Wander around a fairy-tale lattice of canals and captivating neighborhoods, where old-world charm is fused with modern luxury and world-famous nightlife.
It doesn't matter when you go to Amsterdam, it's always a great city destination. Stroll through the shopping streets, bump into a film crew, enjoy some great markets and visit world-famous museums. You'll soon understand why millions of people flock to this city every year!
After the Spanish conquered Antwerp at the end of the 15th century, a lot to rich Flemish Jews fled to Amsterdam. When the Dutch East India Company was established in 1602, a lot of these Belgian immigrants invested in it. Amsterdam became a major business centre creating a long period of wealth, the Golden Age. The city grew quickly and the famous canals were built.
Today, most people visit Amsterdam for its historic buildings and canals. But the city has a lot more to offer than that! For example, great shopping in The Nine Streets and lovely cafés in P.C. Hooftstraat, the street to be if you’re looking for exclusive boutiques. From P.C. Hooftstraat, you can walk to the Albert Cuyp Market and take in the typical atmosphere of Amsterdam.
If you’re in town with the kids, take them to Artis or NEMO. Step out onto NEMO's roof and enjoy a great view of the city. And don’t forget, the 'must sees' such as the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and of course the Anne Frank House.
If you want to go out and would like to avoid tourists, steer clear of Leidseplein and head for the Jordaan or the Pijp instead.
Most of the sights and shopping streets are within walking distance of each other. But if you want to go from the Dam to Vondelpark and from there to Artis, the trams and buses are the best way of getting around.
You can fly to Amsterdam from all of the major cities in the UK or take the train from St Pancras. If you're travelling by car or bus, you can take the ferry from Harwich, Folkestone or Dover. Parking, however, can be a more costly option in Amsterdam, but the least expensive choice is one of the many park and ride (P+R) parking lots just outside the city centre. The most practical ones are to be found Olympic Stadium or Amsterdam Sloterdijk station.
It doesn't matter how often you've been to Amsterdam, you'll always find something new to experience.