Visit Amsterdam, The Netherlands

HALLO, are you planning to visit Amsterdam? Need to know the best places in Amsterdam, where to eat in Amsterdam, must see’s in Amsterdam and what to do in Amsterdam?? I GOT YOU.

I laaaaaaaaave when people ask me about visiting Amsterdam. LAAAVEEE. After living there for 6 months I feel like I have mucho knowledge on this. If you want to read more about my overall experience studying in Amsterdam check out my Day in the Life Blog, Sunny Days in the Netherlands or Discovering Holland. I was able to experience the touristy things and the local things as well. So here is my Visit Amsterdam guide…

Where to Eat in Amsterdam:

Obviously, I’m starting with food because I think it’s the most important. You will find restaurants of all kinds and types everywhere. Honestly, it’s very hard to go wrong in Amsterdam. Check yelp or trip advisor too. If you are staying in an Airbnb or a place with a kitchen and need a grocery store, I would go to Albert Heijn or Lidl.

Cafe/Bakery

• Bagels and Beans: $ I think I ate here about once a week. BEST hot chocolate ever. And the bagels. omg. I can’t. Great for breakfast or if you are me, any time of the day. Sesame seed bagel with chives cream cheese, tamponade, pine nuts, and sundried tomatoes is my go-to!

• Pluk Amsterdam– $-$$ So cute and so delish
• Upstairs Pannenkoekenhuis– $ You MUST try dutch pancakes while in Amsterdam. This place is so cute and so yummy.
• PIQNIQ– $-$$ I’ve never been but I have been dying to! It’s all over my Instagram feed
• Bakers and Roasters– $-$$ Good for breakfast!
• Corner Bakery– $-$$ Not only is the food good, but the presentation is also grand
• Lot Sixty One–$ I know around every corner is a cafe butttt this was I loved
• Scandinavian Embassy – $ Cinnamon buns and coffee. Nuff said.
• Greenwoods– $-$$ Traditional dutch breakfast, coffee and tea
• De Laatste Kruimel– $-$$ A simple cafe with amazing pastries
• The Happy Pig– $-$$ This could be for breakfast, afternoon snack or dessert, depending on how sweet you get your pancakes!

Brunch/ Lunch/ Street Food

• Febo:$ a must-try. Best drunk food evaaaaa
• MaMa Kelly Amsterdam– $$$ It’s ALL PINK. I’d just go for the Insta honestly
• The Avocado Show- $$-$$$ All avocados. On errrryyything
• Bulls and Dogs– $-$$ Delishhhhh gourmet hotdogs and milkshakes.
• Vlaams Friteshius –$ Rumored to be the best fries. But when you are drunk/high every fry place is the best.
• Proeflokaal Arendnest – $-$$ If you are in the mood to try Dutch beer!
• De Zotte– $-$$ More bars = more beer
• Food Hallen– HUGEEEE food market place. So many options, So little time.

Dinner

• Broer – $$ Quick breakfast, lunch, dinner or beer!
• Little Collins– $$ This place is European with an Australian flair!
• The Pantry– $$ Traditional Dutch!
• Gartine – $$-$$ A cute lil French/Dutch place
• Zaza’s – $$-$$$ French/ European restaurant
• The Chicken Bar -$$-$$$ This place will surprise you haha. Bringing a little BBQ to the Netherlands!
• Restaurant Gerb. Hartering:$$$$ If you are going for a really nice, fancy meal, I highly recommend this place. My mother said it was probably her favorite meal she’s ever had. And she’s old, so she has ate at a fair number of places. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
• Restaurant Daalder– $$$$ prix fixe menu with tons of courses.
• De Kas – $$$$ If you want to have an excellent dinner… in a greenhouse! Seriously, it’s cool.
• Jacobsz- $$$$ Incredible food and dining experience
• Vinkeles– $$$$ If you got monaaayyyy, or want a great experience
• Maris Piper Brasserie – $$$$ Another expensive but delishhhh place

Asian and Indonesian

The Netherlands used to “own” Indonesia back in the day so there is a great Indonesian influence here. I highly recommend trying a place or two while you are in Amsterdam! I included some other Asian cuisine as well.

• Tempo Doeloe: $$ This is an Indonesian restaurant. This place was recommended on Anthony Bourdain’s Amsterdam list. It was a fantastic meal.
• Wagamamas: $$ Asian fusion. This place was DELISH
  Wok to Walk: $ fast, easy. It’s like chipotle but Asian

Dessert

• Stroopwaffles – find some stroopwaffles!!! They are at the markets or street carts. It’s a traditional Dutch dessert. I talk more about them below.

• De Drie Graefjes– Where do I even begin. This place has the BEST red velvet cake I’ve ever had. My best friend got the Carrot cake and claimed the same thing. I say get both to be safe. They are also a tea house if you fancy a spot of tea.
• Winkel 43– Another must! Dutch Apple Pie!
• Latei – I get my apple pie here, cause the interior is so fricken fun.
• Banketbakkerij– You don’t have to be able to pronounce it, but this place is one of the BEST ice-cream places in the dam.
• Sweet Bob– Brazilian goodies. Very unique
• Petit Gateau– Cute lil treats
• Nelly’s Cookie Bar– Cookies and coffee? Need I say more

I found some of the best restaurants just walking around and exploring. It never crossed my mind to jot down the names of the restaurants back then but everywhere I stumbled upon was good! Can’t really recall any bad meals. There is a cafe or bar on every single street and I bet you, every single one is GREAT!

Foods to Try While in Amsterdam:

• Chips: if you are American, like me, we call these fries. They have them all over the city, I don’t have a favorite location because I wasn’t really sober every time we had some. Recommend with the mayo.

• Stroopwafels: A MUST. It’s like a caramel waffle cookie. They sell them hot and freshhhh at the Albert cuyp market. (Details on the market below). Don’t buy them at the souvenir shops. Go into a grocery store (Albert Hejn) and go to the cookie aisle, they have a huge pack for like 2 euro. *Pro Tip: Place a stroopwafel over your hot tea or coffee to heat the insides to make it nice a gooey.

• Pancakes: These aren’t your normal flapjacks my friends. They are kind of pancake/crepe hybrid. I would get the cheese and bacon one. I also like the strawberry and Nutella ones obviously. The hardest part is deciding if you are in the mood for sweet or savory.

• Profiteroles: They are like mini pancakes. If you catch yourself in Amsterdam during the Christmas time, get them fresh at a Christmas market. It’s also entertaining to watch them being made.

• Pickled Herring: Did I try this? No. Do most tourists? Yes. So I’ll let you decide how adventurous you are feeling.
• Cheese: I tried lots of different Dutch cheese all around the city center. Since I lived there, I always bought my cheese from the grocery store (Albert Hejn). When my sister and mom listed me that is the cheese I bought for them. Cheese stores in the center do have samples though!

• Beer: Amsterdam has some of the best beer! If you want to tackle drinking beer and visiting a windmill all in one I recumbent visiting the Windmill Bar.

What to See in Amsterdam::

I hope you are spending more than one day in the ‘dam so you can experience as much as possible. I think getting a IAmsterdam card is a good idea if you plan on going to one or more. It even includes transportation. Click here for more info on the card.

• Anne Frank House: Must visit. Get there early to avoid the lines. In the summer expect huge lines. Book tickets online before your trip. Be prepared to feel all the feels here.
• Van Gogh: Personally, I am a huge Van Gogh fan so I really enjoyed the museum. The layout is kinda weird but that’s my only negative.

• Rijksmuseum: If you are pressed for time, I’d skip this museum. Unless you are a huge history/art fan. This place is HUGE. Smaller than the Louvre, but still huge. The outside of the Museum is GORG. And there is usually someone playing music in the tunnel that runs through it.
• Iamsterdam**: The famous Iamsterdam sign is located in front of the Rijksmuseum. Usually surrounded by tons of people trying to get a pic on top of a letter. Also in front of the Rijks is where the ice rink is in the winter. In the fall it was a huge pond with a fountain. It seems to always change.
  • **I heard the sign was removed from in front of the Rijks. I’m not sure if they ever plan on putting them back but I’ll keep an eye out

• Vondelpark: SOOOOO pretty. I used to bike around there or layout with my friends on a nice day. In the summer there are a lot of concerts.

• Bloemenmarket: This is where they sell the tulips! Great to see if you can’t make it out to the tulip fields between March-May. It’s a good substitute. Just remember, if you buy bulbs, buy the American ones. And you will have to go through customs and get them checked and what not when you fly back. I personally just bought tulips from Costco when I got home.

• Dam Square: Super touristy but still a must-see. If you are exploring the city center already, you will most likely stumble across Dam Square. Watch for pick-pocketers. There is also this huge souvenir shop right on the corner. Best place to buy gifts.
• Food Hallen– HUGEEEE food market place. So many options, So little time.
• Windmill Bar – It’s a bar AND a windmill all in one.

Mini Trips from Amsterdam:

If you have the time I highly recommend taking a quick train ride to these locations. All of these places are accessible from the train station in the city center.

• Keukenhof: The biggest flower fields in the world. I was in Amsterdam in the fall/winter so I never got to experience this but it’s 100% on my to-do list for next time. They are open from March 23rd- May 21(ish).
• Windmills at Zane Schans: This is the best place to see the famous Dutch windmills. They also have a cute little town there.

• Haarlem: A quick 20 min train ride from the city center puts you in my second favorite place in the Netherlands. I ABSOLUTELY loved Haarlem. The shops were all so unique and amazing, great churches, beautiful canals. I found a tea shop called “Babette’s Tea” and it’s one of my favorite places. It’s walkable from the train station. Everything is walkable, honestly! I could not recommend Haarlem more.

I highly recommend Babette’s blend tea and the scones

Bejlmer Arena: For those of you who are soccer fans and want to see the arena. This is also the area I lived in. So if you want to go over in that area let me know and I can give you more restaurants and things that are in that area.

Fun things to do in Amsterdam:

• Canal Boat ride: There are a ton of different tour companies with similar prices. This is such a great way to ride throughout the canals and get a great look at the city. Try and fit this in if you don’t have much time. You get to see so much.
  • There are pizza cruises, wine cruises, architecture cruises, history cruises, dinner cruises, night cruises, etc… Just search the web for the one that fits best for you and the time you have there.
• Rent a bike: No better way to experience the Dutch way of life than riding a bike around! Don’t rent the brightly colored orange or green ones because those have a greater chance of gotten stolen because it screams TOURIST. Most hotels/ hostels should have some you can rent from them. Ride to Vondelpark! (please be super cautious and be really aware, the Dutch don’t stop. And they do yell at you if you are in the way.) Also, be aware that there are sidewalks AND bike lanes that look alike if you aren’t paying attention. Redbrick = bike lane. Still confused? Watch this helpful, hilarious video.

• Heineken Experience: Great way to learn how Heineken beer is made while enjoying two free beers.
• Sex Museum: Take your Mom!
• Red light district: And then take your mom here! Won’t see much during the day. Night is the time to go if you want to see some ta-ta’s. No pictures. Security guards will take your phone.

Amsterdam Shopping:

• 9 straatjes– Literally 9 streets in the Jordaan area with the cutest shops and restaurants. It’s like the hipster part of the city. Greaaaaat place for Instagram photos.
• Kalverstraat/ Liedjesstraat: Main shopping streets. You can find just about anything here: Forever 21, H&M, Steve Madden, Zara, Etc.
• Albert Cuyp Market: My favorite market. Many nice vendors and food. THIS IS WHERE I WOULD GET A FRESH STROOPWAFLE. The stores around that area are nice too.
• De pijp– Cute, bohemian stores. It’s next to the Albert Cuyp Market

AmsterdamTransportation: 

I think Amsterdam has the best transportation out of any city I’ve been too.

• Bike: Yes the city is small enough to walk around but, I just love to bike. (see video above about biking)
• Walking: Amsterdam is a great walking city. However, while you are walking, watch out for bikes. Remember the RED BRICK PATHS are for bikes, not pedestrians. Bikes always have the right away.
• Trams: If you aren’t biking, this is the next best thing. Amsterdam has a great tram system. Can purchase 1 or 2-day tickets in a metro station. Works on metro or tram.
• Metro: Not necessary if staying in the city center but if you need it’s cheap and easy. Can purchase tickets inside any metro station
• Train: The best way to get from the airport to Centraal Station. No need for Uber.
• Uber/ Taxi: They have it if you need it.

Now here is the (fun) section of my blog for those who really want to dabble in that Amsterdam life.

Note: Cafe = sells coffee. Coffeeshop = sells weed.

Amsterdam Coffeeshops:

• Best Friends Coffeeshop – my fav
• Bluebird
• Bulldog
• Grey Area
• 420 Cafe – my fav
• Prix d’ami
• Dampkring – my fav
• Greenhouse Centrum
• The Rookies Coffeehouse
• Popeye Coffeeshop
• Katsu Coffeeshop

 If you are nervous and want some more info, click HERE. They are all over the place. Some are sketchier than others. They do check ID to make sure you are over 18. Some places charge extra for a lighter. It’s cheaper to roll yourself vs. a pre-rolled. Pre-rolled usually contained more tobacco than I cared for. The people who work there are usually super nice and very helpful. 

Amsterdam Nightlife:

• Leidseplein: Best area for nightlife. Young crowds. Also great Christmas markets in the winter.
• Melkweg: concerts and clubs are held here.
• Paradiso: Spent many nights at this club. Always fun.

Any bar is usually pretty poppin’ on the weekends. Tons of bars and pubs in the city center.

Amsterdam Tips:

If you forget anything, find a Hema, it’s like a mini target. If you need food, snacks or water find an Albert Hijn. This is where I recommend getting stroopwafels. They also have pre-packaged sandwiches and snacks. There are mini Albert hijns at the airports and at the major metro/ train stations.

If you are visiting other places make sure to check out my other destination blogs on Dublin, Ireland, Vienna, Austria, Barcelona, Spain and a whole bunch more Destinations.  I hope you have the best Visit to Amsterdam! And bring me home stroopwafels. Plz.

Doei doei,
Marissa