Capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a bohemian and popular cosmopolitan city, with a certain cultural richness and nocturnal effervescence.
Just take a walk, on foot or by bike, to fall under its spell.
We stroll along the canals, we stop in a coffee shop, we stop to eat a
stroopwafel
and we allow ourselves a shopping session in the thrift stores.
The city of Amsterdam is also full of museums like the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank house, or the Van Gogh museum.
Some 40 km from the city, we escape to get drunk in the colorful tulip fields of Keukenhof.
To discover
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From Amsterdam to The Hague, Vermeer Exhibition
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Amsterdam city centre, history along the water
The Oude Kerk is located in the heart of the old town of Amsterdam.
Sergii Figurnyi
The old town and the red light district
Nestled in the center, the old town is made up of historic buildings such as the Central Station in neo-Renaissance style, the Berlage Stock Exchange or the Oude Kerk, an old church built in 1302, the oldest building in the city.
On Dam Square, we visit the Royal Palace, occasional residence of the royal family.
Next door, the Nieuwe Kerk church is a marvel of Gothic architecture that now hosts art and history exhibitions.
A few steps away, we discover another jewel of the Dutch Renaissance style: the Magne Plaza.
This former central post office converted into a shopping center houses shops and restaurants.
The old town extends to the Red Light District, the epicenter of nightlife whose reputation is second to none, with its many bars and nightclubs.
BOOK THE CITY CARD I AMSTERDAM
The canal district
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 160 and some canals represent the identity of Amsterdam.
All are very easy to access thanks to the 1500 scattered bridges which allow you to walk or cycle.
The heart of the city is encircled by four main canals: Keizersgracht, Herengracht, Singel and Prinsengracht.
On the latter sits the emblematic Anne Frank House.
Not far away, stroll through the 9 Straatje, 9 picturesque streets bordered by the water with small designer shops, local grocery stores and antique dealers.
On the Singel canal, the Bloemenmarkt, an unmissable flower market, is held every day.
The stowed shops offer a landscape of rainbow colors and captivating scents.
A few steps away, relax in front of a movie at Pathé Tuschinski,
CANAL CRUISE
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Bohemian and popular Amsterdam
A quaint neighborhood, the 9 Little Streets are packed with coffee shops, galleries and designer boutiques.
dennisvdwater
Jordaan, the trendy district
The Jordaan district is a must with a bohemian and artistic atmosphere.
It is one of the most picturesque places in the city with its multitude of coffee shops, cafes and restaurants that line the water.
History buffs will be delighted to visit two churches, the Westerkerk where Rembrandt is buried, and the Noorderkerk, a Protestant place of worship.
Food lovers can stop at the Cheese Museum to learn all about the history of Dutch cheese.
In the evening, the atmosphere comes alive thanks to brown cafes, old bars with walls browned by time and tobacco.
The Dutch meet there to enjoy a beer accompanied by traditional bitterballen, fried meatballs.
DISCOVER LOCAL SPECIALTIES
Leidseplein, Amsterdam in celebration
The lively Leidseplein district is home to many bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres, as well as the famous Paradiso, a mythical concert hall.
At the end of the day, young people meet on the eponymous square and enjoy a cocktail, before continuing the evening in the surrounding discos.
On summer evenings, you come across street artists such as mimes, jugglers, musicians and even fire-eaters.
Pijp, between markets and good restaurants
Located south of the Canal Belt, the fashionable district of Pijp is popular for its bohemian and laid-back atmosphere.
Formerly a working-class area that welcomed many immigrants and now popular with students and artists, it is a perfect example of gentrification.
We stroll there and let ourselves be tempted by one of its gourmet tables;
the opportunity to taste seafood. We also enjoy the Albert Cuyp market, the most popular in the city with its local and exotic stalls in the open air.
GUIDED BIKE TOUR
Amsterdam, green and artsy city
A must-see museum, the Rijksmuseum houses more than 8,000 works, including the famous Milkmaid by Vermeer and Merry Family by Jan Steen.
Dan Race
The museums and gardens of the beautiful districts
Amsterdam is full of museums, the most important of which are grouped together on Museumplein, a huge green esplanade where you can stroll.
The pride of the city, the Rijksmuseum houses more than 8,000 works from the Middle Ages to the present day, including the famous Milkmaid by Vermeer and Merry Family by Jan Steen.
Dutch history can also be found at the Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the life of the post-Impressionist painter, and at the Rembrandt House (temporarily closed).
Contemporary art can be discovered at Moco, as well as at Stedelijk, which highlights 20th century artists.
Between two exhibitions, enjoy a picnic in Vondelpark, the heart of the capital.
VISIT THE RIJKSMUSEUM
The Amsterdam docks, between art and nature
Hidden face of the city, the old port area and the docks have been rehabilitated to make it an urban district.
Accessible by ferry from the central station, this area called NDSM is made up of hangars, workshops and containers dedicated to street art, such as the STRAAT (closed Monday and Tuesday), a museum dedicated to graffiti.
To the east of downtown, the tree-lined Plantage district offers several green spaces, including the Botanical Garden and the Artis Zoo with its butterfly pavilion.
Particularity of the city, you can also visit the very first zoo of microbes: Micropia.
As a port city, Amsterdam also has a National Maritime Museum, and a science museum, Nemo (closed on Mondays), built in a giant ship on the Amstel River.
BOOK A TICKET FOR THE STRAAT MUSEUM