Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Unique is in the Normal

Best For:  Culture, Nightlife, Charm, Shopping, English Widely Used

Best Time to Visit:  April through October

Canals at Day

In my early days as a European traveler, I shied away from Amsterdam.  The canals looked beautiful, and I really wanted to see the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank house… but the insecure, high school nerd in me thought that I might not be “cool” enough for this city.  “Everyone will know I’m not coming for the sex and drugs!”  I thought the popular tourists would laugh at me for my interest in the architecture.  Pictures conveying the city’s charm eventually lured me in, and I found a pleasant surprise.  Yes, there is legalized prostitution and soft drug use in Amsterdam, but it blends so seamlessly with the other aspects of the city that you barely notice it’s there.  In fact, the city’s laid back vibe can make the most straight-edged among us feel comfortable enough to take a peek in a coffee shop.  

Culture:  In Amsterdam, the everyday and familiar are celebrated, as bike riders mix with brothels, and citizens stroll by “coffee” shops on their way to work.  Museums such as the Hash Museum, Sexmuseum, Torture Museum, and Tattoo Museum shine an introspective light on what outsiders might consider abnormal.  For the more refined visitor, the Dutch celebrate their famous citizens, paying homage to Van Gogh, Anne Frank, and Rembrandt.  2013 is the ideal time to visit the city and partake in its numerous anniversaries and festivals – the Canal Belt turns 400, the Rijksmuseum (featuring Dutch master painters) reopens after a 10-year reconstruction project, and the Van Gogh museum turns 40, to name a few.

Canals at Night

Nightlife:  The city is perhaps best known for its one-of-a-kind nightlife, which is strongly linked to its tolerant culture.  Take a stroll through the Red Light District, where Dutch families live amongst legalized prostitution.  Herbal enthusiasts will be happy to know that the proposed legislation banning marijuana sales to tourists was struck down at the end of 2012, leaving the city’s coffee shops open to foreigners.  Those interested in partaking in a more “traditional” after dark activity may want to cozy up in one of the city’s many brown cafés, which are named for their tobacco-stained walls.

Charm:  Worldwide, Architectural beauty is often celebrated in grand churches and palaces.  Amsterdam’s glory is best reflected in its domestic buildings.  Visitors will be charmed by leisurely strolls through the Grachtengordel(Canal Belt), where they can appreciate the eclectic gables and houseboats.  The canals especially shine at night, when water sparkles under bridges trimmed with white twinkle lights.

Church in the fall

Shopping:  The Negen Straatjes (Nine Little Streets) is a section of the Canal Belt boasting multiple boutiques, specialty shops, and galleries.  The Albert Cuyp market in the South neighborhood has been called the largest and busiest street market in Europe, and is especially good for people watching. 

English Widely Used:  Amsterdam offers the linguistically shy traveler the opportunity to visit a European city that is more exotic than London or Dublin. Nearly everyone in the city is fluent in English – so much so that you might find yourself questioning your own grammar.

Amsterdam is a small city, and many people can see its highlights in about three to four days.  Here are some suggestions for adding on to your trip:

• Try some of the less frequently visited cities in the Netherlands.  Haarlem, The Hague, and Utrecht are all within an hour’s traveling distance from Amsterdam and have similar attributes, while also enabling visitors to get a more well-rounded Dutch experience.
• If you’re really into the larger cultural powerhouse cities, hop a ferry to London.  Then hop another one to Dublin or take a train up to Edinburgh.