Insurance

Halifax Travel Money

Tel: 0845 246 0006

Amsterdam Experiencestop
Best Attractions

Gawp at the Royal Palace's 17th century grandeur, rising above Dam Square, and the world's most famous Sunflowers in the Van Gogh Museum. The rambling townhouse museum, Anne Frank House, brings to life the young girl's famous diary. Dutch Masters grace the walls of the Rijksmuseum, housing Rembrandt's The Night Watch.

Best Hidden Gems

Be inspired by Rembrandt's former home, studio and gallery at Het Rembrandthuis. Find contemporary Dutch art at the glass-walled CoBrA Museum in Amstelveen, or Warhol and Picasso originals at the Stedelijk Museum. Peep into the private quarters of sumptuous canal house Museum van Loon to trace the history of the aristocratic Van Loon family.

Best Views

Whizz to the top of Metz & Co department store on Leidsestraat for far-reaching views over Amsterdam's rooftops, see the city spread out beneath you from NEMO's upper deck, or watch Amsterdam's illuminated canalside twinkle by night in Herengracht.

Best Buys

Choose beautiful blooms at Singel Canal's floating flower market (daily) and quirky creations by local artists at Spui Market (Sun). Fill your bags with fresh produce from Boerenmarkt (Sat), De Kaaskamer's pungent cheeses, or designer labels from the chichi boutiques lining Cornelis Schuytstraat and PC Prinzenstraat.

Best Dining

Jordaan's boho flavour draws arty Dammers to its eetcafés (gastropubs), while De Pijp's student haunts serve up flavoursome Dutch fare like stamppot (mashed potatoes with sausage) with witbier (white beer). Al-fresco dining is on the menu in Zeedijk's canalside restaurants - try the raw herrings - and international cuisine from Japanese sushi to Mexican tacos in Leidseplein. Splurge on haute cuisine in De Negen Straatjes and waterfront Spuistraat.

Best Nightlife

Share the dance floor with a young, party-loving crowd in the hip bars and clubs dotting Jordaan, Zeedijk and De Pijp. Squeeze into Leidseplein's bars for live jam sessions, jazz and stand-up comedy, then slip into Rembrandtsplein's funky clubs including Chemistry, Escape and Sinners. Amsterdam's ubiquitous, wood-panelled brown cafés cluster in the centre.