Amazing Amsterdam

Let me take you on a little journey to the amazing city of Amsterdam!

Why Amsterdam?

Because back in 2012, the Global Art Agency invited me to exhibit my artwork as part of a group event together with over 100 wonderful artists, in the gorgeous and vibrant city of Amsterdam. If you missed last week’s post, you can read all about the exhibition here: Amsterdam exhibition.

After the manic and hectic one day of setting up at the exhibition, standing on your feet for hours, talking endlessly to a plethora of people, and meeting wonderful artists as a part of this innovative event, followed by the excellent after-event party, it’s time to explore Amsterdam.

Visiting Amsterdam on a couple of previous occasions, and on each new visit, there’s always something intriguing to discover and explore.

Without a planned tour or even planned days, you can do what you please, when you please – the freedom of travelling with only your partner.

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What to see

Wander Amsterdam’s cobbled alleyways some of which date back over 740 years, which is the city’s age, for a remarkable and exceptional adventure.

Amsterdammers are super friendly and polite. Couples ride past on bicycles, joined together only hand-in-hand from each other’s bikes.

Art galleries, museums, unusual street stalls, international and multi-cultural buskers, horse-drawn cart rides, canals, and the Red Light District, Amsterdam can be exhausting if you try to see everything in this dynamic city.

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Canal Cruise

Drawing millions of tourists each year, Amsterdam’s 165 canals some of which are over 400 years old, are known worldwide and captivating.

The lifeblood of Amsterdam and not just for transportation, locals live by and on the city’s ancient canals. And, although I’ve never taken a canal boat trip during the several occasions of visiting Amsterdam, I’m sure I’ve walked a good majority of the over 100 kilometres of canals. Why not hire a boat?

Don’t forget, you can always hire a two-wheeled bicycle from one of the bike hire shops that are abundant around the city.

After your exhaustive bike ride through the city, should you still feel energised and revived, then why not enjoy a stroll along some of the 1,700 bridges framing Amsterdam’s canals, snapshotting a vista in time.

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Dam Square

Inevitably, you will find yourself in Dam Square, Amsterdam’s main town square where locals and tourists meet.

Around 750 metres from the Amsterdam Centraal station and the main transportation hub, Dam Square is also an alluring people-watching space.

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Royal Palace

Only becoming a palace during the 19th century, the luxuriant neoclassical palatial building was opened in 1655 as the city’s town hall.

In addition to the opulent internal marble work, in the centre of the building is the citizens’ hall, the floor of which is inlaid with maps of the world.

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Anne Frank’s House

If you haven’t heard the tragic but incredibly inspiring story of the German-born Jewish girl Anne Frank, her remarkable story is definitely worth reading. Or better still, visit Anne Frank’s Museum while in Amsterdam. Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding for two years in the Secret Annex (named by Anne), while she diarised their existence hiding during the Nazi persecution and occupation during WWII. The story is heart-wrenching.

Visiting Anne Frank’s House in 1985, a line-up and expensive entry ticket were unheard of, and a very different experience. Instead, I was allowed to wander through the house taking my time. From memory, only a small coin donation was expected, which went towards the upkeep of the house.

How times have changed.

These days, Anne Frank’s house is a lucrative museum with a lineup that starts at the entrance and crawls around the corner. Maybe it was the day we were there, but with a tasselled cordoned-off barrier forcing people to line up, a hundred people were waiting to enter. At €16 (2023) per adult entry, this makes the visit expensive. Although, I’m sure Anne Frank’s Museum has totally transformed since 1985 and regardless of the cost, this visit is a profound encounter.

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Sluyswacht

Built during 1695 as the lockkeeper’s house, you can find the very crooked free-standing Sluyswacht opposite the Rembrandt House museum (previously Rembrandt’s actual house).

When Rembrandt lived across from the Sluyswacht, he painted one of the oldest pictures of this particular lock.

For the last twenty years or so, Sluyswacht has been offered as a cosy cafe for all to enjoy.

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Museums

With around 75 museums in Amsterdam, it’s impossible to visit even one-third in a two-week visit, so a couple not to miss are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum.

Rijksmuseum

One of the world’s finest art museums, the Rijksmuseum houses over 8,000 art pieces across four floors of over 1.5 kilometres of galleries. And, includes masterpieces from greats such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, and of course, Van Gogh.

Van Gogh Museum

Most are familiar with Van Gogh’s lush yellow and blue palette with distinctive rough brushwork. The Van Gogh museum’s permanent exhibition includes 500 drawings and 200 paintings of Van Gogh’s work. The museum also hosts Van Gogh’s unusual Japanese prints and other artists’ contemporary exhibitions influenced by Van Gogh.

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Day trips from Amsterdam

The beauty of Amsterdam is that not only is the city organised very well, but the train system is reliable, and you can easily pick up a train ride, of under an hour to the gorgeous city of Delft. But also, a high-speed train of under 2 hours to arrive in stunning Belgium, then make your way to one of my favourite cities, Bruges. Both are definitely worth day trips from Amsterdam if you have a little extra time.

Check back next week for more of this Amsterdam two-week sojourn.

Visit Nilla’s Photography for more global images. More posts at Image Earth Travel.