If you ever happen to find yourself with 24 hours in Amsterdam, here are some tried-and-true suggestions for how to spend them.
The cultural and commercial capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam’s sheltered and strategic coastal location once made it one of the most important sea ports in the world. Its 17th Century historic canal system earned the nickname ‘Venice of the North’ and was added to the 2010 UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, the tall narrow townhouses that closely line the concentric canals are considered iconic features of the city’s centre.
Amsterdam is a compact place, easy to get around on foot or bicycle. In fact, you’ll likely notice the bicycles right away, zipping around like speed demons with the right of way.
While it’s an excellent example of active urban transportation, it’s also an ongoing exercise of looking both ways before crossing anything. Keeping your eyes open at all times. Keeping on your toes. And most importantly, keeping out of the way. Because the bikes here don’t stop for anyone. Especially tourists.
Starting your day
To being any 24 hours in Amsterdam, the best mornings start in any charming little bakery. Here you’ll find hot beverages and scrumptious Dutch apple pies consisting of layer upon layer of thinly sliced fruity goodness. You will swear it’s the most delicious piece of mouth-watering pastry you will eat. Ever.
At least until later that evening.
Work off those oh-so-worth-it calories with a walking tour of one of Amsterdam’s unique districts. Famous for specialty shops, boutiques, cafes and bistros, is the Jordaan District. Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower and garden market, nestled inside a row of floating barges, and a throwback to days when freshly cut flowers arrived by boats from the countryside. If retail is more your thing, Haarlemmerdijk is a trendy shopping street of 235 stores.
A scenic afternoon canal cruise gives an up-close glimpse of local life on Amsterdam’s narrow waterways. Where you’ll drift beneath dozens of low-lying bridges and alongside rows of gently rocking houseboats – many of which are actual permanent residences with fixed addresses.
If you’d like to spend some time in Amsterdam, there are accommodations for all styles and lengths of stay. From stylish boutique hotels to larger chains, and loads of short-term and long-term private rentals, you can do advance research and book stays through Booking.com.
Must-visit historic site
A visit to Anne Frank House will take you through the history of young Jewish wartime autobiographical diarist Anne Frank. The internationally-known museum is located in the building that housed the secret annex where Anne and seven others hid from the Nazis for two years, starting in 1942.
Anne’s father Otto, the only one of their group to survive the war, received Anne’s writings and published her diary two years after the war ended. He was closely involved with Anne Frank House from its establishment in 1957 until his death in 1980.
World-famous Red Light District
Now at the halfway point of your 24 hours in Amsterdam… evening is the ultimate time to discover the real reasons more than 3.5 million visitors come to this city each year.
Amsterdam’s world-famous cannabis coffee shops and absolutely surreal Red Light District – where people essentially literally ‘window shop’ for sexual partners – are by far the cities two biggest draws. If you’re not against either of those things, then both are worth experiencing.
And by experiencing, I mean hanging out with a group of friends. Ingesting something edible. Possibly inhaling something smoke-able. And spending the next few hours roaming around a strange city that becomes substantially stranger and much more amusing after dark. That’s when the quintessential seaport atmosphere and international sea of tourists combined with a very strict ‘no photography’ policy lends itself to extraordinarily interesting people watching.
Can’t beat the street snacks
Later on, stopping for a yummy-looking street snack on the way home lends itself to both culinary and comedy satisfaction. Because it’s at that moment you may loudly and hilariously declare, using your very best outside voice, that your icing-and-sprinkles-covered waffle is the most delicious piece of mouth-watering pastry you will eat. Ever.
At least until the next morning.
