Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital, known for its artistic heritage, elaborate canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, legacies of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Its Museum District houses the Van Gogh Museum, works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, and modern art at the Stedelijk. Cycling is key to the city’s character, and there are numerous bike paths. The first time we visited Amsterdam was August of 2021 and we also visited in October of 2022.
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Transportation
- Iceland Air: To get to Amsterdam the first time, we flew on a nonstop flight on Iceland Air, from Reykjavik. It was a little over 3 hours so not too long of a flight and we were comfortable.
- KLM: To get home the first time, we flew on KLM, the flag carrier of the Netherlands. We had no issues on the flight and the crew was quite friendly!
- United Airlines: The second time flying back home, we took United. The first flight was about 9 hours and although it was in coach, can’t complain too much since it was then only an hour flight home from Chicago.
- Public transportation: We love a city with good public transportation and thankfully Amsterdam is one of them! It has various methods of transportation including metros, buses, trams, ferries and trains. Unlimited use of it was included in the I amsterdam pass.
The trams were clean (especially for public transportation) and pretty easy to understand how to get around.
Accommodations
- Boutique Hotel Notting Hill: Only about a mile from most of the top things to do, this 4 star boutique hotel was so central and beautiful!
The room was clean and spacious, especially by European standards. The bed was very comfortable as well.
This hotel included a hot breakfast which had a wide array of delicious options of eggs, meats, cheeses and pastries. It was $543 for 4 nights.
- XO Hotel Inner: The second time we stayed in Amsterdam, we stayed at this hotel. It was very central, even more-so than the last hotel we stayed at. For instance, it was only 0.2 miles to the Van Gogh Museum. This made it very easy to get around and we didn’t have to take too much transportation other than walking.
The room was clean, modern and a decent size. It was $198.75 for 1 night, which for us is a little pricey but we are cheap when it comes to hotels.
To-Do
I amsterdam City Pass: Whenever we are visiting a city that has a city pass option, we look into it and see if it would be worth it. On our first visit to Amsterdam since we were there for more than a couple of days, we bought the 3 day pass for $142 per person. This included a lot of things that we were doing. We picked up our tickets from the I amsterdam store on the first day.
- Anne Frank House: This museum was established in 1957 and is run by a non-profit organization. It’s pretty self explanatory but this museum’s building is the house where Anne Frank went into hiding. It exists to increase awareness of the story of Anne to people all over the world. Inside we saw a lot of different exhibitions which included the hinged bookcase (the entrance to the secret annex) and also Anne’s original diary. Photography was not allowed inside the museum but even if it was, we’re not sure if we would have felt right taking photos as it was a somber experience. Something to note is that you have to purchase tickets in advance online for a particular time slot and those tickets are released 2 months in advance. From what we read and witnessed, the slots do fill up early so we definitely recommend booking them early.
- Rijksmuseum: This national museum of the Netherlands was first opened in 1885 and showcases over 800 years of Dutch history, from 1200 to now.
The collection of the museum totals an impressive 1 million objects. Among these items, we saw many different masterpieces and we could have spent hours upon hours inside. Entrance to this beautiful museum was included with our I amsterdam pass.
- Van Gogh Museum: This museum opened in 1973 and contains the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings in the world. Both times we visited Amsterdam we went here since this is our favorite museum! Tickets were 20 euros per person (about $21) and we purchased them in advance. We definitely recommend buying them before arriving since they tend to sell out.
With over 1200 pieces of work, we spent at least a couple of hours exploring the museum, coming across multiple of our favorites and many of Van Gogh’s most well known ones such as Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, and self portraits.
- Blue Boat Canal: Another thing we did both times we visited Amsterdam was take a tour of the canals. The first time we did a day tour and the second time we did the evening tour. The first time we went, on the day tour, was included in our I amsterdam pass. The evening cruise was 21 euros per person (about $23).
The morning cruise was 75 minutes and we were able to enjoy some beautiful views of the city. It was amazing weather outside that day so we spent a good amount of time on the outside of the boat to make the most of it.
The evening cruise was 90 minutes and it was very relaxing. We bought some individual bottles of wine from the little store that they had to drink while cruising around the city.
The candlelight on each table added to the ambience as well. Although the day cruise was nice, there was something about enjoying it at night.
- Royal Palace Amsterdam: This impressive palace was opened as the town hall in 1655 by the mayor of Amsterdam. In 1808 is when it was converted into a royal palace, for Louis Napoleon. Today, the palace is mainly used for official state functions. Whenever the royal family does not use the palace, the building is open to the public. Tickets were 12.50 euros per person (about $13).
Shortly after walking inside we were greeted with this stunning room called Citizen’s Hall. It was designed to be the heart of Amsterdam’s Town Hall. At 111 feet long and 82 feet high, this huge room was breathtaking with so many details to admire.
Connected to the Citizen’s Hall are the North and South Galleries which display many different pieces of beautiful artwork. We took some time admiring all of these wall murals.
After walking through the hallway galleries we made our way around to see the different chambers. We spent a couple of hours exploring the palace.
- Amsterdam Icebar: This unique bar was on the list of top things to do in Amsterdam so we thought we should check it out. We bought our tickets in advance for 22.50 euros per person (about $24), which included 3 drinks. Upon checking in, we were given 2 silver tokens to redeem for drinks inside the icebar area.
Once we entered the bar, we got our included welcome drink from the bar and watched the video that helped to immerse us with the whole experience.
After enjoying the interactive experience for a bit, they made an announcement to head to the next room. It was super cold inside the next room (14°F), but thankfully we were suited up with a jacket and pair of gloves.
Once we made our way into the room, we were able to redeem our 2 drink tokens. They offered different vodka choices or beer. Jonah got a beer and Sierra got a vodka cream. The drinks were served in glasses made from ice, which we thought was so cool!
This ice room also had tons of photo opportunities! We spent about 30 minutes in here taking different pictures and just hanging out, enjoying our drinks. Overall, it was a neat experience. We didn’t really feel the need to go back the 2nd time we visited Amsterdam though since this was more of a touristy experience than we usually go for.
- De Drie Fleschjes: Since 1619, this tasting room is the oldest one in Amsterdam.
The name translates to “three little bottles” and displays a wall of casks which showcase signature blends. They have an assortment of 35 different liqueurs.
With the I amsterdam pass, we got a free shot each of Dutch gin (jenever). It was a really strong drink so not really something that was Sierra’s taste but Jonah enjoyed it.
- Zaanse Schans: This neighborhood in the town of Zaandam is about 20 minutes outside of Amsterdam. Best known for its collection of historic windmill and green wooden houses, we wanted to visit this special place and spent almost a full day here. From 1961 to 1974 these buildings were relocated from an area known as the Zaanstreekthe (North Amsterdam area) to be preserved and recreate the look of an 18th/19th century village.
Our first stop was to the clog workshop, situated in the ‘De Vreede’ warehouse (1750), which was formerly used to store grain and snuff tobacco. Here we could see how clogs were made for farmers, workers and the general public.
We were also able to see the attached shoe museum, which has one of the largest collection of clogs in the Netherlands. This included some beautiful displays of painted clogs, carved clogs, horse clogs and art clogs.
This workshop also contained a gift shop with a variety of souvenir options, from ready to wear clogs, miniature clogs perfect for home decor, clog slippers, key-rings and piggy banks along with an assortment of typical Dutch souvenirs.
After wandering the area, we found the Paintmill De Kat, which was built in 1664. It is still operating today and produces paints, pigments, chalk, and oils. These are sold to artists and restorers all around the world. Once we climbed up the ladder, we were able to see how the mill worked. Then stepping outside, we were able to take in the beautiful views, an iconic image of old Holland as it once was.
After we climbed back down, we saw that they were selling hot chocolate and stroopwafels, a thin waffle cookie with caramel in between. First made in South Holland, they are a well-known Dutch treat. Both of them were the perfect snack to tide us over until lunch.
The last stop we made was to the Catharina Hoeve Cheese Farm, a replica of a traditional farm. We were able to learn about the typical Dutch cheeses from the cheese makers who wore traditional costumes. The best part was that we were able to sample various delicious cheese. At the end, there was a shop to buy some of the same cheeses we tasted.
Food
- Food Crib: Located conveniently in Museumplien, next to the Van Gogh Museum, this little food stand serves up some delicious bites to eat and was perfect for us to grab a quick lunch, both times we were in Amsterdam.
We both ordered hot chocolates for our drinks. They were really good and we are kind of hot chocolate snobs. Jonah got the junkyard dog which was a bratwurst with cheese, bacon, salami, piccalilly, and sauerkraut. It was a wonderful combination of flavors and such a unique hotdog!
Sierra had the chubby hotdog which had bacon and cheese. While it was simpler than Jonah’s, it was delicious as well. For the hot chocolates and hot dogs, we paid a total of 21 euros (about $22).
- Waffle Stand: Located just a few steps away from Food Crib, there is a waffle stand, another perfect place for a snack on the way to or from a museum.
We shared a sugar waffle with Nutella and it was the perfect dessert! It only cost us 4.50 euros (about $5).
- The Pantry: This centrally located restaurant serves traditional Dutch food in a cozy atmosphere.
For drinks, Sierra had the Apple Bandit Cider and Jonah had the Pantry beer called Feeling Dutch which was a saison. They were both great, cold and refreshing.
For our starter, we had a combination of three Dutch sausages that were served with bread, Amsterdam pickles and mustard. It was the perfect start to our meal; flavorful and not too heavy of an appetizer.
Jonah had the beef and onion stew with red cabbage and mashed potatoes. It was a tasty, hearty meal, with tender beef and good size portion.
Sierra had the oven dish which was a combination of cauliflower, ground beef, Old Amsterdam cheese, onions and mashed potatoes. It was the perfect mixture and a comfort dish.
For dessert we had the chocolate duo with eggnog custard, chocolate mousse and ice cream. All 3 parts of the dessert were a mix of creamy and sweet. Altogether the meal was 52 euros (about $55).
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Grand Café Restaurant 1e klas: Located in the former waiting room of Centraal Station, this restaurant was built in 1881.
The interior architecture was stunning with beautiful details and it made for a wonderful ambience.
We both enjoyed a couple of cold Apple Bandit ciders.
For our appetizer, we had the caprese, which was mozzarella, tomato, basil, and pesto. It was a simple but delicious couple of bites each.
Jonah had the grilled rump steak, which was served with fries and a salad. It was mediocre, a little chewy and on the drier side, but it had good seasoning. The salad was fresh and the fries crispy.
For the main course, Sierra had the grilled salmon filet, which also came with fries and a salad. The salmon was about the same as the steak, a little too dry for our liking. Our food came out to 66 euros (about $70) which we felt was too much for the quality of food. Overall, we don’t regret eating here though since we were able to eat in a historic building.
- De Blauwe Hollander: Translating as “The Blue Dutchman”, this was our favorite restaurant in Amsterdam and we went both times we visited! It is located right across from the Pantry and also serves traditional Dutch food.
We had a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenere-Casa Silva from Chile. We try to get local wines whenever we can but there were no wines on the menu from the country.
For our starter, we shared the homemade cheese croquettes, served with salad. They were crispy and so cheesy, definitely a good start to the dinner.
For the main course both times we went, Sierra had the stamppot-“Hutspot” which was carrot and onion served with a sukadelapje (pulled pork). The meat was so tender and served on a bed of mashed potatoes, topped with delicious gravy.
Jonah had the sauerkraut stew with sausage for his entree. He also got this both times since it was so good!
The first time we went here, we had the homemade apple pie with whipped cream and caramel sauce. We love apple pie and this one was amazing! The second time we visited we had to get it again.
We also shared the Poffertjes, which are mini pancakes served with butter, icing sugar and vanilla ice cream. They were a light, simple dessert with creamy ice cream.
The second time we visited, we had the homemade chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was a delicious fudgey and rich dessert that was balanced with the ice cream. These meals cost us about 79 euros (about $83) each time.
- The Avocado Show: First opened in 2017, this restaurant serves up delicious dishes made from sustainable avocados. Their first location was in Amsterdam but they now have several locations in different countries. We both love avocados so we wanted to give this restaurant a try. Due to its popularity, we made sure to book a reservation in advance.
For our drinks, we both had a Guaca Mary, which was a mixture of vodka, tequila, guacamole, lime juice, agave syrup and seasoning. They were garnished with a tortilla chip topped with guacamole. As the drink sounds, it was guacamole in drink form and pretty good!
For our starter, we shared the avo fries, which were avocado fries crusted with panko and served with truffle mayo. They were the perfect mix of fresh, crispy and tangy.
For the entree, Jonah had the Bun Burger. For the bun, it was an avocado split in half. Sandwiched in between the avocado was grain fed beef, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and grill sauce. Served on the side were triple dip nachos. Although challenging to eat, it was a great burger and unlike anything we’ve tried.
Sierra had the Julio Caesar salad. It had cajun chicken, avocado, crispy bacon, gem lettuce, parmesan, croutons, sesame seeds and Caesar dressing. It was a wonderful mixture of flavors and textures.
For dessert we shared the very berry waffle, a chocolate coated sugar waffle with avocado, raspberries, blueberries, and caramel biscuit crumble. It was a little weird for us to have avocado on a dessert, but overall it was good and the avocado added an extra creaminess to it. This meal was a total of 71 euros (about $75).
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Eetsalon Van Dobben: A 15 minute walk from the Rijksmuseum, this little restaurant has traditional Dutch fast food. They are known to have the best bitterballen in Amsterdam and it definitely seems to be the case since there were a lot of locals hanging around.
Bitterballen are a traditional Dutch snack, made from slowly braised beef that is thickened with a roux and deep fried into little crispy balls. We dipped them into mustard and they were a very delicious snack! Only costing us 4 euros (about $4.50), this was a cheap bite to eat.
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Winkel 43: We were recommended this restaurant from a friend and it did not disappoint! This cute restaurant is in a traditional Amsterdam house. They are well known for their apple pie so that was our original reason for visiting, but their dinner menu looked good so we decided to make a whole meal out of it.
We both had Magners Irish cider, which was a great start to the meal.
Jonah had the veal ribeye which was served with chipotle aioli, grilled vegetables and potatoes. The veal was tender and the vegetables and potatoes cooked very well.
Sierra had the salmon, garnished with romesco sauce, with zucchini spaghetti and potato galette. The salmon was flakey with crispy skin and the sides were a tasty addition.
Finally we came to the star of the show, the apple pie! It was definitely a winner as far as apple pies go, we wished that we had room for each one of us to have their own slice. Dinner was a total of 46 euros (about $48).
With all there is to see and eat in Amsterdam, we still didn’t manage to get to everything both times we visited so we’re sure that we will be back to this wonderful city!
