6 Cool Things to Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city known for its unique buildings, canals, and…quite liberal view on life. It was the second leg of my Paris/Amsterdam trip back in 2018. I was more excited for Paris, but Amsterdam ended up stealing my heart. For being such a compact city, there are many things to do! It is packed with activities and culture. It truly is a wonderful city.

Here are some of the things I did on my trip:

1.Ride Around Town on a Bike

Almost EVERYONE in Amsterdam owns a bike. It’s safe to say that there are more bikes than cars here! In Amsterdam, people don’t just ride their bikes to save money on gas, it’s their way of life. So why not embrace this and hop on a bike yourself?

There are plenty of bike rental places in Amsterdam, with the average cost being €12 per day. Amsterdam is a relatively small major city, so you could explore it a lot faster on a bicycle. Make sure to ride along iconic streets like Prinsengracht and take those classic Instagram photos.

2. Admire Vincent Van Gogh’s Artwork

The Van Gogh museum is located in the Museum Square, next to two other notable museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk. As a modern art lover, this museum stood out to me the most. With his abstract designs and use of vivid colour, Van Gogh’s work is simply a breath of fresh air.

You can also take a look at his earlier paintings, which depict peasant life and use more neutral colours. You’ll also discover a lot of self-portraits! Apparently, he wanted to get better at portrait drawing, so he used his own reflection to practice (and to save money on models)!

Your museum ticket comes with an optional audio guide, which I would recommend. I paid extra for the guide and it was well worth it! It gives you additional information about Van Gogh’s paintings and lets you know the origins and inspiration behind his work.

3. Hang on the Edge at A’DAM Lookout

If you want to live a little, definitely visit the A’DAM Lookout. Just cross the water and head towards Amsterdam Noord. The A’DAM Lookout is a big observation deck, with great views of Amsterdam. Its most famous attraction is no doubt its swing. At 100 meters above ground, it’s Europe’s highest swing! With only a fabric seatbelt as your safety net, try it if you dare. Once you get over your initial fear, it’s a great way to get a bird’s eye view of Amsterdam. It felt as if you were swinging towards the sky. Mind you, I was shaking most of the time, but the experience was worth it!

4. Check Out the Moco Museum

This is another great museum for modern art lovers. The Moco Museum is known for showcasing unique and thought-provoking artworks. Founded in 2016, it is already one of Amsterdam’s top rated museums, and even has pieces by Andy Warhol and Banksy!

5. Uncover the Red Light District

The Red Light District is a very sexually liberated place, to say the least! It is famous for its peep shows, strip clubs, and of course, its legal prostitution. Yet despite this big reputation, it completely blends in with the rest of Amsterdam during the day. I think I passed it a few times without even realizing! But as soon as dusk hits and the famous red lights come on, it transforms into its famous self. The switch kind of reminds me of that moment in Spirited Away, where it started getting dark in the abandoned theme park and the area suddenly came to life with spirits.

Despite its taboo nature, the area itself feels quite lighthearted. There is a sense of wonder, as the majority of people there are tourists. The Red Light District has become more of a tourist attraction than anything else; with plenty of tour groups passing through the streets. To fully experience this district, I would suggest going on one of the walking tours (they are packed with information) and also maybe visiting one of the peeps shows… if you’re up for it!

6. Simply Walk Around

I saved the best for last. When I was asked what my favourite part of visiting Amsterdam was, I realized that it was just walking around and taking in the beauty and uniqueness of the architecture. It’s a simple activity, but probably the most fulfilling! The iconic canal houses are an attraction in and of themselves, with their beautiful colours and outlined windows. Once you get off your bike, definitely take your time walking around the streets of Amsterdam.

Fun Fact: In 17th century Amsterdam, you were taxed based on how wide your house was. So the canal houses were built tall and narrow as a way of avoiding paying too much in taxes! This worked out, as now, Amsterdam has some of the most unique, photographable architecture in the world.

Additional Musings:

• Controversial opinion, but I did not fully enjoy my experience at the Anne Frank House. The story of Anne Frank is one that needs to be shared, but this museum is simply so crowded that you can’t fully immerse yourself in the experience. Since so many people want to visit this narrow canal house, the end result is tourists being escorted through the house in a conveyor belt fashion. When I was there, the essence of the rooms was overpowered by the crowdedness of the rooms themselves, but maybe that’s just me! However, this is a great way to be inside a canal house and get a feel of the architecture within, as well as get an intimate look at how Anne lived in her final years.

• Amsterdam’s train station, Amsterdam Centraal, is truly breathtaking. Even if you’re arriving by airplane, still take the time to visit this train station. Its architecture is grand and elaborate, and it’s right in Amsterdam central! It’s a great crossroads of people from other countries; you will hear many languages being spoken. Also, the canal houses are already within walking distance; everything is so close by!

• If you’re wondering what happened to the famous I amsterdam sign that everyone was using as a jungle gym, let me tell you! It was removed from the Museum Square back in 2018. According to officials, it was causing too much overcrowding due to its popularity. It was also perceived to be promoting individualism, instead of inclusivity like it was intended. So now you can find it outside of Arrivals 1 at Schiphol Airport.