Amsterdam Things to Do

Amsterdam has a long and relaxed tradition of bar and café culture; little can beat a pit stop in a canal-side bar for a beer and a plate of fries after a day’s sightseeing. All my recommendations are open daily.

I’ve pretty well run the gamut of places to stay in Amsterdam. From five star hotels when visiting the city for a conference to a squat by the railway line when self-funding a trip, also in many different style apartments borrowed from friends and friends of friends. So here are my ideas of where to stay in the wonderful city of Amsterdam:

I love Christmas music. Not as much as a friend of mine who has it on his iPod and plays it year round; for me it signals the festive season and is associated with holidays, family and gift-giving (in no particular order!). In Amsterdam this December, you can get into the holiday spirit with concerts and carol singing, as well as ballet.

The Van Gogh Museum is one of Amsterdam‘s most popular attractions, flocked by tourists during all day long. But real insiders know that when the sun sets, the Van Gogh Museum really shines. Every Friday night, the museum is open until 10pm and hosts a variety of programming and events for all the late-night art lovers. Rotating DJs, guided exhibition tours, and lectures on contemporary art projects offer a lot for any curious mind.

Amsterdam gets cold. Very cold. When the winter winds rush across that flat land from the North Sea, the air can feel brutal and riding a bicycle is a challenge to say the least. But there are places you can go to thaw out those freezing bones. Here are my top five

One of the most exciting things about Amsterdam is its diversity. Its history as a trading nation has made it very open-minded, especially in terms of food. To really explore this facet and enjoy the thrill of the bargain find, head for Amsterdam’s markets. My top five are: