Amsterdam
Discover Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. It is known for the canals that cross the city, its impressive architecture, museums and art galleries, its notorious red light district, and more than 1,500 bridges. The city has earned the title of Venice of the North for a good reason: few other cities have intricate web of canals, exquisite architecture, and a staggering collection of over 1500 bridges weave an undeniable charm. Whether you're here for the rich cultural heritage, the vibrant nightlife, or the serene alleyways, Amsterdam's magnetic pull is universal.
What to Experience in Amsterdam
Taste of Amsterdam...
Amsterdam's culinary scene boasts a vibrant tapestry of flavours, offering a rich variety of dining experiences. The city unfolds as a treasure trove for those craving Asian cuisine, albeit catered to the milder local palate. Adventurous taste buds, fear not – it's not impossible to find spicy food. Most noticeably, a legacy of Dutch colonial history is woven into the dining fabric, evident through the profusion of Indonesian and Surinamese restaurants. Like other cities filled with tourists, Amsterdam's true culinary scene can be found along the quieter byways, where value and authenticity often intermingle away from the bustling tourist centres. The Lange Leidsedwarsstraat (just off Leidseplein) has about five Italian restaurants that sell pasta or pizza for €5 among many tourist traps. Many restaurants of all kinds can be found in the Haarlemmerbuurt. Also worth trying is the Van Woustraat in De Pijp, or continue to the Rijnstraat in the Rivierenbuurt. Exquisite but expensive restaurants can be found in the Utrechtsestraat. While there are exceptions, in general avoid restaurants along Damrak and be cautious around Leidseplein—they are well known tourist traps. Amsterdam's de facto Chinatown is at Zeedijk, near the bustling Nieuwmarkt square, where you can find a delightful array of Asian eateries, not limited to Chinese, Thai and Japanese restaurants.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Amsterdam into what it is today.
Amsterdam was first referred to as Aemstelledamme ("dam on the Amstel") in 1204, and known as Aemsterdam by 1327. It was first part of Utrecht, and around 1300 Gwijde van Henegouwen, bishop of Utrecht, gave Amsterdam city rights. After his death, the city was inherited by Count William III and became a part of Holland. Two fires swept the city in 1421 and 1452, and few wooden buildings from this period remain. A notable exception is the Houten Huis (Wooden House) at the Begijnhof. In 1558, the Dutch started to revolt against the Spanish as the local nobility demanded more political power and religious freedom. Amsterdam supported the Spanish, but as it became more and more isolated and trade suffered accordingly, it switched sides in 1578. A relative freedom of religion emerged in the newly established Dutch Republic, and many migrants sought refuge in Amsterdam, including Jews from the Iberian Peninsula, merchants from Antwerp and Huguenots (French Protestants). Catholicism could not be practiced openly. Amsterdam prospered in the 17th century and became one of the world's great cities. A global trading network and overseas possessions made Amsterdam the centre of shipping in Europe and the world's leading financial centre. The arts flourished too, with great painters like Rembrandt producing works that are widely acclaimed as of this day....
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam is a cultural haven with year-round festivals for every pocket. Amsterdam has two universities, both offer summer courses and other short courses (with academic credits). It also has one venerable institute. Many people will find it difficult to get a suitable job if they do not speak Dutch. However, hostels and hotels in Amsterdam may need bar staff, night porters etc., who speak English and other languages. There are also specialist websites for English and non-Dutch speakers looking to work in Amsterdam and they are often a good place to start. Immigration matters are dealt with by the immigration service IND. Registration is done by both police and municipalities. Immigration policy is restrictive and deliberately bureaucratic, this is especially true for non-EU citizens. European Union citizens do not require a work permit. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians are afforded a one-year working-holiday visa. In general the employer must apply for work permits.
Climate
Amsterdam is a large city and a major tourist destination, so you can visit it all year round. However, in winter the days are short (8 hours of daylight around Christmas between 08:45 and 16:30), and the weather may be too cold to walk around the city comfortably, let alone cycle. January and February are the coldest months, with lows around 0 °C (32 °F) and highs around 5 °C (41 °F). Snow does occur a few times each winter, but it's often light and rarely stays on the ground more than a couple of days. In summer, heat waves (3 days above 30 °C (86 °F)) are common, as is a temperature of 18 °C (64 °F) with rainfall. July and August are the warmest months, with an average temperature of 22 °C (72 °F) at daytime and 14 °C (57 °F) at night. Days with very high temperatures above 27 °C (81 °F) are often followed with nights around or above 17 °C (63 °F). Sunsets are as late as 22:00 and sunrise is around 05:30 during the summer.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options52.30814.7641691 Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) (15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of the city.). This airport is among the five busiest in Europe for passenger traffic, serving over 66 million passengers in 2024. KLM is the largest carrier operating at Schiphol and offers flights to many major cities around the world. British Airways offers up to 16 flights per day to 2 London Airports; Heathrow and London City. Transavia, Vueling, TUIfly, Easyjet, and other low-cost carriers serve Schiphol, offering service to many cities in Europe. Flying to other airports than Schiphol could prove cheaper as some budget airlines have their base in Eindhoven or Rotterdam. Buses and trains can be used to get to Amsterdam, and renting a car is also an option. Taxis are not advisable, a ride from Rotterdam costs about €120 and from Eindhoven a whopping €200. From Eindhoven Airport (EIN), take a local bus (Bravo/Hermes bus 400, €3.22 using an OV-chipkaart or OVpay or bus 401, €2....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Amsterdam's city centre is quite compact, and pretty flat, so you can easily get to most tourist destinations on foot. From Amsterdam Centraal, most areas in the city centre can be reached within half an hour. Public transport within the city is operated by the GVB. The tram is the main form of public transport and there is a metro and dozens of bus routes. Most routes operate from 06:00 (06:30 Saturdays and 07:45 Sundays) until around midnight. There are a few overnight bus routes as well. Regional buses, and some suburban buses, are operated by Connexxion and EBS. For many years, an OV-chipkaart provided the only way to pay transportation fees in the city. However, as of 2023, fees may be paid at the station or on the tram, bus, or NS train by using a contactless credit or debit card (OVpay) either on a card or on a mobile device.
Where to Stay
Amsterdam has over 400 registered hotels of varying standards from budget facilities to some of the most expensive hotels in Europe. Advance booking is recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. Don't expect you'll find an affordable bed once you're here. Most hotels and hostels can be found in the Binnenstad, notably south of Centraal Station, and in Zuid around the Museum Quarter. Charming boutique accommodation can be found in the wealthy residential Canal District, home to the rich and famous and its squares are the prime nightlife spots of the city. The Jordaan is another area for hip boutique accommodations, slightly upmarket, but still for mid-range prices. Some cheaper hostels can also be found in the Red Light District. A simple bed in a hostel starts around €18 on weekdays in the winter and up to €90 on a weekend in the summer. Hostels often expect you to book at least 2 nights in a weekend.
Money & Budget
The main central shopping streets run in a line from Centraal Station to the Leidseplein: Nieuwendijk, Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, Leidsestraat. The emphasis is on clothing and fashion, but there are plenty of other shops. These are not upmarket shopping streets, and the north end of Nieuwendijk is a bit seedy. English-language books can be found in the shops around Spui, and a used book market is held there every Friday. There is a concentration of Chinese shops in Zeedijk and Nieuwmarkt, and flowers can be bought at the Bloemenmarkt. However, do not buy bulbs there. They are usually too old to have even a slight chance of growing. Other concentrations of shops in the centre are Utrechtsestraat, Spiegelstraat (art and antiques) and Staalstraat (specialty shops).
Safety Information
Safety Overview
It might surprise some visitors, but Amsterdam is one of Europe's safest cities. It has an overall easy-going, laid-back feel and crime is not common. Amsterdam is female friendly, women can easily travel alone here and feel comfortable and safe. Gay and lesbian travellers also have little to worry about. However, you should take normal precautions against scams, pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate. What looks like a footpath, especially along a canal bank, may be a bike lane. Bike lanes are normally marked by red/purple tiles or asphalt, and a bike icon on the ground. However, the colour fades over time, so you might miss the difference. Don't expect cyclists to be kind to pedestrians: some consider the sidewalk an extension of the road, to be used when it suits them.
Glimpses of Amsterdam
body of water under white sky
Cycles on a bridge in Amsterdam
assorted-color buildings beside body of water
structures near body of water
Sunset over Muntplein in Amsterdam.
a group of boats that are sitting in the water
Amsterdam, Netherlands canal during daytime
white and brown concrete building beside body of water under blue sky during daytime
assorted-color bicycles park beside blue rails near river
Tulips in Amsterdam
body of water under white sky
Cycles on a bridge in Amsterdam
assorted-color buildings beside body of water