their stay. The best thing to do on a short break is combine a sprinkling of culture with a little taste of the nightlife, of which there is plenty to choose from.
The centre of Amsterdam is quite small so it is easy to visit all of the city’s main sights on foot. The maze of canals, cobbled streets and 17th-century merchant houses make it a very pleasant place to stroll around.
The side streets off the Damark – the main road through the capital – are relatively free of traffic. The majority of people living in the city either travel by tram or cycle. And as I discovered quite early on in my stay, it’s nice not having to worry about car traffic, but don’t whatever you do get on the wrong side of a cyclist in an hurry.
The first place on my list of sights to see was Anne Frankhuis, situated on Prinsensgracht. The war-time diary of this little Jewish girl must be one of the most famous books in the world. As a result, the museum is Amsterdam’s most popular attraction with about half a million visitors every year.
On the wishes of Anne’s father Otto, nothing has been changed in the house since it was raided by the nazis in July 1944. A bookcase hides the entrance to the annexe which was home to the Frank family and four other Jews for two years.
It is a very chilling experience to climb the small winding stairs to the annexe where eight people lived in two unfurnished rooms for two years, without ever seeing or feeling daylight.
I left the Anne Frankhuis feeling rather disturbed by what I had experienced. But it really is a must for any visitor to Amsterdam.
Next up was the Van Gogh museum. Most people think of Van Gogh as the mad artist who painted a vase full of sunflowers and cut off his ear to send to his former lover, but a stroll around the artist’s museum in Paulus Potterstraat will show you a different story.
Van Gogh was known for his productivity and the museum houses 200 of his paintings and 500 drawings.
His work is displayed in chronological order, so it is easy to track his development from his early years until his death. There are also works from Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin.
This gallery is really quite remarkable but at the same time very exhausting and I wouldn’t recommend trying to see all of it in one visit.
Continuing on the museum theme, I headed to the Rijksmuseum in Stadhouderskade. The Rijksmuseum building was designed by PJHCuypers – the architect responsible for Amsterdam’s Centraal station – and opened in 1885.
The museum houses the art collection of William V which includes paintings from the 15th century to 1850, oriental arts, pottery, silverware, 18th-century dolls houses and furniture from various royal palaces.
But the best aspect about the Rijksmuseum is the Dutch Masters section where most tourists head to for a glimpse of Rembrandt’s Night Watch.
Amsterdam’s museum scene also has a less intense side. Visitors in search of some light entertainment should check out the Erotic, Hash Marijuana, Hemp, Sex, Tattoo and Torture Museums.
And a visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without taking in a canal boat trip. The best tours are the ones with the live guides, as opposed to a pre-recorded tape. They cost a little extra but are worth every penny.
When asked to name two things that Amsterdam is popular for, most people would instantly say its red-light district and coffee shops.
While the Dutch capital’s liberal attitude to prostitution and the sale of cannabis in specially licensed coffee shops makes it an instant hit with many visitors, this cosmopolitan city has a wealth of other attractions to keep most tourists busy during their stay. The best thing to do on a short break is combine a sprinkling of culture with a little taste of the nightlife, of which there is plenty to choose from.
The centre of Amsterdam is quite small so it is easy to visit all of the city’s main sights on foot. The maze of canals, cobbled streets and 17th-century merchant houses make it a very pleasant place to stroll around.
The side streets off the Damark – the main road through the capital – are relatively free of traffic. The majority of people living in the city either travel by tram or cycle. And as I discovered quite early on in my stay, it’s nice not having to worry about car traffic, but don’t whatever you do get on the wrong side of a cyclist in an hurry.
The first place on my list of sights to see was Anne Frankhuis, situated on Prinsensgracht. The war-time diary of this little Jewish girl must be one of the most famous books in the world. As a result, the museum is Amsterdam’s most popular attraction with about half a million visitors every year.
On the wishes of Anne’s father Otto, nothing has been changed in the house since it was raided by the nazis in July 1944. A bookcase hides the entrance to the annexe which was home to the Frank family and four other Jews for two years.
It is a very chilling experience to climb the small winding stairs to the annexe where eight people lived in two unfurnished rooms for two years, without ever seeing or feeling daylight.
I left the Anne Frankhuis feeling rather disturbed by what I had experienced. But it really is a must for any visitor to Amsterdam.
Next up was the Van Gogh museum. Most people think of Van Gogh as the mad artist who painted a vase full of sunflowers and cut off his ear to send to his former lover, but a stroll around the artist’s museum in Paulus Potterstraat will show you a different story.
Van Gogh was known for his productivity and the museum houses 200 of his paintings and 500 drawings.
His work is displayed in chronological order, so it is easy to track his development from his early years until his death. There are also works from Toulouse-Lautrec and Gauguin.
This gallery is really quite remarkable but at the same time very exhausting and I wouldn’t recommend trying to see all of it in one visit.
Continuing on the museum theme, I headed to the Rijksmuseum in Stadhouderskade. The Rijksmuseum building was designed by PJHCuypers – the architect responsible for Amsterdam’s Centraal station – and opened in 1885.
The museum houses the art collection of William V which includes paintings from the 15th century to 1850, oriental arts, pottery, silverware, 18th-century dolls houses and furniture from various royal palaces.
But the best aspect about the Rijksmuseum is the Dutch Masters section where most tourists head to for a glimpse of Rembrandt’s Night Watch.
Amsterdam’s museum scene also has a less intense side. Visitors in search of some light entertainment should check out the Erotic, Hash Marijuana, Hemp, Sex, Tattoo and Torture Museums.
And a visit to Amsterdam isn’t complete without taking in a canal boat trip. The best tours are the ones with the live guides, as opposed to a pre-recorded tape. They cost a little extra but are worth every penny.