15 Things Amsterdam Is Famous For - Updated 2024

things amsterdam is famous for
Chandana
Chandana 
Updated
| 6 min read

Amsterdam, the vibrant capital city of the Netherlands, promises you plenty of experiences and sights. The picturesque canals that cut across the city feature on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Wander around the narrow lanes and you will be surprised at every corner with something interesting such as a unique distillery, a picture-perfect flower stall or an uber chic restaurant. The city is dotted with museums housing superb collections of artwork ranging from Rembrandts to Matisses and Van Goghs. Getting around the city is fun with boats and bikes being the preferred modes of travel. You can also pick among the list of the best hotels and vacation apartments in the city to make your visit more comfortable. A hub of culture, there are plenty of live performances occurring at one or more of the theaters and concert venues across the city at any given time. Here are some of the things Amsterdam is famous for.

1. Be amazed at Van Gogh Museum

VAN GOGH MUSEUM
Source: Photo by Flickr user Daniel Zimmermann used under CC BY 2.0

One of the things Amsterdam is notable for is that it is home to some of the best museums in the world. One such place is the Van Gogh Museum which is a gallery dedicated to the magnificent works of Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. The museum is located in the Museum Square of Amsterdam South and is designed by Gerrit Rietveld and Kisho Kurokawa after being commissioned by the Dutch government in 1963. Van Gogh Museum opened to the public on June 2, 1973, and continues to have the biggest collection of Van Gogh’s works.

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2. Get to know the bike-riding culture

Amsterdam - Bicycles - 1058
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Jorge Royan used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Cycling in Amsterdam can really be attributed to the Netherlands as a whole. Amsterdam, in itself, is a popular cycling ground mainly for its top-notch facilities available to cyclists and the network of streets without much traffic. The avenues are filled with paths, racks, and guarded parking stations dedicated to bicycles, making it really convenient to make the city a cycling-friendly place. The bicycle paths in the city are painted red, differentiating them from the roads and walkways. In fact, cycling is ultra popular in Amsterdam that there are bike tours for visitors all throughout the city.

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3. Pay a visit to the Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Netherlands-04286 - Royal Palace in Amsterdam
Source: Photo by Flickr user Dennis Jarvis used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Royal Palace of Amsterdam is located on the west side of the Dam Square in the city center. It is one of the palaces in the country used by the monarch by the Act of Parliament. Originally built as a city hall in the 17th century, this royal structure was once the palace of King Louis Napoleon and the Dutch Royal House. Architect Jacob van Campen designed the building following the Classicism architecture style. Some of the events held at the palace are award ceremonies such as the Royal Awards for Painting, Erasmus Prize, and the Silver Carnation. Renovations were made from 2005 until 2009, and in June 2009, it was then again opened to the public.

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4. Feast your ears at Amsterdam Dance Event

AMF ArenA 2015 001
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user John Reedijk used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This perhaps is the best part of Amsterdam’s culture that you will be most inclined to participate in if you’re all about partying. Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is an annual five-day conference and festival featuring electronic music. It is held every mid-October of the year, beginning in 1996. One of its best events is the Amsterdam Music Festival, an electronic dance music event that started in 2013. ADE was founded by the Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation and features over 2,500 artists.

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Amsterdam Tour Guide

Locally Louke

Locally Louke

Hi, my name is Louke and I live and work in the historical city of Amsterdam. My style of guiding is custom. That feeling you get from meeting up with a friend that shows you around their city. Obviously, I will take you to see the things on your bucket list and I will help you get the lay of the land and share tips and tricks of how to get the most out of your stay in my city.

Tours by Locally

Amsterdam Tour Guide

Michael Jones

Michael Jones

5. Sit back and relax at the coffeeshops

Bulldog, Amsterdam
Source: Photo by Flickr user Terrazzo used under CC BY 2.0

Visiting “coffeeshops” in Amsterdam seems to be an art in itself. The coffee shops in the city aren’t your typical latte-clad cafes. Amsterdam coffeeshops are actually legal dispensaries for cannabis. Most coffeeshops in Amsterdam are found in the red-light district (De Wallen). A way to distinguish whether or not you are entering a coffeeshop is the white and green sticker on the front door. This has long been a part of Amsterdam’s culture, and if you’re itching to try something new, the coffeeshops along the city’s quaint streets are at your disposal.

6. Browse the flea markets

Flea Market, Amsterdam (6474737685)
Source: Photo by user David Stanley used under CC BY 2.0

One way of getting to know a city is through its markets. Amsterdam has some great flea markets where you can find quirky items and land great bargains on almost everything ranging from clothes to accessories while sampling some cool street food specialties. The most famous of these and the oldest is the Waterlooplein market that is open from Monday to Saturday. Dapper Market and IJ - Hallen are the two other famous flea markets in the city.

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7. Sample the varied delicacies at the food stalls

Albert Cuyp markt Amsterdam 2018 4
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Steven Lek used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Tasting the local food is a great way of experiencing a new city and Amsterddam is no different. Food stalls at Albert Cuypmarkt, Foodhallen, and Waterlooplein market are some places where you can sample a variety of cuisines and exotic food at the stalls. While Albert Cuypmarkt is a great place to sample Dutch treats, Foodhallen is an indoor food market serving up a range of high quality street food in an historic ambiance.

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8. Explore Hoge Veluwe National Park (from USD 218.0)

Situated on the outskirts of the city, this national park is unique in that it is privately owned and has diverse scenery ranging from dense forests to sand dunes. Home to animals such as wild boar, deer, and a rare type of wild sheep known as mouflon, it is also a great spot for some bird watching. There are plenty of trails suitable for hiking or cycling within this reserve. A museum, an art gallery, and a sculpture park are located in this reserve making it suitable for a day trip.

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Amsterdam to Kroller Museum and The Hoge Veluwe National Park

Duration: 9 hours

12 reviews

9. Savor the beauty of the windmills at Kinderdijk (from USD 225.69)

things amsterdam is famous for | savor the beauty of the windmills at kinderdijk

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, this group of 19 magnificent windmills were built in the mid-18th century. Synonymous with the country, these picturesque windmills are perfect for a day trip. There are cycling trails that run parallel to the water and make for a beautiful spot to enjoy a picnic lunch. There are tickets to be bought if you wish to visit this popular place in Amsterdam and see the engine room of one of the windmills. There is no entry fee if you are simply exploring the village or cycling around.

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From Amsterdam: Kinderdijk and The Hague Tour with Museums

Duration: 9.0 hour

18 reviews

10. Discover the secrets of Valkenburg

Castle Valkenburg - View over Valkenburg aan de Geul
Source: Photo by user Pitlane02 used under CC BY-SA 3.0

The city of Valkenburg is about 25 miles (40 km) from Amsterdam. Known for hosting various cycling events, this charming town sits by the Geul river. It is home to the ancient Valkenburg Castle as well as several watermills. The town also has a fairy tale-themed amusement park as well as one Gothic church and one Baroque church. A vantage viewpoint accessible by an aerial lift offers spectacular views of the town and surrounding landscape.

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11. Wander around beautiful Kasteel De Haar

Kasteel de Haar
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Yustina M Puspita... used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This stately castle is in Utrecht around 22 miles (35 km) from Amsterdam and is a restored example of Neo-Gothic architecture. Featuring an interior with elaborate wood carvings, this castle also houses exquisite porcelain from China and Japan as well as Flemish tapestries. A beautiful landscaped park surrounds the castle and is a favored venue for fairs and markets.

Kasteel De Haar

Address: Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Haarzuilens

Website: Kasteel De Haar

Opening hours: 11am – 5pm (daily)

Price: 19 USD (adults); 12 USD (4-12); Free (children <4)

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12. See the tulips in bloom (from USD 38.0)

Tulips are inextricably linked to the Netherlands and a visit to the country is not complete without a glimpse of these beautiful blooms. March and April are the best times to catch these colorful flowers in all their glory. There are quite a few pockets across the country where these famous things in Amsterdam can be spotted. Keukenhof Gardens is just 30 miles (48.3 km) from Amsterdam and has a superbly planned garden that showcases over seven million blooms annually.

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Keukenhof Ticket & Transport from Amsterdam Station(Guide option)

Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes

2351 reviews

13. See the weird and the wacky at the red light district (from USD 31.0)

things amsterdam is famous for | see the weird and the wacky at the red light district
Source: www.viator.com

De Wallen is the largest of the three red light districts in the city with window prostitution, sex shops, peep shows, and even a sex museum in the area. This famous thing in Amsterdam is a perfect example of the liberalized and tolerant attitude that is associated with the city. The area is the busiest at night, especially after 11pm and is also where you will find gay bars and cinemas. Madame Tussauds, Amsterdam dungeons, and Rembrandt House are some of the other attractions in this area.

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Amsterdam Red Light District Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

776 reviews

14. Stop by Anne Frank House (from USD 191.3)

stop by anne frank house

Located on the Prinsengracht canal, this house where the famous young girl hid with her family in an attempt to escape Nazi persecution has been preserved and now also houses a museum. There is also a permanent exhibition on Anne Frank and this famous place in Amsterdam sees more than a million visitors annually. A ticket with a specified time slot mentioned on it has to be bought in advance of your visit.

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Amsterdam Walking Tour: The Fascinating Story of Anne Frank

Duration: 2 hour

1491 reviews

15. Fascinating evening canal cruise with dinner (from USD 132.0)

Enjoy a delicious four-course dinner with your choice of vegetables, meat, or fish as you cruise around the city canals at night on a comfortable boat. Settle back and sip on a refreshing drink from the on-board bar as the boat glides past Amsterdam attractions such as Hermitage Museum and Anne Frank House. Dine on-deck or inside the cabin and finish up your sumptuous meal with homemade desserts accompanied by coffee or tea.

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Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise with 4-Course Dinner and Drinks

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

10 reviews

Go beyond the surface in Amsterdam

This is just a short compilation of the famous things in Amsterdam. Dig a little deeper and you will come across a great many lesser known but equally fun and entertaining options that the city has to offer.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
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Chandana is a versatile writer with nearly two decades of experience in media, spanning clients across the globe. An avid traveler, she enjoys experiencing every new place to the fullest. Having...Read more

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