Why You Should Visit Amsterdam with easyJet
A city of canals and cycling, the Netherlands' capital has more to offer than just its famous coffee shops
Amsterdam is home to several world-famous museums and galleries. Rijksmuseum’s ornate exterior almost rivals its interior treasures, which include works from Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh, including The Night Watch. The Van Gogh Museum, dedicated to the Dutch artist, holds the largest collection of his work in the world. If it’s contemporary art you seek, MOCO Museum is housed in a 20th-century mansion and boasts works from Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst as well as an unauthorised Banksy exhibition. Film buffs will love EYE Filmmuseum, with a permanent exhibition on the rich history of film and four on-site cinemas screening ever-changing films. Anne Frank Huis is a moving tribute to the young diarist, taking a sobering look at the secret annexe where Anne and her family hid to escape Jewish persecution during the Second World War.
Although it’s very touristy, it’s worth taking a canal boat tour of the city to take in the sights, and there’s no better excuse for a pint than at the Heineken Experience – the tour includes two beers and ends on a roof terrace with unparalleled views over the city. Take a stroll through Vondelpark’s vast open green spaces to escape the busy centre and perhaps even catch a show at the open-air theatre.
The culinary scene here is diverse. Head to BAK, a farm-to-table restaurant where vegetables take centre stage (though meat and fish are also on the menu). At Pesca, the ‘theatre of fish’ is celebrated – select the freshest seafood before choosing exactly how you’d like it prepared. Then, move to the next room to fill a bucket with drinks of your choosing for an immersive and flamboyantly different dining experience. Troef is home to an affordable and understated French dining room, as well as an impressive wine room with more than 2,000 bottles to choose from. Klein Breda serves a chef’s menu of seasonal plates – simply choose how many courses you’d like. For the indecisive foodie, Foodhallen offers a bit of everything at its 19 stands, housed in a buzzy former tram depot. Stroopwafels (two thin wafers with caramel syrup sandwiched in between) are a Dutch delicacy and Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels in the Albert Cuyp Market bake them according to a generations-old recipe.
The city is renowned for its bar snacks, namely bitterballen, frinkandel and Belgian fries with lashings of mayo, so take advantage when visiting some of the best bars in Amsterdam. Brown bars are Dutch pubs frequented by locals in the know – Café ’t Smalle in Jordaan is a pretty, traditionally-decorated bar serving cold beer best enjoyed on their outdoor terrace by the canal. Natural wines are also hugely popular here; Bar Centraal has a five-star approved wine list and a distinctly Dutch feel, with exceptional small plates to match. If cocktails are more to your taste, try Tales and Spirits; experts at both classic cocktails and theatrical drinks, their innovative mixology produces Instagram-worthy results.
Forgo purpose-built hotels and soak up some history by staying in Hotel Arena, a former orphanage on the edge of a park, just east of the city centre. Now a minimalistic, airy boutique hotel with high-ceilinged rooms and sleek black bathrooms, always request a room with a park view. The Pulitzer Amsterdam spans 25 canal houses and has bags of personality; decor is whimsical and kooky, from an archway built from books to a wall of 18 brass trumpets. For a truly unique stay, Sweets Hotel comprises 28 bridge houses in the centre of the canals, transformed into independent suites for ultimate privacy and fantastic views.
Fly daily to Amsterdam this summer with easyJet.
Get 10% off parking at Newcastle Airport with the code ‘LNorth10’
