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Amsterdam: the “Venice of the North” — top sights, 1–3 day plans & tips
Amsterdam’s tourist attractions, laced with canals into 90 islands and nicknamed the “Venice of the North”, amaze with their diversity. The narrow waterways framed by Golden Age façades create an inimitable picture, while refined art galleries, famous museums and atmospheric parks impress visitors with a magical sense of harmony and beauty.
Places to visit in Amsterdam — what to see first?
The capital of the Netherlands — Amsterdam — is easy to spot on a map thanks to the Amstel River (south of the IJsselmeer bay). Its convenient location and access to the North Sea in the 15th–17th centuries turned it into a world-class port that brought the city immense wealth. The urge to showcase overseas curiosities sparked a tradition of houses with large street-facing windows — the city became a living open-air museum. Beyond strolling the old streets and canals, the main highlights include:
Top 15 attractions in Amsterdam
Rijksmuseum — Experiences not to miss
One of Amsterdam’s finest attractions for lovers of painting, history and ethnography, the Rijksmuseum is among the city’s largest museums, counting over a million items — paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and historical artifacts. Its crown jewels are Dutch Golden Age masterpieces, including Rembrandt’s “Night Watch” and Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Opened in 1885 on Museumplein, the neo-Renaissance building impresses at first sight. The museum spans 80 rooms, each devoted to a period of art and history. Tickets can be purchased on the official website.
Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam’s cultural map is incomplete without the Van Gogh Museum, one of the Netherlands’ best known and most visited. It holds a rich collection of the master’s works as well as other Impressionists: over 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters, including “Sunflowers”, “Sleeping Child”, “Mandarins”, “Fields with Moon” and more. The museum sits in a beautiful district and is a modern architectural landmark. Its origin is tied to the efforts of Van Gogh’s brother’s wife, who brought the artist’s name to the world.
Amsterdam Canals — top city-break experience
Amsterdam tours naturally include the canals — the city’s unique symbol. Like picturesque veins, they run through its heart, creating irresistible charm. Originally built for land drainage and expansion, they later became integral to transport. Today they draw travelers for walks and cruises alike. Water transport is well developed, letting every visitor view old streets, bridges and modern houseboats from a fresh angle and soak up the city’s romantic atmosphere.
Vondelpark
Vondelpark is Amsterdam’s green pearl — the embodiment of beauty and serenity in the city’s south-west. Opened in 1865, it’s woven into local life and draws around 10 million visitors a year. Expect manicured alleys, flower beds, canals and ponds for carefree relaxation, plus an open-air theatre for concerts and festivities, and a film museum showing classics in a 19th-century pavilion.
Begijnhof
Begijnhof is one of Amsterdam’s most charming and best-preserved medieval ensembles. In its 47 houses arranged in a circle lived the Catholic beguines between the 14th and 17th centuries. It’s a large enclosed courtyard whose design preserves the period’s architectural style. Visiting feels like a journey 400 years back — right in the modern capital.
Flower Market
Flower lovers shouldn’t miss the world’s only floating flower market along the Singel canal. Since the 17th century blooms were sold directly from boats, creating a striking spectacle. Today you’ll find flowers, bulbs, seeds and traditional souvenirs. It’s crowded in spring when tulips — the Dutch national symbol — bloom. Visiting lets you pick rare varieties and touch the country’s horticultural traditions.
Royal Palace Amsterdam
The Royal Palace on Dam Square is a grand building in the city center. Owned by the royal family, it was originally built as the Town Hall and later became a royal residence and venue for audiences. It’s open to visitors when no official events are held, with museum entry via ticket. Built 1648–1665 in Dutch classicist style, the interiors still astonish with Italian marble and magnificent sculptures reflecting the Dutch state’s grandeur.
Dam Square
Dam Square, named after the 13th-century dam on the Amstel, grew into the city’s core. It combines the Royal Palace, the National Monument, the 15th-century Nieuwe Kerk and Madame Tussauds — turning the square into Amsterdam’s busiest tourist zone.
Madame Tussauds
Opened on Dam Square in 1972, the first branch of the London museum. The wax story began when Marie Tussaud made her first figure in 1777. Today you can meet world personalities and take memorable photos. To skip the line, buy tickets online.
Red Light District
The Red Light District (De Wallen) lies a short walk northeast of Dam Square, famous for brothels, sex shops and erotic entertainment. A visit can be eye-opening, but tourists must stay vigilant and respect local rules.
Artis Royal Zoo
Artis is one of Europe’s oldest zoos (founded 1838), home to 900+ animal and bird species. Covering ~14 hectares near the center, it offers a unique dive into wildlife from different continents and ocean depths, with a giant aquarium, a planetarium, geology and zoology museums, and Micropia — a one-of-a-kind museum of microorganisms.
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a symbol of resistance. The museum preserves the original diary (June 12, 1942 – August 1, 1944), alongside documents and household items of the family in hiding. A visit is a powerful, moving encounter with history.
Oude Kerk
Oude Kerk — the city’s oldest church — is a Gothic cathedral with soaring arches and stained glass. Inside are unique works of art; historically important, it houses the grave of Rembrandt’s wife, Saskia. Despite iconoclast alterations in 1556, it remains a key landmark.
Maritime Museum
The Scheepvaartmuseum tells the story of seafaring through ship models, atlases, instruments and paintings across three wings. Interactive exhibits turn the visit into an adventure — including the “Voyage at Sea” show simulating storms, pirate battles and 17th-century port life.
Heineken Experience
A fun dive into the brand’s history and beer-making. In about two hours you pass interactive exhibits and enjoy a tasting. Pre-book a ticket (€23) including the tour and two beers.
What to see in one day?
Start at Dam Square (Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, National Monument). Then cruise or walk the canals, visit the Flower Market and pick one major museum — Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh. Don’t miss the Red Light District and end with a tasting at Heineken.
What to see in 2–3 days?
Start with the canals and Vondelpark, then Royal Palace and Madame Tussauds on Dam. Dive into the Rijksmuseum and adjacent Van Gogh Museum, add the Anne Frank House, stroll Begijnhof and visit Oude Kerk; nearby lies the Red Light District. Don’t skip Artis — the oldest zoo in the country.
We warmly invite you to visit Amsterdam and experience its special appeal. Canals, bridges, an ocean of bicycles and friendly locals create a vibrant image that sticks in memory. Plan your trip, explore every street, gallery and park — and let each moment be special.
Don’t miss the chance to see Amsterdam’s most fabulous sights: book your tour now and uncover the treasures of the Dutch capital!
