I went to Amsterdam with my boyfriend for a long weekend in the spring. It was far colder than usual for end of April, but we really enjoyed it. I mentioned in a previous post of what to see in Amsterdam including going on a boat trip and seeing Anne Frank’s house. We visited these places too this time, but we also went to new attractions I had not been before.
Vondelpark
This is the largest park in Amsterdam which has over 10 million visitor yearly. Opened in 1865, the park has an outdoor theatre, where there are live free concerts, there is a bandstand, a lake and playground. It was spring when we went, so all the flowers were out in bloom. It would be great in summer time when the weather in warmer and you can sit on the grass. Vondelpark is close to Leidseplein and Museumplein, near many of the famous museums, the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and Stedelijk museum. I saw bike tours but we did not have time to take one round the park which would have allowed us to see the park in a short time.
Heineken Factory
This factory is located in the center of the city. It cost us 20 Euros each for the 1.5 hour tour of the brewery. It was a self guided tour so you can go as slow as you prefer but there are guides talking in some of the main rooms such as the brewery area. The end of the tour each person receives a half a pint of beer each, plus a city map. It is open every day at 10:30 and closes at 19:30 Monday to Thursday and 21:00 Friday to Sunday.
Photographer
You can walk around the city ,capturing many shots of the sights. This photo below, my boyfriend and I waited for hours to capture the perfect moment of our time in Amsterdam. There are many bridges in the city, over 1200 and 50km of canals. For any amateur photographer there are infinite places to capture and take photos.
Food Hallen
We stayed near the Food Hallen (food hall) when we visited Amsterdam. It has a wide range of international food and drink choices. It can get very busy over the weekend so arrive early for lunch (11:30am) to grab yourself a spot. The food hall is located just a little outside of the center of Amsterdam, behind our hotel/hostel, City Hub.
Address:
Foodhallen Amsterdam
Bellamyplein 51
1053 AT Amsterdam
Museums
The photo is of the Rijksmuseum, arts and history national museum. It is a national heritage site in the Netherlands. We did not go here but is one of the top attractions in Amsterdam. Entry costs 19 Euros per person (over 18), and under 18s are free. You can buy tickets online and to avoid crowds it is best to visit the museum first thing in the morning or early afternoon. The most famous painting is Rembrandt’s The Night Watch.
Boat trip
Loved the boat trip, you can see so much of the city from the canals. I will always recommend going on these boats, gives you such a great orientation of the city and helps get your bearings. In summer, the sidewalks are so busy that it is nice to see the city from the water.
We spent three days and three nights in Amsterdam, I would like to go again but would go for a day/night extra. Definitely recommend visiting in the warmer months, either with friends, partner or family. The city has so much to offer, there will be something for everyone.
