Strolling around the unique canals of Amsterdam at any time of the day provides you with multiple photo opportunities. A memorable sight is the stillness of the early morning fog sitting over the canals before the sun rises over the picturesque canal houses.
Amsterdam has something for every visitor. Here are a few highlights from our recent five night stay in this beautiful city.
Canal Pedal Boats - There are a number of choices for getting onto the water and experiencing Amsterdam from the canals themselves. There are: hop-on, hop-off canal boats for which passes can be brought; canal cruises including meals or not; small self-drive motor boats and finally the option we chose, the pedal boats. The boat seats four and the front two do the pedalling. You can take your own snacks on board to make it more entertaining if you wish.
Museums - There are a fantastic number of museums to choose from in Amsterdam.
We went to Anne Frank's House, the hiding place of the famous young girl who wrote her diary during WWII whilst trying to avoid capture from the Nazi's. It was a moving experience and a great way to educate our young children about the Holocaust. Expert Tip: There are constant queues for this museum so pre-book online before you visit with the specified arrival time and you skip the queue and use a separate entrance.
For those who enjoy the arts there is a cluster of museums in the heart of Amsterdam such as the famous Rijksmuseum, which is huge so allow plenty of time to view. Instead we visited the smaller Van Gogh Museum, which has a substantial collection of the artist’s works. In both cases pre-booking online for a specified half-hour entrance time saves you joining the long queues.
For a fun museum experience we recommend the Heineken Museum. Holland is the home of this well known beer and this museum has been created as a fun attraction for all ages. There is even a beer making "ride", and of course a couple of glasses to enjoy at the end of your visit.
Hiring a Bike - This is a must when in Amsterdam. We hired tandem bikes and rode 24 kilometres down the Amstel River and back. It's a lovely way to see the numerous canal house boats and spot a few windmills. In Amsterdam cyclists take priority on the roads over both cars and pedestrians. Cyclists have their own road system with cycle lanes, traffic lights and signage. It is chaos at times with bikes everywhere but certainly fun joining the locals on your own bike.
There is no shortage of things to do in Amsterdam. This vibrant city is well worth including in your next European holiday adventure.
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