Amsterdam Things to Do

Amsterdam in spring means flowers; Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse only open for a couple of months a year – in 2013 from March 21 to May 20. Every year seven million bulbs are planted here, forming a psychedelic carpet of flowers, with some 100 varieties of tulip as well as daffodils and hyacinths. The Gardens are xxx from Amsterdam and there is a direct bus from Schiphol Airport Plaza.

It’s the end of a long cold winter and time to get back outside and dance off those winter blues. To do that Amsterdammers will be heading to their iconic music venues Milkveg and Paradiso for 5 Days Off, an electronic music and art festival running from March 6 – 10. The art part is basically to make sure that people do see some daylight hours by providing 5 Days On, a non-music based part of the programming.

One of the best things about Amsterdam is the art history. So many significant artists lived, worked, were born and/or died here. One of my favorites is that tormented genius Vincent van Gogh. Living through the second-half of the nineteenth century, van Gogh was actually born in the southern Netherlands, only coming to Amsterdam to study theology before he really took up painting. Most of his career as an artist was spent in France.Nonetheless, Amsterdam is the location of the museum dedicated to his work and it is well-worth braving the often very long queues to see his paintings in the flesh, as it were.

Despite Amsterdam’s reputation for cannabis smoking in the coffee shops and its notorious red-light district, it’s an ideal city to visit with young children in The Netherlands. It’s small and walkable, with most sights within easy reach of each other. Its architecture is eccentric enough to intrigue kids, and it has plenty of cafés for pancake breaks from sightseeing. Buy an I Amsterdam card from the tourist office for reduced admission charges.

Amsterdam in The Netherlands has its party reputation to maintain and the city certainly erupts on New Year’s Eve to celebrate Oudejaarsavondwith fireworks and fun for residents and a multitude of hard-partying Euro-revellers alike. Stores close in the early afternoon on New Year’s Eve and reopen on January 2; most of Amsterdam’s street parties are accessible on foot in the largely pedestrianized city center.

As you’d expect from a country that made its wealth out of international trade in spices, and these days is one of the world’s most visited and international cities, Amsterdam has a huge range of foods and flavors. A few things not to miss while you’re there:

The annual Dutch Theatre Festival (Nederlands Theater Festival or TF) is on again this year from August 30th to September 9th.

The 10 best Dutch drama performances of 2011 and 2012, as selected by a professional panel, and the 10 best Flemish drama performances, selected by their specialist panel, will be staged to give audiences one last chance to see them. The grand finale of the season is The Gala of Dutch Theatre at which the public-voted theater award AVRO Toneel Publieksprijs 2012, Louis d’Or and Theo d’Or Theater Awards will be presented.

Famed for its liberal policies and thriving red light district, Amsterdam has long been the favored destination of over-eager European students hoping to embrace their newfound freedom from the depths of a smoky café. Amsterdam’s reputation for rebellion is overrated though – it’s the city’s effortless creativity and laidback charm that really makes the Netherlands’ capital so captivating, from the clusters of quirky art galleries and cozy cafes, to the vibrant summer festivals and infamous party scene.

The Red Light District (De Wallen) in Amsterdam is one of the major draws for tourists. It’s not far from the Centraal Station, centered around Dam Square as it has been for centuries, and it’s where a lot of people head as soon as they reach town. Later they find a coffee shop to take part in The Netherlands’ other unique feature: legalised cannabis at coffeeshops.

The Netherlands has historically been a very religious country with many different strands of Christianity represented. This has declined in the 21st century with many fewer people attending church, but the magnificent religious buildings constructed during past centuries still dot the city and are worth visiting.