When I told people I was taking a trip to Amsterdam last week, the majority of them made wisecracks about the red light district and coffee shops. The capital of the Netherlands offers a wealth of things to see, culture, history and entertainment but these days a lot of people only seem to associate it with the sleaziest sort of stag weekends.
While I knew the city would be a really great choice for a short break, I didn't quite realise just how much there is to see and do there and ended up packing a lot into two days, while also feeling like I could have spent another week there. If you’re ever visiting, here are some ideas to keep you occupied:
Anne Frank Museum
The Anne Frank Huis is possibly the city's most well-known tourist attraction and you'd do well to remember this when planning what time to visit the museum. I turned up at 9.30am and only had to queue for ten minutes, but it can get incredibly busy. Learning more about Anne Frank's story and visiting the place where she lived in hiding was an incredibly interesting and sobering experience; many visitors were visibly moved by it all.
After walking through the 'Secret Annex' and learning about Anne's legacy there are opportunities to learn more about racial hatred and discrimination in the world today and how Anne's father hoped educating people through the museum could help to combat this.
Café Max
After a hard morning's sightseeing on my first day in the city I couldn't wait for lunch but found myself slap bang in the middle of tourist favourites like the Hard Rock Café and Irish theme pubs. Luckily I spotted Café Max tucked away in a corner of the Max Euweplein. This quirky eaterie was busy with locals enjoying lunch and once I'd got my mouth round an amazing open 'sandwich of the day' consisting of chorizo, cherry tomatoes, rocket, feta and herb mayonnaise (washed down with obligatory glass of Heineken) it was easy to see why.
If I hadn't been full I would have sampled a slice of one of their cakes as well. The rest of the day's specials included pumpkin soup with ginger and cumin and a chicken, bacon, mozarella, red pepper and pesto mayo sandwich.
Amsterdam Historical Museum
You want 700 years' worth of the history of one city? This is it. The Historisch Museum is the ultimate guide to Amsterdam through the ages, explaining its history from the 11th century to the present day. Naturally paintings feature heavily in the exhibitions but it's also a place to see religious relics and clothes, learn about Amsterdam's politics and gain insight into its social history. Being a social history geek I loved the exhibitions on family life, how immigration shaped the city and seeing the stories of the city's children through the 20th century portrayed.
I was also able to catch the tail end of an exhibition centred on Edward Kienholz and Nancy Reddin Kienholz's installation 'The Hoerengracht', created after observing Amsterdam's red light district in the 1980s and featuring work from several other artists. The exhibition has included films and debates on the sex industry in the city.
Jordaan
I'd heard a lot about the district of Jordaan as a must-see for its atmosphere and social scene. I got the impression it's known for being a bit trendy and upscale these days with its fabulous, expensive property and countless pubs but I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out there for dinner and drinks one night. Jordaan is a beautiful neighbourhood, more peaceful than the very centre of Amsterdam, but every few steps you encounter another one-off boutique, gallery or lively bar. When I arrived early in the evening the bars were busy with both professionals congregating after work and groups of students.
Canal cruising
Whether you fancy a quick daytime trip, one involving alcohol or all-you-can-eat pancakes (yes, really) or an expensive dinner cruise, canal cruising is a great, if predictably touristy way to see the city in a short space of time. I took a trip with the Blue Boat Company and spent 75 minutes viewing the sights from the water. This provided me with ample opportunities to eye up the houseboats lining the canals (can I have one for Christmas?) while giving my feet a well-earned rest. And in case you’ve heard it rains a lot in Amsterdam - which it apparently does – many cruise companies operate covered boats. See the sights and stay dry – it’s a win-win situation.
Image via earcos's Flickr