Netherlands attractions

While most famous for its sex work scene, Amsterdam’s Red Light District (De Wallen) also houses UNESCO–listed canals, bustling restaurants, bars, and plenty of shopping opportunities. While this controversial neighborhood may not be for everyone, its winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleys evoke Amsterdam’s rich history and laid-back culture.

The second of Amsterdam’s three major waterways, the Emperor’s Canal (Keizersgracht) is the widest in the city. Its quiet waters wind through otherwise bustling neighborhoods, and it is lined with picturesque old houses—some of which have had famous residents. A boat trip along the canal lends itself to some wonderful photo opportunities.

At first, Amsterdam can feel like a confusing maze of canal paths. To get your bearings, notice the main canals of Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht, and Singel form a concentric loop around the city center with several side canals branching off from here. Topping off the northern border of the canal belt is the Brouwersgracht Canal, what many call the most beautiful street in Amsterdam.

The H’ART Museum (formerly called Hermitage Amsterdam) showcases revolving exhibitions of painting and historical artifacts, often with a Russian theme. The sprawling Amstelhof building dates back to the 17th century, stretches along the Amstel riverfront, and features an inner garden courtyard.

Once a simple butter and dairy market, Rembrandtplein is now one of Amsterdam’s liveliest squares. Sandwiched between the Mint Tower and the Amstel River, the square takes its name from the city’s most famous baroque painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, and a cast-iron statue of the artist sculpted by Royer has stood proud in the heart of this public space since 1876.

Amsterdam’s main city square is one of the best-known locations in all of the Netherlands. Situated in the historical center of the city, just south of Amsterdam Central Station, Dam Square is home to many notable buildings, such as the grand Royal Palace Amsterdam and the National Monument. Major events frequently keep the square busy, whether they’re demonstrations or festivals, including National Tulip Day.

The Amsterdam Museum offers a crash course in the city’s fascinating history and culture. Located in a former convent and 17th-century orphanage, the museum narrates the history of Amsterdam chronologically from humble fishing village to the multicultural cosmopolitan city of today. Interactive and multimedia exhibits appeal to visitors of all ages.

Once a moat that encircled medieval Amsterdam, the Singel is now the innermost canal in Amsterdam’s UNESCO-listed ring of canals. The Singel is one of Amsterdam’s top sights thanks in part to its picturesque bridges, historic canal houses, and proximity to Amsterdam’s most popular neighborhoods, including its own Red Light District.

The Houseboat Museum (Woonboot Museum) is a traditionally furnished houseboat that gives visitors a sense of everyday life on Amsterdam’s canals before modern times. A former freighter named the Hendrika Maria, the boat is completely furnished and has displays and models to show how life on the canals has changed through the decades.

Mint Tower (Munttoren) is located on busy Muntplein Square in Amsterdam, where the Amstel River and the Singel Canal meet. Built in 1487 as part of Regulierspoort, one of the main gates in Amsterdam's medieval city wall, Mint Tower was mainly used to mint coins until it burned down in 1618.

One of Amsterdam’s most famous central squares, the busy Leiden Square (Leidseplein), claims a prime location south of the city’s canal ring and opposite the popular Vondelpark. Once a 17th-century transport stand for horse-drawn carriages, the square is alive with street entertainers and remains a vibrant hub for shopping and nightlife.

Edam cheese, with its distinctive wheel-like shape and fire-engine red rind, is known around the world as one of Amsterdam’s most famous exports. Get to know the mild, semi-hard cheese, which originates in a 12th-century town also named Edam, situated along the banks of the IJsselmeer. Edam is a popular day trip from Amsterdam.

Amsterdam's Modern Contemporary Museum (Moco Museum) features a wide range of inspiring art, including notable exhibits by mysterious British street artist Banksy, surrealist Salvador Dalí, and pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. The Moco Museum primarily features artists who have their own (often ironic) vision and is a privately owned initiative of gallery owners who have worked with renowned artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jean Michel Basquiat, and Picasso. The classic Dutch mansion that houses the museum was designed in 1904 by Eduard Cuypers, cousin of architect Pierre Cuypers, who designed the nearby Rijksmuseum.

The largest science museum in the Netherlands, NEMO features four stories of interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments and is housed in one of the city’s most interesting buildings. Designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano, the NEMO building looks like a green, copper-clad ship rising out of Amsterdam’s Eastern Docklands.

In the center of Amsterdam, the 17th-century Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) is the official state palace of King Willem-Alexander. When dignitaries aren’t using it for state visits and gala dinners, it opens to the public for tours of its lavish rooms. Opulent chandeliers and marble statues, including a 6-meter (20-foot) statue of Atlas holding a globe, recall the city’s Golden Age.

Amsterdam’s oldest church, the Old Church (Oude Kerk), is a curious sight. Consecrated in 1303, the triple-nave Gothic church is surrounded by the window brothels, coffee shops, and bars of the city’s notorious red-light district. Inside are an impressive Christian Müller organ, some scandalous 15th-century carvings, and a floor built of gravestones.

Built in 1611, the Zuiderkerk (Southern Church) was the city’s first Protestant church and remains one of its most memorable landmarks. The church’s striking facade and distinctive bell tower have been painted by Monet, while Rembrandt reputedly paintedThe Night Watch there.

Dedicated to the history and preservation of Dutch and foreign films, Amsterdam’s EYE Film Institute is an archive museum considered by many as the best cinema museum in the world. The modernist landmark includes a cinematography museum, an auditorium, a memorabilia boutique, four movie theaters, and a waterfront restaurant and café.

Standing high in the center of Amsterdam’s Dam Square, the National Monument is the Netherlands’ most important World War II memorial. Its towering travertine obelisk stands 72 feet (22 meters) high in somber tribute to Dutch fallen soldiers from World War II and subsequent armed conflicts.

Originally built in the 14th century as a sanctuary for beguines, a community of Catholic women who lived like nuns, the Begijnhof is a secluded courtyard surrounded by some of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam. Today, single women still occupy the homes in the Begijnhof, and visitors can tour the grounds and the site’s two churches.

Located in a former 16th-century warehouse, Foam (Photography Museum Amsterdam) has been displaying emerging artists alongside internationally recognized names since it opened in the early 2000s. Spend a few hours browsing the collection of contemporary and traditional artwork, or attend one of the museum’s workshops or talks.

Named after the Prince of Orange, Prinsengracht canal is the longest of the main canals in the city center, measuring around two miles (three kilometers). It's one of the liveliest canals in the city and is notable for myriad colorful houseboats and numerous historic sites flanking its banks.

In the heart of Amsterdam, New Market Square (Nieuwmarkt) is a bustling central square that’s long been a popular hangout spot. It once served as a market (hence its name), though also saw some of the darker moments of European history: in World War II the Nazis used it as an assembly point for Jews who were being sent to concentration camps.

Housed in a massive former naval storehouse constructed in 1656, the National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum is dedicated to showcasing 500 years of Amsterdam’s maritime history. Highlights include the full-size replica Dutch East India Company ship ‘Amsterdam’ moored alongside the museum and the interactive ‘the tale of the whale’ exhibit. Adults and children alike will discover how the sea has shaped and influenced Dutch culture.

Twenty-two floors above ground, the A'dam Lookout observation deck offers 360-degree views of Amsterdam. See the city’s historic center, its canals—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—vibrant port, and unique polder landscape, low-lying land that was reclaimed from the sea by the rerouting of water through the canals.

Rotterdam’s new market hall is also the largest indoor market in the country. Architecturally striking, the building is designed with apartments flanking a horseshoe-shaped arch. Inside the glass facade is a covered public square and market hall, with more than 100 food stalls, eight restaurants, and 15 shops, and one of the Netherlands’ largest artworks on its ceiling.

Amsterdam’s most important Roman Catholic church, the Basilica of Saint Nicholas was built between 1884 and 1887 and is one of the city’s most recognizable icons thanks to its striking neo-Baroque and neo-Renaissance features. An intricate rose window made in the acclaimed Van den Bossche and Crevels workshop adorns the facade.

Take a break from urban Amsterdam in Vondelpark—an English-style green space in the heart of the city. Opened in 1865, the 116-acre (47-hectare) park boasts an open-air theater, a rose garden, and a statue of the Dutch poet, Vondel, plus the title of the capital’s largest city park. Several cafés, restaurants, and museums ensure Vondelpark is a year-round attraction.

A trip to the Heineken Experience is a must for beer lovers visiting Amsterdam. During its signature self-guided tour, you’ll delve into the history of the Heineken beer family, learn about the complete brewing and bottling process, and taste the goods for yourself. Plus, you can enjoy panoramic city views from the rooftop terrace.

Located among the picturesque canal houses of central Amsterdam, the Rembrandt House Museum (Museum Rembrandthuis) pays tribute to the Dutch artist famous for works such as The Night Watch and The Storm on the Sea of Galilee. Today, Rembrandt’s former home is a museum dedicated to his life and works, featuring a nearly complete collection of his etchings.