Amsterdam Things to Do

I have to say it feels like the Rijksmuseum has been under renovation forever.

In 2000 the decision was made to modernise the 1885 building designed by Pierre Cuypers, and now the date given for the gallery fully reopening is 2013. It does sound like the new-look Rijksmuseum will be worth the wait – the architects are staying faithful to the lovely Cuypers fairytale building, but they are opening it up a bit, adding a couple of new buildings, and modernising visitor facilities, security and climate control for the art works.

For one weekend only, on April 14-15 2012, more than 500 museums around The Netherlands will waive their often-high entrance prices and allow free or discounted entry. Many of them will charge a symbolic ticket price of €1. This is the annual National Museums Weekend. It includes such important galleries as the Rijksmuseum which houses Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch painting; the Van Gogh Museum which also has a rich program of events including a creativity studio for children; and Anne Frank’s House which is one of the city’s most popular visitor attractions.

The Netherlands is all about the sea. Firstly because it exists in constant danger of being flooded by the North Sea and therefore spends a fortune on defensive dikes and floodgates, and also on reclaiming land. Secondly because the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century ­­– during which all those glorious buildings and artworks that we flock to see in Amsterdam originated – was built on an incredibly successful seafaring trade in spices, silk, porcelain, etc.

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.

I can’t say enough about Amsterdam city tour cards. These passes are must-haves for world travelers of every stripe. The I Amsterdam card is particularly helpful, because it gets you into 24 different museums for free!

There are two ways I’d recommend soaking up Amsterdam’s sights–the I AMsterdam city pass or the Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour. The former gets you into 24 museums, and if you pair it with a bike rental, this is a really fun way to see the city. As for the the latter, it’s also fun, and the audio-guide is very informative. Personally, I’d prefer the pass and bicycle route, because while Amsterdam isn’t huge, it’s still big enough to explore multiple times. If you’re a return visitor, buy the pass and rent some wheels; first-timers will be fine with the bus tour.

Assuming you are going to Amsterdam for the tulips, you can book a pretty little tour to the tulip fields at Keukenhof Gardens. It’s a good way to fill up your camera’s memory cards with pictures of pleasant, Dutch scenery and millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. The tours are either half-day or full-day, and there’s plenty of picnicking areas, as well as several restaurants should you want a bite to eat.