Amsterdam Travel Guide
Picturesque canals form a girdle around the oldest parts of Amsterdam and encompass the city’s notorious Red Light District. Here tourists stroll over ancient bridges and down the narrow lanes where the aroma of cannabis pervades the air, and at night the streets are lit up by the crimson glow of windows from which prostitutes beckon passers-by. However the city’s attractions extend well beyond these hedonistic activities to include some of Europe’s finest sights and museums. This charming and compact city is easily explored on foot, by bike or aboard a canal-boat tour that follows a circular route, stopping at the many attractions along the way.
Amsterdam’s Dam Square is a good starting point for an orientation tour around the city. Here one finds the Royal Palace and the main shopping streets extending beyond it (Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk). Beyond this are the bustling Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein quarters where street performers and tourists jostle for space. Locals gather here to enjoy the theatre, cinema or any one of the many popular late nightclubs and bars. A ten-minute walk from Leidseplein takes visitors to the Museum Quarter (Museumplein), a conglomeration of Amsterdam’s finest museums. Another area of interest is the Jordaan quarter. Built in 1612, it has become a popular district for students and young professionals. The infamous Red Light District (De Wallen) is located to the left of the Dam Square bordered by the canals Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal. Pijp is an exciting area from which to explore the cultural diversity within the city and to quaff local brew from one of the many pubs perched on the street corners.
Getting Around
The central area of Amsterdam is fairly compact and easy to get around on foot. When going further afield, there is a good, inexpensive network of trams, buses and metro lines that all converge at Centraal Station, as well as canal boats and a free ferry service across the IJ Canal. The GVB public transport office at Centraal Station has route maps and a guide to the ticketing system, which is based on zones with the same ticket valid on buses, metros and trams. The most widely used type of travel pass is the Strippenkart; a strip gets stamped every time one boards and remains valid for unlimited transfers within an hour (eight-strip card: €6.40; 15-strip card: €6.40; 45-strip card: €18.90). After midnight there are night buses that run from Centraal Station to most parts of the city. Taxis are among the most expensive in Europe and renting a car or driving one’s own to Amsterdam is not recommended; it is better to park it outside the city and use public transport to get into the centre and around. An ideal way to get around is the Dutch way - by bicycle. There are several rental agencies around town (about €7 daily or €30 weekly), but be aware that theft is common and make sure that both the frame and a wheel is locked to something fixed and solid.
Attractions
Amsterdam Historisch Museum:
Housed in a former orphanage, The Historical Museum explores Amsterdam’s development from a small medieval settlement along the river into a thriving modern city. The museum’s galleries showcase the progress of each century, with particular emphasis given to Holland’s Golden Age. The museum provides a showpiece of Dutch Master paintings, archaeological discoveries, gold, silver, glass and earthenware and other artefacts. The museum fee covers entry to the Civic Guards Gallery. This is a glass-roofed gallery stretching between Kalverstraat and the Begijnhof, lined with portraits of Amsterdam’s Civic Guards dating back to the 17th century.
Address: Kalverstraat 92 Telephone: (020) 523 1822 Email: info@ahm.amsterdam.nl Website: www.ahm.nl Transport: 10-minute walk from Central Station; tram 1, 2, 5 to Spui, or tram 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 and 25 to Rokin Opening Time: Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Closed 1 January, 30 April, 25 December Admission: €6 (adults), €3 (children aged 6 to 16)
Anne Frank House:
This museum is dedicated to the memory of Anne Frank whose famous diary, recorded over a two-year period, describes the experiences of a Jewish teenager during World War II. Part of the house was used as a hiding place by the Franks and others to escape Nazi persecution. The families were later discovered and sent to their deaths in the concentration camps. Otto Frank was the only survivor. The original diary is on display as part of the permanent exhibition. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits that focus on related issues.
Address: Prinsengracht 267 (Westerkerk) Telephone: (020) 556 7105 Website: www.annefrank.nl Transport: Tram 13 or 17; or bus 21, 170, 171 or 172 from Central Station to Westermarkt Opening Time: Daily 9am to 7pm; and 9am to 9pm (25 March to 31 August). Note that the queues can be long Admission: €7.50 (adults); €3.50 (children aged 10 to 17)
International Court of Justice:
The Peace Palace was so named to import its significance as a place of arbitration for the maintenance and promotion of world peace. Situated in The Hague, the building houses the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration and The Hague Academy of International Law. It was here (in 1946) that the first session of the International Court of Justice was held. Four guided tours are conducted daily. The Hague is located approximately 35 miles (57km) from Amsterdam.
Address: Carnegieplein 2 Telephone: (0)70 302 4242 Website: www.vredespaleis.nl Transport: Tram 10 from Hague Central or bus 24 from bus station to Vredespaleis stop Opening Time: Guided tours Monday to Friday at 10am, 11am, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm
Maastricht:
Maastricht is the oldest city in the Netherlands, peacefully perching on the banks of the Maas River. It is also one of the sunnier spots, located at Holland’s southernmost point, squeezed in between the Belgium and German borders. Ancient fortifications provide pleasant walking routes and some of these can be explored on the city’s western outskirts. The Bonnefantenmuseum traces the city’s historical roots, and makes for a good introduction to one’s visit. Another must-see is the Basilica of Saint Servatius. It is a medieval cruciform basilica with a significant collection of religious artefacts as well as the burial place of Holland’s first bishop. In the old centre of Maastricht is a selection of shops and department stores. Here one can also savour the fine food that Maastricht has developed a reputation for. A selection of wines from nearby vineyards can be savoured with the cuisine that has been influenced by the distinctive tastes of its neighbours. Maastricht is located 133 miles (215km) from Amsterdam.
Website: www.vvvmaastricht.nl
Our Dear Lord in the Attic (Museum Amstelkring):
This concealed Catholic church (the combined top floors of a 17th century canal house) is a reminder of the Alteration period in Holland. Protestantism was declared the official religion and churches like this one relied on clandestine activity for their survival. The building’s lower floors became a museum in 1888 housing a collection of church artefacts and paintings. It is located to the edge of the Red Light District.
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 Telephone: (0)20 624 6604 Email: info@museumamstelkring.nl Website: www.museumamstelkring.nl Transport: A seven-minute walk from Central Station Opening Time: Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm (open from 1pm on Sundays and public holidays). Closed 1 January and 30 April Admission: €7 (adults), €1 (children 5-18), other concessions available
Red Light District (De Wallen):
A visit to Amsterdam would not be complete without a stroll around the notorious Red Light District. The atmosphere can be chaotic with throngs of tourists jostling for space alongside city slickers, pimps and drug dealers. The prostitutes of De Wallen are part of a legal and regulated industry that includes compulsory health checks and taxable income. Prostitution is by no means the only attraction of the area. The district’s architecture comprises a scenic mix that dates back to the Middle Ages. Areas to explore include Waterlooplein, Zeedijk and Nieuwmarkt Square. Waterlooplein is the location of the modern City Hall and Muziek Theatre. The square was created in 1880 from two canals that were filled and then allocated to Jewish traders who used to ply their wares on its pavements. Nieuwmarkt Square was also once home to a thriving Jewish community, mainly Portuguese Jews who had fled from persecution during the Spanish Inquisition. The cultural diversity of this area extends to Zeedijk Street, which is often referred to as Chinatown. The street runs from the Saint Olof Chapel to De Waag.
Rembrandt House:
This museum provides an insight into the life and times of the famous painter. Rembrandt lived here between 1639 and 1658 at the height of his career. The museum presents a permanent collection of Rembrandt’s work, a reconstructed 17th century studio together with temporary exhibitions and a collection of paintings done by his teacher, Pieter Latman, and those of Rembrandt’s pupils.
Address: Jodenbreestraat 4 Telephone: (020) 520 0400 Email: museum@rembrandthuis.nl Website: www.rembrandthuis.nl Transport: Five-minute walk from Central Station Opening Time: Daily 10am to 5pm (open from 11am on Sundays and public holidays). Closed 1 January Admission: €7.50 (adults), €1.50 (children 6-15)
Royal Delftware Factory:
The white and blue decorative pottery, the trademark of Royal Delftware, was influenced by Chinese porcelain brought back from the east by the tradesmen of the Dutch East India Company. The Royal Delftware Factory (Koninklijke Porceleyne Fles) is the only remaining earthenware factory in Delft and dates back to the 17th century. Visitors to the factory can see painting demonstrations, attend painting workshops or visit the factory’s museum and showroom. Delft is 30 miles (47km) south of Amsterdam, near The Hague.
Address: Rotterdamseweg 196, Delft
Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art:
The museum closely traces the development in art of the second half of the 20th century, showcasing the most impressive collections of modern art in Amsterdam. The permanent exhibition focuses on De Stijl, Cobra, Nouveau Realisme, Pop Art, Colorfield Painting, Zero and Minimalist Art while temporary exhibitions on design and applied art are housed in the new wing.
Address: Post CS building, Oosterdokskade 5 (temporary location until 2008) Telephone: (020) 573 2911 Email: info@stedelijk.nl Website: www.stedelijk.nl Transport: A few minutes walk from Central Station following the signs ’Route Oosterdok’ Opening Time: Daily 10am to 6pm. Closed 1 January Admission: €9 (adults), €4.50 (children 7-16), family pass €22.50
The Dutch Resistance Museum (Verzetsmuseum):
A trip to this museum provides a fascinating insight into the activities of the Dutch Resistance Movement during World War II. Displays of false documents, weaponry and other equipment provide testimony to the bravery and innovation of its members.
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 61 Telephone: (0)20 620 2535 Email: info@verzetsmuseum.org Website: www.verzetsmuseum.org Transport: Tram 9 and Circle tram 20A from Central Station Opening Time: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm; Saturday, Sunday, Monday and public holidays 12pm to 5pm Admission: €5 (adults), €2.75 (children aged 7 to 15)
The Rijksmuseum:
The Rijksmuseum was opened in 1885 and is best known for its collection of 17th century Dutch Masters such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. The most notable of these is Rembrandt’s masterpiece, the Night Watch. The museum contains thousands of other paintings and artefacts in its Asiatic collection, Print Room, Dutch History and Applied Arts sections. A visit to the museum should include a trip into its delightful garden adorned with bright flowers, fountains, sculptures and summerhouses. Nestled within the garden is a collection depicting five centuries of Dutch architecture. It is advisable to consult a map or purchase a CD audio tour for an orientation to the extensive collection.
Address: Jan Luijkenstraat 1 Telephone: (020) 674 700 Website: www.rijksmuseum.nl Transport: Tram 2 or 5 from Central Station to Hobbemastraat Opening Time: Daily 9am to 6pm. Closed 1 January Admission: €9 (adults), under 19s are free
The Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis):
Although the Royal Palace is the official Royal residence it is mainly used for functions as the family reside in The Hague. The building dates back to 1648 and was originally designed for use as Amsterdam’s city hall. King Louis Napoleon however had other plans. In 1808 he turned the city hall into a palace. A large collection of furniture from this period adorns its interiors. Guided tours are offered to visitors (these need to be booked two weeks in advance). *The Royal Palace will be closed for renovations from 8 September 2005 until early 2008*
Address: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, Dam Square Telephone: (0)20 620 4060 Website: www.koninklijkhuis.nl Transport: 10-minute walk from Central Station, or any tram leaving from Central Station Opening Time: 12.30pm to 5pm; closed Mondays and Fridays (November, January and February). Guided tours can be booked on (020) 624 8698 Admission: €4.50/€6.50 with audio tour (adults), €3.60 (children)
Van Gogh Museum:
The museum houses a permanent display of several hundred of the artist’s paintings and drawings. The collection is organised according to three criteria. The first of these is the work of Vincent van Gogh, which is divided into five notable periods. Then there is the display of work of other artists including those of his friends and contemporaries. The third section is the showcase of the museum’s history recording its progress with a feature on the development of the new wing designed by Japanese architect, Kisho Kurokawa, built to house the temporary exhibitions.
Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7 Telephone: (020) 570 5200 Email: info@vangoghmuseum.nl Website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl Transport: Tram 2 or 5 from Central Station Opening Time: Daily 10am to 6pm, Fridays 10am to 10pm Admission: €10 (adults), €2.50 (children aged 13 to 17)
Waterland Neeltje Jans:
Enjoy a whole day with marine animals, experience fantastic attractions and see and learn about the world famous Delta Works at this spectacular water park. Attractions include the storm surge barrier, Delta Expo, a waterslide and water playground, whale world exhibition and a hurricane simulator.
Address: Eiland Neeltje Jans, Faelweg 5 Telephone: (0)111 655 655 Email: info@neeltjejans.nl Website: www.neeltjejans.nl Transport: Bus 133 Opening Time: Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (winter), 10am to 5.30pm (summer) Admission: €15 (summer), €9.50 (winter)
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