A Guide to Amsterdam

One of the coolest parts about traveling around Europe is you’ll be greeted by a completely different environment each time you step off the plane, train or bus. Amsterdam is one of Europe’s many gems. So much is packed into this small city. I would definitely suggest going any time other than the winter. I went to Amsterdam twice during my time abroad. The first time I only had two short days and I didn’t get to do everything I wanted. I was definitely hesitant to go back – I wasn’t in love with it after my first, cold visit, but my parents reminded me that it’s a lot cheaper to travel from Paris to Amsterdam than from the U.S. It’s a relatively small city, so you don’t need a ton of time in my opinion. But there’s so much more to do when the weather is warm, like taking a pedal boat out for a spin on the canal.

 

iamsterdam

If you went to Amsterdam and didn’t snap a pic in front of the iamsterdam sign, did you even go to Amsterdam?? As much as I love finding the hole in the wall cafes and doing non-touristy things, you still have to hit the hot spots like this one. It’s crowded, but if your photographer gets the right angle, it can look more like a photo shoot than a tourist trap. Not only is this a great place to get a picture, but also to people watch. Everyone gets really creative in just how to scale the giant lower case letters – some unsuccessfully. If you’re short like me, you crawl into the hole in the “a” and call it a day.

Museumplein

After fighting your way out of the crowds at the sign, head straight to the cluster of museums surrounding the field behind you. Appropriately called Museumplein, this is where all the major Amsterdam museums are located – the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum and Stedeljik Museum. Allot plenty of time to wander around and take everything in.

 

Anne Frank House

This is actually the sole reason I decided to return to Amsterdam three months later; I didn’t get to see the Anne Frank House on my first trip. I’m kind of obsessed with her story. As an eight-year-old I read “Anne Frank’s Diary” cover to cover. On “wax museum day” in school, instead of being athletes or pop stars like the rest of the third graders, I was Anne Frank. To me, being able to visit the actual place where she and her family hid during World War II was mind-blowing. It almost felt surreal. It wasn’t a recreated space, or a museum full of her belongings. It was her actual crammed bedroom in an annex behind a bookshelf. If you go (and you should), be sure to buy a ticket online in advance. Like waaaay in advance. They sell quickly and if you don’t have a ticket you’ll be waiting in line indefinitely.

 

Red Light District

To get a completely different side of the Amsterdam culture, head to the Red Light District. For those of you who aren’t familiar with how it works (and why would you be??), the women stand in windows on either side of the street. If the red light framing the window (get it?) is on, it means they’re open for business. I didn’t know if I should look at the women in the windows, or keep my head down. I felt like I was looking at zoo animals. It’s pretty twisted if you ask me, but to each their own I guess. You can literally walk around the Red Light District, smoking a joint, window shopping for prostitutes. Are there actually any rules in this city? Oh, that’s right, you can’t bring your coffee on the tram. Sounds logical.

 

Heineken Experience

Originally this wasn’t high up on my list of things to do, but now it is. My friend (hi Bianca) and I went on our last day because we had some time to kill before I caught my train back to Paris and she continued her travels through Europe. And it was WORTH IT. At first you get to learn the ins and outs of the beer making process – and it’s not easy. Then you get to drink. Then you get to hit the gift shop and buy your dad a ton of Heineken paraphernalia.

The Avocado Show

After you stumble out of the Heineken Experience, walk down the street to The Avocado Show. It opened at the end of February 2017 and everything on the menu incorporates avocado. My first trip to Amsterdam was in the middle of February, so this was just another incentive to go again. I had a hamburger, but instead of buns, the meat was sandwiched with avocado. 10/10 would recommend. Unless you don’t like avocados, of course.

Stroopwafel

While we’re on the topic of food, stroopwafel is a must-have. Two thin waffles are stuck together with warm caramel. For a little extra, you can also have it dipped in chocolate. #treatyoself

Oorlog Fries

There is no such thing as a diet on vacation. Oorlog fries are another Dutch dish. It sounds kind of gross, but hear me out. Oorlog fries are French fries topped with mayo, raw onions and Indonesian sate sauce. Just trust me on this one when I say it’s oddly good. This is coming from a girl who typically doesn’t eat mayo.

Tulip Garden Keukenhof

Yes, you should visit the Netherlands during warm weather, but more specifically, during the spring. Venture outside of Amsterdam to Keukenhof, home of the world-renowned tulip garden. The gardens are typically open from late March – mid May. Excuse the cliche, but the garden is unlike anything you’ll ever see. There are literally thousands of tulips in every color imaginable. My favorite? The dark purple ones. Surrounded by white and bright pinks, yellows and oranges, the deep shade really caught my eye.

Once you’ve navigated your way through the gardens, rent a bike and explore the town. There are several bike paths mapped out, but if you’re like me, you’ll end up getting lost anyways. Once you find your way back to the path, you can grab lunch at Como & Co., a super cute and cozy restaurant on a lake. Biking is such a great way to see the Holland countryside – or any destination for that matter. The path took us up to the North Sea. We parked our bikes, kicked off our sneakers and socks and dipped our toes into the freezing water. On a clear day, like the one we had, you can see the wind turbines far out in the distance. Personally, I found it really cool to see a wind farm in person after learning about them in environmental science in high school.

Other

My best friend just moved to Amsterdam over the summer, and I wanted to get some tips from a local. Here are her recommendations:

For food with outdoor seating:

• Bar Spek
• Pilsvogel

Cutest brunch spot:

• The Breakfast Club
• Best tapas:
• Pata Negra

Outdoor/waterfront bar:

• Waterkant
• Pllek

Best speakeasy:

• Door 74

Best club:

• Chin Chin

Best outdoor market:

• Albert Cuyp