Amsterdam is the capital and most populated city in the Kingdom of Netherlands. With a population of 805,166 people, and with water canals traversing the ever-sprawling cosmopolis, Amsterdam is considered the "Venice of Western Europe". Or on the other hand, what the locals don't like to call, the "Jamaica of Europe". The Dutch are known to be immensely creative, open minded and pragmatic, and are also famous for their tolerant attitudes towards topics such as abortion, euthanasia and (soft) drug use. And as a result, Amsterdam plays host to over 3.6 million tourists every year.
An inspiring, compact city with a strong international reputation and progressive attitude, Amsterdam is a true gateway to Europe, thanks to the nearby presence of one of the continent's busiest airports, Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport. Factually, Amsterdam itself houses some of the world's most beautiful works of art, has more canals than Venice, more bridges than Paris, more bars/restaurants/cafes than London, 7,000 historic monuments and scores of ultramodern buildings. Thus making it an ideal destination to intimate yourself on a bit of history, some good international cuisine, breath-taking architecture and immersive culture during your time off.
Illustrated below are 5 must-see places to visit in Amsterdam.
1. Rijksmuseum
At last re-opened after a decade-long renovation, the Rijksmuseum is home to renowned Rembrandts, including The Night Watch, plus a grand company of other Old Masters from Frans Hals and Jan Steen to Ferdinand Bol and Jan Vermeer. Delftware, glittering gold and silver, centuries-old costumes, and furniture fit for royalty all add to the fanfare.
2. The EYE
A white, aerodynamic zigzag of a building on Amsterdam’s waterfront, the EYE makes an impressive new home for a world-class film collection, covering the history of the movies from the late 1800s onwards. Films are shown in their original language; tickets can be purchased only with a credit card (no cash is accepted). The café is also one of the coolest spots to hang out in Amsterdam.
3. Envy Restaurant
A battery of chefs produces some of the most inventive new-Dutch cuisine in town (think smoked pigeon and tempura cherries), in four-bite portions. Go for individual menus, or share five or six dishes in haute-tapas style. Italian charcuterie is a speciality, and the Dutch gourmet sausages are an adventure (lavender as a matching flavour for pork took me pleasantly by surprise.) The light is dim, the décor dark, the clientele fadingly fashionable.
4. De Bijenkorf
De Bijenkorf which translates as ‘The Beehive’, is sometimes billed as ‘Holland’s answer to Harrods, De Bijenkorf is perhaps a notch below the London legend, but it is stylish, offers fun shopping, and is a good one-stop source for major brands and the occasional bargain. Big designer labels all have a presence, there’s a wide range of both men’s and women’s fashion, and the house label produces good-quality garments.
5. De Melkweg
Still going strong since the heady 1970s, when it was at the heart of European counter-culture, the ‘Milky Way’ is a cutting-edge music and performance venue, and hosts wild weekend club nights. The original old dairy building has been expanded with flash new extensions to include a cinema, art gallery and café, hosting everything from Dutch pop via grunge rock and hiphop to contemporary dance. You have to become a member (€4 a month) to get into most events. Booking ahead is recommended for some events - there may be a pre-booking surcharge.
Photo credits in descending order from the top:
Map showing Amsterdam - Google Maps (2014)
Panoramic view of Amsterdam - www.wikipedia.org
Front elevation of Rijksmuseum - www.flickr.com
Art enthusiasts viewing a painting on display at Rijksmuseum - www.euro-t-guide.com
Evening view of The EYE - docnextnetwork.org
Interior view of The EYE - www.flickr.com
Bar top view at Envy Restaurant - www.youropi.com
Interior view at Envy Restaurant - www.thestylejunkies.com
Exterior night photo of De Bijenkorf - www.derkjansen.nl
Interior view of De Bijenkorf at busy shopping hours - www.virtualtourist.com
Exterior night photo of De Melkweg - www.tenbraswestinga.nl
Interior photo taken during a concert at Melkweg - www.twstd.nl
1 comments so far
A very interesting and detailed article. Keep it up.
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