Discover Historic Amsterdam

The city’s origins lie in the 12th century and much of the city is actually below sea level. Built on reclaimed land, it’s a real feat of engineering, but that does explain why many of the older merchant’s houses now tilt – some rather precariously – and its spider’s web of canals, cobbled streets and quirky quarters, from the historic Canal District, to the trendy De Pijp and cultural Zuid.

There are plenty of world-class museums to explore here (book in advance to avoid any last-minute queues) including the mesmerising Van Gough and unbearably moving Anne Frank museums, which are must-visits. Broaden your thinking at the Embassy of the Free Mind, a museum, library and platform for free thinking which is home to more than 25,000 books, or head to The House of Stories, a cultural centre on Veemkade where you’ll find free storytelling and comedy evenings from new and rising talent. Discover works by Rembrandt and Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum (the guided tours are a must) and modern art at the Stedelijk. For something unusual head to Electric Ladyland, the first and only museum in the world dedicated to fluorescent art. It’s a shrine to rocks, minerals and art, all of which glow under ultra-violet light, and it is simply quite astonishing.

Wander down Haarlemmerstraat, Amsterdam’s hipster hangout where you’ll find quirky independents and plenty of vintage and bric-a-brac shops, or wander through the Spiegekwartier arts and antique district, or head to Albert Cuyp Market in the heart of De Pijp – a street-length market offering an incredible range of food, clothes and knick-knacks. Need some green space? Amsterdammers love Vondelpark – once the only public park in the world where one could legally barbecue, smoke joints and have sex (the latter has since been made illegal), which means it is always quite busy, but that simply makes it perfect for people-watching and there’s a great sense of community spirit amongst the locals who frequent this space. In the middle of the Canal District, De Negen Straatjes (Nine Street) is a little corner of old Amsterdam full of artisan food shops, cosy cafés and plenty of independent shops to seek out something special, and it’s the place to go to just sit and watch the neighbourhood goings on.

Coffee lovers will be spoilt for choice as there are so many corner cafés to duck into where the local baristas take pride producing their own speciality brews, accompanied by a warm and gooey Stroopwafel, a Dutch delicacy. Wander over the many bridges criss-crossing the canals as you follow the narrow passageways and cobbled streets which bisect the city, dipping in and out of the tempting shops which jostle for space here.

Amsterdam is of course famous for its nightlife and you’ll find plenty of places in which to eat, drink and be more than merry, but many visitors will want to see the notorious De Walled, the Red Light District with its famous red-lit shop windows – you can join an official walking to tour help you make the most of the ‘sights’. If you can drag yourself away from the ‘action’ then this area is also one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Amsterdam and is home to lots of quaint, monument-filled squares.

Read more: Holiday Destinations Steeped in History