Guidebook for Amsterdam
Parks & Nature
A great place for a pick nick (with children). Drinking alcohol is allowed, and so is setting up a bbq.
On the north side, next to the museum, there is a great little toddler's pool.
841 locals recommend
Oosterpark
OosterparkA great place for a pick nick (with children). Drinking alcohol is allowed, and so is setting up a bbq.
On the north side, next to the museum, there is a great little toddler's pool.
A beautiful park with a completely different character than Oosterpark. Great for a walk, a pick nick, or for an hour on the beautiful play ground, where storks nest on an old chimney.
91 locals recommend
Jeruzalem
A beautiful park with a completely different character than Oosterpark. Great for a walk, a pick nick, or for an hour on the beautiful play ground, where storks nest on an old chimney.
A quiet oasis in the middle of the city. Beatiful botanical gardens.
299 locals recommend
Hortus Botanicus
2a Plantage MiddenlaanA quiet oasis in the middle of the city. Beatiful botanical gardens.
A bit further away than Oosterpark, but worth the little trip. A beautiful park where people like to barbecue haute-quisine-style.
398 locals recommend
Flevopark
FlevoparkA bit further away than Oosterpark, but worth the little trip. A beautiful park where people like to barbecue haute-quisine-style.
Entertainment & Activities
A famous zoo. During summer, check out the saterday night openings. You can bring a pick nick basket or buy one at the door.
1622 locals recommend
ARTIS
38-40 Plantage KerklaanA famous zoo. During summer, check out the saterday night openings. You can bring a pick nick basket or buy one at the door.
Flevoparkbad
1002 InsulindewegThe place to go for a swim on a hot summer day.
A city beach, where hipsters and hip young families spend summer days. Swimming is an option, but there are no life guards.
105 locals recommend
Blijburg
501 PampuslaanA city beach, where hipsters and hip young families spend summer days. Swimming is an option, but there are no life guards.
Very nice playground to go to with younger kids, who are allowed to build their own cabins here!
31 locals recommend
Jeugdland
131 ValentijnkadeVery nice playground to go to with younger kids, who are allowed to build their own cabins here!
If you want to be on the water (yes, you do) renting a Mokumboot is our favourite way to go. Make a reservation well in advance. In three hours you'll have enough time to cruise through the city center canals, or go down the river Amstel and enjoy the relative peace and quiet. Three hours will set you back about €100,-. More expensive than the larger boats in the center, but well worth it.
7 locals recommend
Mokum boat rental Amsterdam
65 MauritskadeIf you want to be on the water (yes, you do) renting a Mokumboot is our favourite way to go. Make a reservation well in advance. In three hours you'll have enough time to cruise through the city center canals, or go down the river Amstel and enjoy the relative peace and quiet. Three hours will set you back about €100,-. More expensive than the larger boats in the center, but well worth it.
Weesperzijde is a beautiful Amstel quay for a city stroll. There are some nice bars, and close to Berlagebrug there is a strip of grass where people sunbathe and go for a swim in the river (yes you can!). Stay on the east side, the west side is busy with traffic.
32 locals recommend
Weesperzijde
Weesperzijde is a beautiful Amstel quay for a city stroll. There are some nice bars, and close to Berlagebrug there is a strip of grass where people sunbathe and go for a swim in the river (yes you can!). Stay on the east side, the west side is busy with traffic.
At the waterfront in this corner of the Amstel, a city beach has emerged on the grass. It is a beautiful spot with a reat view and: not very touristy.
6 locals recommend
Korte Ouderkerkerdijk
Korte OuderkerkerdijkAt the waterfront in this corner of the Amstel, a city beach has emerged on the grass. It is a beautiful spot with a reat view and: not very touristy.
Humorously dubbed "Amsterdam Beach" by some, this is the easiest to reach Dutch sea side beach. It will take you about an hour in total to get from our appartment to your towel in the sand. The train station is very close to the beach. On a sunny day it will be very, very crowded but you'll love it anyway. Sunsets are always epic and there are lots of (not very cheap) restaurants right at the beach.
124 locals recommend
Zandvoort
Humorously dubbed "Amsterdam Beach" by some, this is the easiest to reach Dutch sea side beach. It will take you about an hour in total to get from our appartment to your towel in the sand. The train station is very close to the beach. On a sunny day it will be very, very crowded but you'll love it anyway. Sunsets are always epic and there are lots of (not very cheap) restaurants right at the beach.
Drinks & Nightlife
Amsterdam's most popular own beer (hush hush: Heineken is tourists' only). Opens till 8 p.m. only,
1100 locals recommend
Brouwerij 't IJ
7 FunenkadeAmsterdam's most popular own beer (hush hush: Heineken is tourists' only). Opens till 8 p.m. only,
Hidden in a very narrow street, this is where you can get a taste of the finest jenever in Amsterdam.
161 locals recommend
Wynand Fockink
31 PijlsteegHidden in a very narrow street, this is where you can get a taste of the finest jenever in Amsterdam.
Probably best bar around in the neighbourhood right now. New, but completely old Amsterdam style.
115 locals recommend
Café Kuijper
79 LinnaeusstraatProbably best bar around in the neighbourhood right now. New, but completely old Amsterdam style.
This bar is famous for it's wide variety of beers, and the serve an excellent roasted chicken - ear in or take out! And it's a lovely terrace on a sunny day.
523 locals recommend
de Biertuin
29 LinnaeusstraatThis bar is famous for it's wide variety of beers, and the serve an excellent roasted chicken - ear in or take out! And it's a lovely terrace on a sunny day.
bar Bukowski
10 OosterparkOne of the hippest bars in the neighbourhood, always packed .
Located on the top floor of what used to be a newspaper's office, this bar and hotel is a great escape. Nice terrace with a nice (but not epic) view over the city.
261 locals recommend
Volkshotel
150 WibautstraatLocated on the top floor of what used to be a newspaper's office, this bar and hotel is a great escape. Nice terrace with a nice (but not epic) view over the city.
Just the trip by ferry (for free!) from Amsterdam Central Station alone is already worth it to go here. Once arrived you'll find some hipster restaurants and bars in this former industrial zone. On a warm night this is where you want to eat (and dance). Not the best place for young children, although early at night they can play on the beach.
55 locals recommend
NDSM-Plein
NDSM-PleinJust the trip by ferry (for free!) from Amsterdam Central Station alone is already worth it to go here. Once arrived you'll find some hipster restaurants and bars in this former industrial zone. On a warm night this is where you want to eat (and dance). Not the best place for young children, although early at night they can play on the beach.
Paradiso
6-8 WeteringschansOur Temple of Pop&Rock.
Food Scene
In our opinion the most beautiful terrace in all of Amsterdam.
399 locals recommend
Café Restaurant De Ysbreeker
23 WeesperzijdeIn our opinion the most beautiful terrace in all of Amsterdam.
This is considered to be one of the best restaurants in the city! And at walking distance, so a must see! Three course meal for about € 35,-.
468 locals recommend
Wilde Zwijnen
23 JavapleinThis is considered to be one of the best restaurants in the city! And at walking distance, so a must see! Three course meal for about € 35,-.
De Pizzabakkers
2 Plantage KerklaanBest pizza at a 15 mins stroll away.
We've just had pizza there for the first time and it was delicious! Perfect location: right behind Oosterpark. Friendly people, lovely music. It took us 5 yrs to find out... Beat us!
16 locals recommend
Oost
44-46 Andreas BonnstraatWe've just had pizza there for the first time and it was delicious! Perfect location: right behind Oosterpark. Friendly people, lovely music. It took us 5 yrs to find out... Beat us!
Visbar Beet
26 DapperstraatFresh fish served by very nice people.
This is the go to place for a quick and cheap lunch. Excellent döner and turkish pizza's.
Bakkerij Surikaya
433 Eerste Van SwindenstraatThis is the go to place for a quick and cheap lunch. Excellent döner and turkish pizza's.
So when in Holland, try some REAL Dutch cheese, not the touristy stuff you can buy in the city center. Klaas has an excellent choice of Dutch (and French) cheeses. He is very friendly and in a way world famous - you will notice once you're there. You can only pay with cash in this shop! For the real cheese addicts: see if Kees Kaas is in business. He has a small stand on Dappermarkt, between Von Zesen and Commelinstraat. His specialty is Beemster kaas, a variant of Gouda cheese.
Wereldse Kaas Van Klaas
145 DapperstraatSo when in Holland, try some REAL Dutch cheese, not the touristy stuff you can buy in the city center. Klaas has an excellent choice of Dutch (and French) cheeses. He is very friendly and in a way world famous - you will notice once you're there. You can only pay with cash in this shop! For the real cheese addicts: see if Kees Kaas is in business. He has a small stand on Dappermarkt, between Von Zesen and Commelinstraat. His specialty is Beemster kaas, a variant of Gouda cheese.
When everybody screams for icecream, take a walk to this fan-tas-tic ice shop and stand in line for 10 minutes. It is worth the wait!
15 locals recommend
IJs van Oost
79 JavastraatWhen everybody screams for icecream, take a walk to this fan-tas-tic ice shop and stand in line for 10 minutes. It is worth the wait!
Roti is a traditional Surinami dish with a curry wrapped in a roti and potatoes. Roopram Roti is where you can take away or eat in to have a go at it.
90 locals recommend
Roopram Roti
4 Eerste Van SwindenstraatRoti is a traditional Surinami dish with a curry wrapped in a roti and potatoes. Roopram Roti is where you can take away or eat in to have a go at it.
A beautiful walk over the old 'Marineterrein', will bring you to this magic place.
"Located in a greenhouse on the waterfront, our restaurant and bar offer great city views. Join us for some great-tasting and(where possible) locally-sourced food or simply for a crafted Amsterdam brew on our sunny terrace."
16 locals recommend
Mediamatic ETEN
6 DijksgrachtA beautiful walk over the old 'Marineterrein', will bring you to this magic place.
"Located in a greenhouse on the waterfront, our restaurant and bar offer great city views. Join us for some great-tasting and(where possible) locally-sourced food or simply for a crafted Amsterdam brew on our sunny terrace."
Sightseeing
A popular and beautiful goal for a semi-short cycle trip. Small houses, a dike, water. With a beatiful terrace... with bad service... :(
Ask your bike rental for directions.
91 locals recommend
Durgerdam
A popular and beautiful goal for a semi-short cycle trip. Small houses, a dike, water. With a beatiful terrace... with bad service... :(
Ask your bike rental for directions.
I guess this is in every guide book, but you should not miss this quiet little court. The oldest house of Amsterdam was there untill in june 2012 they discovered an older one somewhere else in town.
277 locals recommend
Begijnhof
1 BegijnhofI guess this is in every guide book, but you should not miss this quiet little court. The oldest house of Amsterdam was there untill in june 2012 they discovered an older one somewhere else in town.
If you take a cycle tour, visit this little village and climb the enormous church tower for great views!
22 locals recommend
Ransdorp
If you take a cycle tour, visit this little village and climb the enormous church tower for great views!
In this street you'll find our main grocerie store Albert Heijn. Opposite the street there is a "Natuurwinkel" which sells ecological food. And there is the budget friendly Lidl.
8 locals recommend
Eerste Van Swindenstraat
Eerste Van SwindenstraatIn this street you'll find our main grocerie store Albert Heijn. Opposite the street there is a "Natuurwinkel" which sells ecological food. And there is the budget friendly Lidl.
This just-restored street offers a good mix everything: fish shops and grocery stores are laced with hip cafés, concept stores and pop up shops. A must see!
161 locals recommend
Javastraat
JavastraatThis just-restored street offers a good mix everything: fish shops and grocery stores are laced with hip cafés, concept stores and pop up shops. A must see!
Arts & Culture
Foam
609 KeizersgrachtA very nice museum for modern photography. Not too big, great exhibitions!
Not really our cup of tea and we haven't visited it, but if you are a tattoo lover this is your chance to look at the work of (and maybe meet) Holland's Greatest Tattoo Guy Henk Schiffmacher.
Tattoo Museum
130 Oudezijds AchterburgwalNot really our cup of tea and we haven't visited it, but if you are a tattoo lover this is your chance to look at the work of (and maybe meet) Holland's Greatest Tattoo Guy Henk Schiffmacher.
Just opened in may 2012, this is one of the most interesting buildings in the city. It house a film museum, a bar/restaurant and boasts beautiful terraces! NOTE: the correct adress is IJpromenade 1!
1109 locals recommend
Eye Film Museum
1 IJpromenadeJust opened in may 2012, this is one of the most interesting buildings in the city. It house a film museum, a bar/restaurant and boasts beautiful terraces! NOTE: the correct adress is IJpromenade 1!
Visit the science museum itself, with lots of activities, or just sit on top of the roof and enjoy the view!
603 locals recommend
NEMO Science Center
2 OosterdokVisit the science museum itself, with lots of activities, or just sit on top of the roof and enjoy the view!
A spectaculair building at a great location for a cup of coffee, an exhibition or a concert.
105 locals recommend
Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ
1 Piet HeinkadeA spectaculair building at a great location for a cup of coffee, an exhibition or a concert.
Everything Else
The restaurant on 7th floor provides one of the best views over the city. On a sunny day the close by roof terrace of Nemo is your next stop!
188 locals recommend
OBA Library of Amsterdam
143 OosterdokskadeThe restaurant on 7th floor provides one of the best views over the city. On a sunny day the close by roof terrace of Nemo is your next stop!