Port guide to Amsterdam: Expect culture, cuisine and architecture

With its storied waterways, colourful gabled houses and cosmopolitan café culture, Amsterdam is among Europe’s most charismatic cities.

A rich history as a maritime trading hub plays out across a picturesque urban patchwork that spans 90 islands connected by more than 1,500 bridges. This Unesco-listed canal network, lined with houseboats and 17th-century merchant dwellings, has earned the city its nickname of ‘Venice of the North.’

While navigating the cobbled streets of Amsterdam’s compact centre is a pleasure in itself, the city also has a wealth of blockbuster attractions.

Expect to find flower markets, a thriving food and drink scene and galleries packed with the era-defining paintings of the Dutch Masters, while – further afield – the fast-evolving districts of north and east Amsterdam have become modern- day hives of creativity.

This mesmerising meeting of tradition and modernity ensures the Dutch capital remains an effortlessly easy city to fall in love with.

So whether you’re a first-timer, keen to experience top attractions, or a repeat visitor interested in the city’s alternative side, and whether you’re travelling alone, as a couple or with your kids and parents, here’s our port guide to Amsterdam.

1. Rijksmuseum

Located in architect Pierre Cuypers’ striking Renaissance-meets-Gothic building, the Netherlands’ national museum celebrates Dutch art and history, housing an 8,000-strong collection that charts the country’s vivid past.

Many make a beeline for paintings by the Dutch Masters, with Rembrandt’s ‘The Night Watch,’ Vermeer’s ‘The Milkmaid’ and Van Gogh’s self portraits among the must-sees, but there’s plenty more to discover, including an expansive Asian pavilion, the Great Hall’s restored mosaic floor and vaulted ceiling, and the Michelin-starred restaurant, Rijks

2. De Negen Straatjes

The photogenic heart of Amsterdam’s canal network, the so-called Nine Streets of the Jordaan neighbourhood typify the city’s charm.

Criss-crossing between beautiful waterways, this buzzy micro-district comprises nine interlinked streets lined with independent bars, boutiques and galleries.

Easy to navigate on foot, its highlights include the 17th-century Westerkirk church, the tasting room at the Van Wees gin distillery and the Houseboat Museum – a floating exhibition dedicated to the city’s alternative dwellings.

3. Royal Palace Amsterdam

While the Dutch royal family may lack the fame of other monarchies, their palace overlooking Dam Square
is among Europe’s most ornate.

Built as a city hall in the 17th century to symbolise the Dutch Republic’s splendour, its classical façade conceals a vast collection of sculptures and paintings.

One of three royal residences, it’s open to the public when the family are away. Each summer an exhibition illustrates the building’s history, while the Royal Prize for Modern Painting exhibits work by the city’s most promising artists in autumn.

Activities for repeat visitors

Off-beat

NDSM Wharf

A short ferry ride from Centraal Station, Amsterdam Noord has become a cultural quarter in recent years, with this former shipyard embodying the energy of the area’s creative community.

Amid converted warehouses, hangars and shipping containers, expect to find organic restaurants, bars and open studios alongside a constantly shifting showcase of street art, live performances and even a city beach – all set against a post-industrial backdrop.

Unique

Urban farming bike tour

One of the best ways to explore Amsterdam is on two wheels, and this wholesome guided tour offers an alternative perspective with a focus on the city’s buoyant sustainable food movement.

Over the course of two hours, this inspiring excursion traverses Amsterdam’s green-fingered communities, from urban vineyards and mushroom farms to honeybee projects, providing plenty of expert insight as well as hands-on experience.

Outdoor

Vondel Park

Southwest of the city centre, Amsterdam’s largest park is a verdant patchwork of open spaces, forested trails, ponds and manicured rose gardens, all of which comes alive during the warmer months.

A microcosm of the city at large, its multigenerational blend of lounging picnickers, joggers, lovers and families makes Vondelpark an excellent spot for people-watching, while its open- air theatre hosts live performances throughout the summer.

Activities for curious travellers

For solos

Van Gogh Museum

Just a short walk from the Rijksmuseum lies another blockbuster cultural institution in the form of this expansive Gerrit Rietveld-designed museum, which is dedicated to one of the Netherlands’ most famous sons.

Lose yourself among the bold brushstrokes of some of the post-impressionist icon’s most famous works, including ‘Sunflowers,’ ‘Almond Blossom’’ and The Potato Eaters,’ as well as an equally illuminating collection of his drawings and letters.

For couples

Bloemenmarkt

Set between Muntplein and Koningsplein on the Singel Canal, this floating flower market dates back to the 1860s and offers a high-definition immersion in the colours and scents of some of Amsterdam’s most well- known exports.

Split across a series of houseboat greenhouses, the market’s wares include scores of brightly hued daffodils, tulips and geraniums as well as a broad selection of bulbs and souvenirs for visitors with an interest in horticulture.

For kids

Nemo Science Museum

Surrounded by the sea and with a bright green form resembling a ship slanted towards the sky, NEMO Science Museum, designed by architect Renzo Piano, cuts a confident shape on Amsterdam’s skyline.

Its interior is equally memorable. Split across five floors, its hugely enjoyable roster of interactive exhibitions, hands-on workshops and boundary-breaking demonstrations creates entertainment out of the educational, while its rooftop café boasts some of the best views across the city.

For multi-generational families

Anne Frank House

The enduring story of the Jewish teenager Anne Frank unfolds on the upper reaches of this 17th-century canal house, where the young diarist documented her experience of hiding from the Nazis with her family during the Second World War.

Today the space is a moving tribute to the Franks’ harrowing reality, where visitors witness the secret annexe the family lived in, alongside exhibitions spanning historical documents, photographs and original objects from the era.

Places to eat

Budget

Moak pancakes

This charismatic café, now with three branches across the city, is a popular destination for brunch and lunch.

A modern take on a traditional Dutch staple, Moak’s stacks of fluffy pancakes come with a choice of sweet or savoury toppings – think banana, walnut and medjool date, or grilled peppers and hummus.

The kitchen also specialises in toasties, fresh juice and smoothies, all served in a laidback setting with a cool 1990s-inspired soundtrack.

Mid-range

Foodhallen

Set in a cavernous former tram depot, Foodhallen is a vibey food market in the Oud-West district that embodies Amsterdam’s fast-moving culinary scene.

Among the 19 venues serving distinctive international cuisine, look out for Michelin-starred chef Peter Gast’s bitterballen (fried meatballs) at De BallenBar, freshly landed oysters at Mer Du Nord, and vegetarian street food at Padrón.

An adjoining cinema and a programme of live events provide plenty more reasons to linger.

Premium

Restaurant Bougainville

Pairing seasonal produce with international influences, chef Tim Golsteijn scooped a Michelin star just a year after opening this sophisticated spot overlooking Dam Square in 2017.

North Sea fish, local lobster and Dutch lamb are among the regulars on Bougainville’s five or six-course tasting menus, which are designed to reflect the Netherlands’ seafaring history.

Golsteijn’s intricately plated dishes establish Bougainville as a modern-day pioneer of Dutch gastronomy.