Amsterdam Pass and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

Not to continue without telling you about the Amsterdam Pass.

The simplest way to get around and save some time and money entering the main museums and other attractions is the Amsterdam Pass.

There are three different types, varying from the 1 day (31 EUR) pass, 2 days (41 EUR) and the 3 days (51 EUR) pass. The 1 day pass is unpractical, because you won't have time to visit much and save some. We used the 2 days pass, but if you've planned for a longer stay in Amsterdam, then the 3 days pass is definitely the best choice to see the city.

To give you the shortcut of the Amsterdam Pass' benefits: First of all you can wonder around with any means of transport (trams, buses and metro, and then you'll have a wonderful two rides with two different ships company on the city canals (Rederij Noord-Zuid and Holland International).

The Amsterdam Pass is definitely a must when visiting Amsterdam - hassle free! :) You will also get a free Amsterdam City Map - very useful, and a booklet (pictured) with great details about what you will about to see (museums etc.). This is better than taking your usual "Lonely Planet Guide" and wonder around :)

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Directions: You can buy the Amsterdam Pass from the Tourist Information Center in front of Amsterdam Centraal .. just between the train station, the two 'end of line trams' and the boat's stations. Just look for the Amsterdam Tourist Board sign.
Website: http://www.simplyamsterdam.nl/amsterdampass/ap_info.php
Other Contact: http://www.amsterdam.info/pass/

Included in the Amsterdam Pass there is also a (must do) visit to the Amsterdam Museum of History (Amsterdam Historisch Museum). There you will travel back in time from the first years of the founding of the small village and the first dam on the Amstel River, trough its development as a great merchant sea port, trading commodities and expanding to what now it became also one of the greatest ports in the world, but also one of the nicest cities, much due to its canals.

My advice is: Do not miss the Amsterdam Historisch Museum!

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Phone: +31-20-5231822
Address: Kalverstraat 92
Directions: Monday to Friday, 10.00-17.00
Weekends 11.00-17.00

Adults: 6euro
Childrens (6-15): 3euro
Childrens (0-5): free
Family ticket: 15euro
65+ pass: 4,5euro
Groups over 15p: 4,5euro
Free with the Amsterdam Pass
Website: http://www.ahm.nl

The Dam is the most famous square in Holland. The fishing village which later transformed into Amsterdam was built right on this very spot in about 1270. It is the Dam that gave the city its name. In this square the "waterlanders" built the "dyke" (the dutch word for dam), blocking the flow of the Amstel and separating it from the IJ, a wide arm of the Zuidersee. In short, the Dam became the space in which the entire community met for official ceremonies and the most important events. In the Middle Ages, the Dam faced the sea, from where ships set sail for the North Sea. Today, the Dam is no longer the end part of Amsterdam, but the square is "inland".

The monument to the liberation in the Dam square is an imposing white obelisc decorated with alegorical figures, was put up in 1956 by J.Radeker, in rememberance for the Dutch victims of World War II. The monument encompasses twelve urns, each of which contains a handful or earth taken from eleven Dutch regions plus one from Indonesia.

Nowadays on the steps of the Monument in Dam square is the meeting place for some different types of characters. Maybe given the nearby of the Red Light District and the Coffee Shops (no, not the usual Cappucino and Expresso coffee shops), I saw a bunch of "happy" people listening to some strange music on their portable stereos.

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Situated in the Dam square, the Royal Palace is itself one of the landmarks of Amsterdam. A fine example of the classical Dutch architecture, it was designed by Jacob van Campen and built between 1648 and 1655. Constructed on 13.659 piles, needed to create a solid base in the marshy ground, it was originally built to take place of the previous Town Hall, which had been completely destroyed by fire.

Louis Bonaparte, the brother of Napoleon I, made it his royal palace when he became King of Holland in 1808, though he abdicated only two years later.

The simple facade strikes the viewers first. It has four orders of windows, above which is a triangular pediment containg sculptures by Artus Quelijn the Younger, an artist from Antwerp. The statues represents the city of Amsterdam surrounded by Neptune and other mythical sea creatures, including nymphs and tritons.

The harmonious exterior of the palace is completed by an octogonal tower and cupola. Severely simple outside, the palace is splendidly decorated inside.

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Phone: +31-20- 6204060
Address: Dam 1
Website: http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl

The Rijksmuseum (National Museum) is the largest museum in Netherlands (largest building, largest collection, largest staff and largest budget).

Unfortunately for the moment (from December 2003 to 2008) the Rijksmuseum is undergoing the biggest rebuilding and renovation works in its history. For visitors there is only a fraction of the total visit open to the public, and that is called The Masterpieces, offering a unique view on the 17th century grace period of the Netherlands. I've been told by VT member irisbe that most of the exibits were moved for the duration of the renovation works in Antwerp at "Rijksmuseum aan de Schelde" exibition. Thanks for the info Dannie!

About the building of the Rijksmuseum: It was built in 1885 by the architect P.J.H. Cuypers, in red brick, in the Neo-Gothic style, having more than 260 rooms.

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Phone: +31-20-6747047
Address: Stadhouderskade 42
Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl

From the nearby city of Delft, where the famous blue porcelain pottery factories are, the Room #5 in the actual Masterpiece exibition of the Rijksmuseum, I was impressed by this porcelain violin (see picture).

In fact, it is not a real musical instrument, the violin is purely ornamental, but what a beauty. Dated arround 1705-1710, the design on the front of the violin shows a ballroom and a gallery in which the musicians are playing their instruments. The scene on the reverse in set in a tavern.

Beside this violin you can find in the Delftware collection of Rijksmuseum other big pieces of pottery, ones like painted carpets, but made of porcelain.

Tip: For more porcelain and to visit a real factory, you must visit the actual Delft city

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Phone: +31-20-6747047
Address: Stadhouderskade 42
Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl

Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn is certainly the most famous 17th century painter of Holland. He was born in 1606 in Leiden and died in 1669, after building up considerable debts. He's body is buried in Amsterdam's Westerkerk.

In Amsterdam you can also find Rembrandt's House (Rembrandtshuis), the house in which Rembrandt lived and worked from 1639 till 1658.

The picture shows the 1631 masterpiece of Rembrandt - The Prophetess Anna (known as "Rembrandt's Mother). Like all the paints of Rembrandt, the main style feature is the light coming from behind her, touching her oriental dress and bringing into attention the hand of the old lady.

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Phone: +31-20-6747047
Address: Stadhouderskade 42
Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl

Artis Zoo is one of the must see activities in Amsterdam because it's one of the nicest Zoo in the world. Artis is the oldest zoo in Holland, it has 14 hectares and provides home for around 700 species of animals (amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammans and insects).

The Zoo is a heaven of course for any child, but adults are also to learn and enjoy seeing the animals there. I personally enjoyed Amsterdam's Zoo very much.

In addition to the Zoo, Artis is also Amsterdam's oldest city park, featuring a botanical garden (De Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam) (see the next tips).

Opening times: daily from 9am to 5pm

Entrance fee in 2004: 14,5 EUR (adults), 13,5 EUR (65+), 11,0 EUR (3-9).

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Phone: +31-20-5233400
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40
Website: http://www.artis.nl

Included with the Artis Zoo ticket you get the visit to the Aquarium. In the far corner of the Artis park, the Aquarius waits quieltly for the visitors. The Aquarium is smartly built on below ground levels, featuring water canals between which you enter and see the underwater life.

Must see! The fish is colourfull and you might discover species you did not see before.

For more pictures of the fish in the Aquarium and other animals in Artis Zoo see my Artis Travelogue.

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Phone: +31-20-5233400
Address: Plantage Kerklaan 38-40
Website: http://www.artis.nl

Unfortunately I did not photograph the actual building of the Van Gogh Museum to show it to you, but let me tell you the building it's no interest itself, but of course the masterpieces inside.

For the details lovers: The building itself is in glass and raw cement, it's a modern building, built by Gery Rietveld to house Van Gogh's paintings.

The museum was opened in 1973 and contains the largest, most important collection of Van Gogh's work. By all means don't skip visiting this museum!! It contains 200 of Van Gogh's paintings, 500 of his drawings and 700 letters written by him. The museum is structured on four floors, divinding in galleries the periods of his life.

For art lovers visiting the Van Gogh Museum can (and must) take a whole day long, in order to say you really understood his life and his original work. I like Van Gogh's style because it is original and it makes paintings look so good. Not many had adventured to copy his style, and for that one can spot a Van Gogh from the start.

My favourite Van Gogh's work is Almond Blossom (1890) with its special blue background.

Admission prices:
Adults: € 9
13-17: € 2,50
0-12: free
Dutch Museumcard: free
Dutch Railways pass or Rabobank Europass: € 4,50,-
There is no special rate for groups or students.

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Phone: +31-20-5705252
Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7
Directions: The Van Gogh Museum is within easy reach of the Museumplein in Amsterdam, between the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum.
Website: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl