Amsterdam is one of the world's most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of canals that cover over 60 miles Amsterdam is lovingly known as the City of Canals.
With building dating back as far as 18th century or earlier, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s best preserved cities—the centre has barely changed since Rembrandt’s time. Yet it’s no mere museum piece, alongside the historic monuments and Old Masters, the city is a modern capital with all the trappings a traveler could want and while many young people visit Amsterdam for the marijuana scene—and perhaps to peek at the legal prostitutes in the Red Light District, the city has so much more to offer including a wide range of hotels, innovative restaurants, and stylish shopping.
There’s no bad time to visit the Dutch capital, but in general, May through October is the main travel season, when temperatures are warmest. Crowds peak in July and August. The other top time for a trip to Amsterdam is tulip season: The city bursts into bloom as early as March, and the plumage can extend into May.
Admiring Art & Attractions
You can't walk a kilometre without bumping into a masterpiece in the city. The Van Gogh Museum hangs the world's largest collection by tortured native son Vincent. A few blocks away, Vermeers, Rembrandts and other Golden Age treasures fill the glorious Rijksmuseum. The Museum het Rembrandthuis offers more of Rembrandt via his etching-packed studio, while the Stedelijk Museum counts Matisses and Mondrians among its modern stock. And for blockbuster displays, the Hermitage Amsterdam delivers: the outpost of Russia's State Hermitage Museum sifts through its three-million-piece home trove to mount mega exhibitions.
Any visit to Amsterdam would not be incomplete without booking a tour at the Anne Frank House. The story of this tragic Jewish teen diary-keeper who hid with her family in a secret annexe for years, only to be murdered in the hellish camps, became a symbol of the Holocaust, and the tour is a powerful experience
Getting Around
Two-wheeling is a way of life here. It's how Amsterdammers commute to work, go to the shop, and meet a date for dinner. Abundant bike-rental shops make it easy to gear up and take a spin. If locals aren't on a bike, they may well be on the water. With its canals and massive harbour, this city reclaimed from the sea offers countless opportunities to drift. Hop aboard a canal boat (preferably an open-air one) or one of the free ferries behind Centraal Station, or rent your own for a wind-in-your-hair ride.
Red Light District
Beyond its salacious reputation and red-lit brothels, Amsterdam's Red Light District (De Wallen) has some of the city's prettiest canals, excellent bars, welcoming restaurants, and plenty of shopping. Its winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleys tell fascinating stories of the city's character, both richly historic and somewhat seedy.
While this controversial neighborhood—one of Amsterdam’s oldest—might not be for everyone, the Red Light District does give an insight into the world’s oldest profession. The Red Light District was originally the place that sailors would visit in between their long journeys across the oceans. Back then it was a disreputable and crime-ridden neighbourhood, but nowadays it is a safe and iconic landmark that captures the old spirit of the city.
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