Amsterdam - Overview
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands, located in west of the country in the province of North Holland. Holland’s largest city, it is home to over 1.3 million people and is the financial and cultural centre attracting over 3.66 million visitors each year. The oldest stock exchange in the world, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, is located in the city that was once one of the most important ports in the world.
One of the oldest cities in Europe it is also one of the largest and there is much to see and do. The city centre was designed in the 17th century in concentric semi-circles around a network of canals (the Grachtengordel). A boat cruise along the canals is one of the best ways to see the beautiful and majestic architecture in the city. Many companies offer cruises but it is important to shop around as whilst some allow you to “hop on hop off”, others do not, and the cost can vary greatly. The cheapest and most flexible way to cruise is by renting a canal bike (pedal boat).
For art lovers Amsterdam has much to offer. Home of the great Dutch artists Rembrandt and Van Gogh, their genius is celebrated in the city’s museums. Must-sees are the Van Gogh Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of the artist’s work, and the Rembrandthius, the former house and studio of the great painter, Rembrandt. The city’s Rijksmuseum boasts a large collection of Dutch and Asian art, with the top attractions being Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid.
Amsterdam hosts a number of bustling street markets throughout the week, selling everything from clothes and food to various household items. One of the best (and busiest) is the floating market on the Singel canal selling the beautiful flowers that the Netherlands is so famous for. For more traditional shopping head to Central Station where the main shopping streets begin, or to the Nine Streets between the main canals Prinsengracht and Singel for boutiques and galleries.
Food is aplenty in the multicultural city and there are restaurants and eateries offering up dishes from every cuisine. Seafood is always on the menu and many restaurants offer Indonesian dishes, thanks to the colonial history of the Netherlands. A range of different budgets are catered for with the many restaurants found in the Haarlemmer district but for really high quality food (and high prices) the Utrechtse Straat is the place to go.
Famous for its nightlife, Amsterdam has something for every taste; from quiet bars known as bruine’s (brown bars) and the coffee shops with their liberal views on drug policy to the internationally renowned nightclubs. To experience the city buzzing at night take a trip down to either the Leidseplein or the Rembrandtplein where there are the heaviest concentrations of pubs and clubs. Entertainment in Amsterdam is not just limited to bars and clubs, there are cinemas, art houses and casinos all open late into the night.