Amsterdam Things to Do

As the pint-sized capital of The Netherlands, Amsterdam is not a massive metropolis in the fashion of London or New York – and most of the major attractions are walkable – but nevertheless a hop-on, hop-off tour on an open-top bus is the ideal way to great to know the layout of the city and to pinpoint its treasures.

HURRY! Book by February 12, 2013 to save 50% on the recommended retail prices for a Keukenhof Gardens and Tulip Fields Tour from Amsterdam. This exclusive offer is available for travel dates from April 10- April 28, 2013 on all scheduled departure times and dates (with block-out dates April 19 and 20). Please note that this offer is available for new transactions only and cannot be applied to any existing booking.

Sephardic Jews first came to Amsterdam in the late 15th century, escaping persecution in Spain and Portugal, and settled behind Waterlooplein, bordered by the Amstel and the Herengracht canal. They integrated successfully into Dutch life and flourished, with many working in the diamond industry. After enjoying years of religious freedom in Amsterdam, everything changed with the advent of World War II; the majority of Amsterdam’s 100,000 Jews were herded up and transported to Auschwitz and Belsen concentration camps. By 1945, less than 500 survived.

Since 2009, the famous Hermitage Museum of St Petersburg in Russia has had an offshoot in Amsterdam. They hold exhibitions curated from the incredible collection held in St Petersburg. For those unlikely to travel to Russia, it’s a great opportunity to see art from the huge collections of western and other art exhibited there.

You’d be unusual to have gone your whole life without ever seeing a painting by Rembrandt. One of history’s most famous painters, he lived and worked in Amsterdam during the seventeenth century, a time known as the Dutch Golden Age.

When spring comes to Europe everyone rejoices; the cold, dark days are over and color comes back into our lives as the flowers bloom. One of the very best places in the world to experience this explosion of happiness is the Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse in the Netherlands. These gardens are only open for a couple of months a year – usually mid-March to mid-May, and are all about the flower quintessential to Holland: tulips.

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most interesting cities. On the one hand, it’s got quite a reputation – der Wallen, better known as the Red Light District has certainly made the city notorious, as has the Netherlands’ comparatively lenient policy regarding marijuana. There’s more to Amsterdam than sex and pot, however. In addition to its sex shops and cafes, Amsterdam’s top attractions include some of the top museums in the world, Madame Toussad’s House of Wax and much, much more.

My roommate on the possibility of spending Christmas in Amsterdam: “Heineken bottles are festive. They’re already green. That and the marijuana.” Yeah, dude, and the latter looks Christmasy with your red eyes. Anyway, he might be going to Amsterdam for Christmas. He’s waiting on a standby flight or something, but if he gets to go, he’ll be there for a week.

Let’s see… What to do in Amsterdam? Well, there’s Madame Tussads, the Amsterdam Dungeon (where you’ll learn about the Spanish Inquisition and the origins of the Grim Reaper and later ride a roller coaster named after him). Your mom will roll her eyes, but if you don’t go to the Wallen (the Red Light District) while you’re here, well, you are probably a church deacon or something. And if you plan on checking out the Wallen, then you’ll probably be okay checking out Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops, where “bartenders” can hook you up with some delicious “brews.” After that, you’ll need a snack; Amsterdam’s cuisine involves herring, gherkins and chocolate, not to mention world-famous cheese.