Attractions in Amsterdam

Most visitors to Amsterdam stop at one of the fifty museums within its borders; the most known being the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and Anne Frank’s House. However, there are many attractions in Amsterdam visitors can enjoy.

Historians will enjoy the Oude Kerk (Old Church), the oldest church in Amsterdam and a center of cultural events. The church dates back to the early 13th century. Keeping with the theme of the Oude Kerk, the Begijnhof is an enclosed courtyard originally built as a sanctuary for the Catholic sisterhood, the Begijntjes. The houses include Amsterdam’s oldest house, Het Houten Huis, which dates back to around 1420.

Those who enjoy engineering will enjoy the most famous bridge in Amsterdam; the Magere Brug (“Skinny Bridge”). It is a drawbridge with traditional double-leaf design connecting the banks of the Amstel River. Built in 1670, the bridge opens up about every 20 minutes to let boats go through. As traffic increased on the river, it was necessary to build a wider bridge; so though the Magere is no longer “skinny” it is one of the most beautiful bridges in Amsterdam. At night, lights illuminate the bridge making it a romantic spot and one of the top ten attractions of Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has many beautiful parks for visitors to enjoy. The most famous of the parks is the Vondelpark in south Amsterdam. It is within walking distance of the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Van Gogh Museum. In the center of Amsterdam, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands consists of four main areas, the Zoo, the Planetarium, the Botanical Gardens and the Geological and Zoological Museum.

Amsterdam has several squares that offer a multitude of activities from shopping to the nightlife. Dam Square is a prominent square in the city with attractions such as the Royal Palace, the world famous wax museum Madame Tussauds, and the National Memorial statue. Food vendors, restaurants and the Amsterdam Diamond Center are located in the Dam Square. Popular squares for nightlife include the Rembrandtplein and the Leidseplein where visitors can enjoy Dutch music in pubs, street performers, cinemas and theaters.

A visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to the local windmills. In Amsterdam there are eight windmills to enjoy. A wonderful way of touring the city is through the canal ring. Amsterdam is known as “the Venice of the North” due to the number of canals winding throughout the city.

Attractions in Amsterdam are as varied as the visitors who make their way to the city. No matter what the interest, Amsterdam has something for everyone.