Amsterdam is also called the northern Venice, with its countless canals which were in the past very important for commercial use. Even in these days the canals are a quite easy and fast way to get around Amsterdam. It seems that the views created by the magnificent architecture are there for enjoyment purposes only.
Arriving in Amsterdam is easy. You can get there by plain in which case, you will land on the Schiphol airport which is located very near Amsterdam itself. The train is also a very good option as it takes you right in the center of Amsterdam. The central railway station is perfect if you want to visit other Dutch cities as Utrecht, Rotterdam and Den Haag, just to name a few.
Amsterdam by night
A quick look into the past of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands. In the late 12th century it was first mentioned as a fishing village by the Amstel river. Today, Amsterdam is far from a fishing village. There are ruffly 800.000 people living in the city limits and over 2.3 millions in greater metropolitan area. Amsterdam means a dam on the river Amstel. City has been greatly expanded in the Dutch Golden Age, which was in the 17th century. During the Golden Age Amsterdam was a trading, finance and a diamond center. The city saw its waste expansion in the 19th and 20th century, when a lot of homes were built. In July of 2010 Amsterdam’s 17th century canals ware added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A historic boat parked in one of Amsterdam’s ports
Amsterdam – a city of museums
The canals give the specific feel to the city. The canal ride is mandatory if you would like to see Amsterdam in all its glory. There is a lot to see in Amsterdam. It is the home of the world famous Rijksmuseum and the lesser known but not inferior in any way, the Van Gogh museum. There are numerous attractions to see. Anna Franks House, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum, which is always crowded, you can have a look how Heineken beer is being brewed. If you want to know when the first erotic pictures were taken and how they looked, well, you can do that to – visit the Sex Museum of Amsterdam. City was the diamond capitol of the world, and still proud of that, so visit of the Diamond Museum can be a nice option too. Science Museum Nemo is also a place where your children will be most amused and it will broaden your horizons as well.
The city center is not so big, so everything can be seen by foot or by a relatively inexpensive tram. If you feel tired after a whole day of sightseeing you will appreciate the Vondelpark, biggest park in the city. In Amsterdam you can also find the biggest Buddhist temple in Europe. It is located in China town, not far from the Railway station. Amsterdam is also known for its dark so called smoking pubs in which you can not smoke any more. And you cannot miss the numerous sex shops. Everything goes in A-dam, as the Dutch call their capital. It is a tourist, single, couple, family and gay friendly city where everybody can find exactly what they are looking for.
At night Amsterdam puts on a different face. If you thought the the streets are busy in the day time, you will not believe, how many people are there at night. All the coffee shops and the Red light district girls are not so noticeable during the day, but as night falls, everything revolves around them. The prettiest girls are on display and the smell of weed being smoked in coffee shops is overwhelming. A river of people is moving from one coffee shop to another, from one brothel to another and slowly towards the last opened pub in town.
Museumplein in Amsterdam
Best Amsterdam attractions:
City house, Railway station, Vondelpark, the canals, Amsterdam Stock Exchange, Fo Guang Shan He Hue Buddhist Temple, Rijksmuseum, Anna Franks House, Madame Tussauds wax museum, Sex Museum, Heineken Experience museum, Red light district, Royal Palace, Amsterdam Arena, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, Hermitage Amsterdam
