Choose from 89 Fun Things to Do in Amsterdam
Diamond Museum Amsterdam
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Homomonument
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Keukenhof Gardens
- Keukenhof is only open from mid-March to mid-May.
- Lockers are available to store luggage.
- The park is wheelchair accessible.
- Wi-Fi is available throughout the park.
Heineken Experience
- Purchase your Heineken Experience ticket ahead of time to secure a time slot.
- Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and according to Dutch law, will not be served alcohol.
- The Heineken Experience is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available free of charge, though must be booked 48 hours in advance.
De Gooyer Windmill
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Rembrandtplein
With both the plaza and its surrounding streets crammed with cafés, music clubs and bars, Rembrandtplein comes alive in the evening hours, as locals and tourists cram onto the rooftop terraces to admire the glittering skyline and party into the early hours. Club rain and Escape are two of the square’s most popular institutions, while De Duivel is the go-to venue for hip-hop and the nearby Reguliersdwarsstraat is the central hub of the city’s renowned gay scene. Dutch café culture is alive and well here too, with many opening their stages in the evening hours to local folk singers. Uniquely, Rembrandtplein is also home to Europe’s largest interactive video screen, a 15-meter wide display that allows passersby to post messages and access interactive features via Bluetooth.
Don’t just wait until the sun has set to visit though, as Rembrandtplein is home to some landmark architecture, including the dramatic Art-Deco inspired building that houses the modern Pathe Tuschinski cinema and the late 18th-century De Kleine Komedie, Amsterdam’s oldest theater. Throughout the summer months, café-seating spills out onto the square, making it the perfect spot for people watching, coffee drinking and soaking up the atmosphere of Amsterdam’s most happening hotspot.
EYE Film Institute
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Herengracht
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Hermitage Amsterdam
Hermitage Amsterdam is now one of the largest museums in the country and features some of the country’s most captivating temporary exhibitions. The collections, rotated each 6 months, feature selections imported from the Russian museum’s enormous treasury of artifacts, including its famously expansive collection of French 19th and 20th century paintings. Past exhibitions have included Modernist and expressionist artworks; sizable exhibits on ‘Peter the Great (1672–1725), the modernizer of Russia’ and ‘The Immortal Alexander the Great’; and collections of historical artifacts from Russia, Siberia and Eastern Europe.
Two additional permanent exhibitions focus on the long standing relationship between the Netherlands and Russia and the history of the monumental building itself, and there are regular concerts and children’s activities organized onsite, as well as an on-site café and restaurant.
Moco Museum
- Travelers generally spend one to two hours at the Moco Museum.
- Moco has no elevators and cannot accommodate strollers or luggage.
- Ordering tickets online allows guests to bypass the queue and head straight into the museum without waiting.
Oude Kerk (Old Church)
The Oude Kerk (or Old Church) is the city's oldest surviving building, consecrated in 1306. Yet the location of this triple-nave, late-Gothic church embodies a huge moral contradiction: it's in full view of the Red Light District, with passers-by getting chatted up a stones throw from the church walls.
Still, this Gothic-style church rewards visitors with one of the finest carillons in the country, the city's oldest church bell (1450), and a stunning Christian Müller organ that’s still used for recitals. Check out the lively 15th century carvings on the choir stalls, some of which are downright rude.
The floor of the church consists entirely of gravestones, as the church itself was built on a cemetery. There are 2,500 graves in the Oude Kerk, under which are buried 10,000 Amsterdam citizens, including Rembrandt's first wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh. Rembrandt himself visited the Oude Kerk often, and his children were all christened here. Be sure to climb up the church tower for panoramic views of Amsterdam.
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The Oude Kerk is located at Oudezijds Voorburgwal, easily accessible via tram to Nieuwmarkt. Nearby attractions include Museum Amstelkring and the infamous Red Light District. A Dutch Reformed service is held at 11am Sunday (doors close at 11am sharp).
Keizersgracht
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Rembrandt House Museum
The building in Jodenbreestraat, Amsterdam, was purchased by the man himself back in 1639 and he lived there with his wife Saskia and son Titus for 20 years, before being declared bankrupt in 1656. Today, the rooms have been reconstructed to their original condition and form part of the museum.
A tour of the Rembrandt House showcases an almost complete collection of artworks (over 250 graphic prints), alongside exhibits on the life and times of the iconic artist and his renowned painting techniques. The printing studio, where a fully working traditional printing press demonstrates how Rembrandt made his famous etchings, is one of the most interesting rooms, but the kitchen, showrooms and bedrooms are all also open for exploration. The upstairs rooms are another highlight, where Rembrandt’s studio houses his personal collection of artworks, artifacts and curiosities. Paintings by Rembrandt’s students are also on display around the house and two additional exhibition galleries, a library and the Rembrandt Information Centre, are now housed in a new annex, adjourning the main building.
Holland Casino
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Resistance Museum (Amsterdams Verzetsmuseum)
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Red Light Secrets
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Rijksmuseum
- Allow at least a half-day for your visit, although even in four hours you’ll be able to see only a fraction of the Rijksmuseum’s huge collection.
- You do not need a ticket to visit the gardens, shop, or café, all of which are open daily from 9am to 6pm.
- The museum has free Wi-Fi.
- Flash photography, selfie sticks, and videos with lights are not allowed.
Begijnhof
On a visit to the Begijnhof, an enclosed former 14th-century convent, you’ll discover a surreal oasis of peace, with tiny houses and postage-stamp gardens around a well-kept courtyard.
Contained within the hof is the charming Begijnhofkapel, a "clandestine" chapel where the Beguines were forced to worship after their Gothic church was taken away by the Calvinists. Go through the dog-leg entrance to find marble columns, wooden pews, paintings and stained-glass windows commemorating the Miracle of Amsterdam.
The other church in the Begijnhof is known as the Engelse Kerk (English Church), built around 1392. It was eventually rented out to the local community of English and Scottish Presbyterian refugees, and still serves as the city's Presbyterian church. Also note the house at No. 34; it dates from around 1425, making it the oldest preserved wooden house in the country.
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You can visit the Begijnhof, accessible via tram to Spui, only during the day. However, keep in mind that senior citizens live in the houses, and their privacy much be respected. The Beguinage is private property and is not a public ground, and is also a place of silence. It's requested that guests respect the silence.
Access is on Gedempte Begijnensloot, an alleyway off Spui. If the weather is nice, you could easily linger for a couple of hours here. Combine a visit here with the nearby Amsterdams Historisch Museum (Amsterdam Historical Museum).
De Negen Straatjes
Ardent shoppers will find plenty to get excited about, with the area’s shops as varied and vibrant as the city itself. The cobbled streets abound with homegrown designer boutiques, vintage clothing shops and independent art galleries, with shop windows showcasing creative displays of artisan furnishings, alternative clothing designs and handcrafted accessories. The unique, quirky and bizarre reign in the small themed shops, with plenty of unusual finds and distinctive keepsakes on offer, but if you’re after typical souvenirs, you’ll be better heading elsewhere. Even the coffee shops here come with an independent flavor, with international chains passed over in favor of Amsterdam’s characteristic brown bars, hip bistros and homely cafés.
With their matchless charm and fierce individuality, these nine little streets are more than just a collection of shops. The vibrant, bustling neighborhood remains one of the most uniquely appealing areas of Amsterdam.
Delft
- Many of the museums and attractions in Delft offer free entrance with the Holland Pass.
- Free Wi-Fi hotspots are located around Delft.
- Most Delft attractions are wheelchair accessible, but it’s best to check in advance.