By Hannah Wheeler, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands
Here is a list of some of the best things, both touristy and Dutchie, to do in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. I hope it has something that will appeal to everyone: from club recommendations to must try cookies…
Dutch specialities and Culture
- Enjoy a Canal boat ride
- Find bargains for clothes and furniture in kringloops and Rataplans
- Walk around the city centre and Jordaan on Kingsday for an all-day street party – the night before there will also be lots of celebrations to go to!
- Explore other cities in the Netherlands like Dan Hague, Leiden and Utrecht – they are always described as mini Amsterdams…
- Take the ferry from Amsterdam Centraal to Noord (it’s free)
- Ij Hallen flea market!
- Buy a bike from Waterlooplein market (or just enjoy the market if you don’t need a bike/have got one already)
- Check out the museums (don’t forget about the NEMO and Tropen museum which aren’t in Museumplein)
- Visit the red light district (don’t be a knob)
- Venture to somewhere in the south of the Netherlands, like Breda, for carnival in February
- Go ice skating at Museumplein before Christmas
- Learn to pronounce ‘Goedemorgen’ correctly – aka. Good morning
- Check out Nordmarkt on Saturday
- Visit a dutch castle
Social activities, day and night
- Go to some Amsterdam Dance Events (ADE) in October
- Go to Skate Cafe for a good night out – other good club spots are Panama, Shelter and De Marktkantine! AVOID escape at all costs…
- Storytelling night at Mezrab (in English of course)
- Go to Summer Breeze night in Westerpark to dance salsa in the summer months on Thursday
- Check out Joe’s Garage, a kind of underground spot that has vegan food nights and movie nights for only donations – look at their website to get an idea of their ethos and nights!
- See a gig at the world-famous Paradiso venue – I saw bicep there
- Get a drink in the sun at Waterkant
- Chill or party in Vondelpark
- Visit PLEK, a city beach and bar
- Go to Cafe Alto on a weeknight for free live music
- Drink like a dutchie – buy jugs of beer for the table
- Go to the Book exchange store to swap second-hand books and find new ones (all books are in English)
- Study at OBA in Oosterdok for a change of scenery when doing work
- Go out to an ESN night to meet other internationals and have a light-hearted time
- Wonder experience roller skating (it has a disco vibe, if that’s your thing)
- Go to the sustainable Christmas market at De Ceuvel
- Check out mini festivals or foodmarkets at westergas
- Go to the cinema at the Kriterion and at Pathe Tuschinski for different movie experiences
Nature-based activities
- Kayak and swim in Amsterdam Bos (forest)
- Go for a nature trip to a national park like Zuid-Kennemerland
- Take your bike to cycle around Het Twiske in Noord – you can go for a swim at the lake’s beach
- Swim in sloterplas
- Cycle out to see the tulips (Keukenhof is a money trap – instead, get a train with your bike and cycle around the countryside to find tulip fields)
- Visit the Amsterdam Bos (a forest) in every season and watch how it changes
Food (Because food always needs a separate category)
- Get a fresh stroopwafel from Albert Cuyp market
- Buy cookies from Van Stapele
- Eat some Surinamese food!
- Try out FEBO for fast food from a cabinet
- Find a local farmers’ market to get fresh produce (often cheaper)
- Eat an Oliebollen at Christmas time – I recommend the Nutella!
- Eat some dutch Panakuchen or Poffertje (the best is from a place near the Anne Frank house
- Get some food at De Hallen, there’s something for everyone
- Get some dutch fries and sit by the canal to eat (i recommend the Pindasaus sauce if you like peanut butter)
- Buy some dutch staples from the supermarket like Hagelslag and Dutch mayo
and finally…
- Fly, bus or train away to another European country that’s on your doorstep!
