Amsterdam, Holland, is a popular destination for euro-travelers. Amsterdam offers a diverse set of attractions for the modern tourist, ranging from museums that house the work of such painters as Van Gogh and Rembrandt, to the house of Ann Frank during WWII. For the more mature traveler, there is the famous Amsterdam red light district, which is a tourist attraction on its own.
Although Amsterdam does have its red light district, that should not distract from the beauty of the city for family vacation. Explore Amsterdam on foot, on a bike, or on a boat. People are friendly and the city is safe, and most people know English well, so do strike a conversation with the locals. For shopping, don’t forget the Waterlloplein flea market and then let the fragrance of flowers lead you to the floating flower market, which is amazing.
How to get around?
Bicycles are the most practical means of getting around Amsterdam but it is also an excellent city to explore by foot. Although you can easily get lost in Amsterdam, where the ancient streets and alleys are like a puzzle, if you are getting lost, this is the place to do it at!
Anne Frank House
Ann Frank House is an amazing museum that has a story attached to it. The museum is located at the center of Amsterdam, twenty minutes from the Central Station. Visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam is a moving experience for everyone. Visitors can see the very room in which Anne wrote most of her diary and, although the Nazis stripped the house after her arrest, audiovisual presentations show what the rooms would have looked like at that time. The original version of the diary can be seen at the museum. The original building, the Opekta warehouse, was preserved, while a next door building was modernized and converted into offices and cafes for the museum.
Van Gogh Museum:
Visit to The Van Gogh Museum is a must as he is truly a legend in Holland. Van Gogh Museum is located in the museum district in the south part of the city, between Leidseplein and Vondelpark. Van Gogh Museum houses the greatest collection of Vincent van Gogh paintings in the world. It is an incredibly popular museum with tourists. The museum contains over 200 paintings by Van Gogh, as well as collections by other famous artists. Van Gogh is Holland’s most admired artist and rightly so. Do plan your visit on Friday where museum’s café serves nice dinners.
Canal Cruises:
Amsterdam is a canal town (somewhat like Venice). You will find the canals in the old town. Take a one or two hour cruise on the canals. There are several cruise companies that operate the tours, departing almost every hour, from the main canal down the hill near the train station. It is a great way to see some of the sights, in a cruise boat. These tours afford you the opportunity to see the older Amsterdam.
