Amsterdam Things to Do Tips by zuriga

BEST SHOPPING Dam Square Review

De Bijenkorf is a wonderful department store, right at the Dam. It has lovely cafes and restaurants and beautiful housewares, clothing, and a huge book department.

Address: At the Damrak

Directions: Walk down Damrak from Central Station direction Dam and you'll find it on the left hand side.

VERZETSMUSEUM

This has to be one of my favorite museums in Amsterdam. It is a wonderful tribute to the brave, Dutch resistance fighters of WWII.

The museum presents a picture of Dutch Resistance during World War II through a fascinating collection of artefacts, documents and interactive displays. The history of the Nazi invasion and popular resistance through espionage, sabotage and the February Strike are brought to life with recordings of original radio broadcasts, underground newspapers, secret transmitters and illegal identity papers printed on a machine powered by bicycle. Other displays highlight contemporary political developments such as the rise of the extreme right-wing parties in the Netherlands.

The building bearing the Star of David and the name of Petrus Plancius (1550-1622), the Renaissance Amsterdam clergyman and geographer, has been built in 1876 by the Jewish singing society Oefening Baart Kunst. It served for several decades as a Jewish cultural center and synagogue. The Oefening Baart Kunst society kept the Plancius name on its building to underline its respect to the Amsterdam city traditions. That was the name of the old house which stood on this spot before. For a long time Plancius building served in many different functions. Since 1999, after its renovation, it is the seat of the Verzetsmuseum.

Opening: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Tuesday to Friday; 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm Saturday and Sunday

Address: Plantage Kerklaan 61a, 1018 CX, Amsterdam, Netherl

Directions: Easily reached by Trams 9 and 14 - not a long walk from the Waterlooplein area.

Phone: 31 20 620 25 35

Website: http://www.amsterdam.info/museums/verzetsmuseum/

REMBRANDTPLEIN Rembrandtplein Area Review

The Rembrandtplein seems the center and heart of Amsterdam. Around it are cafes, restaurants, hotels and some wonderful statues.. not to mention the ubiquitous trams. It's a short walk to the Dam or south to the Ledesplein area. Cross the Amstel and the other side of the river is home to more museums and sites of interest.

NIEUWMARKT/WAAG Nieuwmarkt - Waag Review

This is an interesting square to explore.. after your leisurely stroll through the nearby Redlight District. The Waag in the center was once used by guilds as a storehouse and Rembrandt did one of his most famous paintings in this spot. There are lots of cafes and places to rest nearby.

Address: Nieuwmarkt

CANAL BOAT RIDES Canal Boat Tours Review

It's not inexpensive (about 16 Euros), but this is a wonderful way to leisurely view Amsterdam for hours. We took the Canal Bus tour and I urge you to also do the Blue Line part of their tour. We saw parts of Amsterdam we never would have... all this is in my Travelogue. Buying a ticket also gives you discount coupons for the major museums, so take the boat ride first! The tickets are also good till noon of the following day. Here's the main departing stop near the Central Station.

Address: 14 stops around the city

Directions: Easy to board in front of the Central Station

RIJKSMUSEUM Rijksmuseum Review

Despite the museum being now seen in a very abbreviated version (lots of renovation going on), this is certainly a place not to be missed.

Remember that the fee is reduced if you do the Canal Bus trip first and use their coupons.

If the weather is nice, sit outside on the Museumplain for a bit and enjoy a snack.

Address: Stadhouderskade 42

Directions: Museum District - near the Concert Hall

Phone: +31-20-6747047

Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl

REMBRANDT'S HOUSE Rembrandt House Museum - Rembrandthuis Review

For an interesting hour or so, visit the house Rembrandt had to leave when he went bankrupt. Besides seeing how people of that era lived when wealthy, it also has a nice collection of etchings and drawings by other people. Try to go on a Wednesday afternoon. There's someone available to demonstrate how etchings and other prints are done. Since we have a large collection, this was really fascinating and meaningful.

Address: Jodenbreestraat 4

Directions: Near Waterlooplein

Phone: +31-205200400

Website: http://www.rembrandthuis.nl

MUSEUMPLEIN Museumplein Review

This area is Amsterdam's largest square, first made public in 1872 but updated throughout the years and most recently in the late 90's. Even more fun was walking across it at night.. the path was lit with underground lights! At one end is the Concert Hall and the other is home to the Rijksmuseum. There are paths off to the Van Gogh Museum, and it's a good spot for an afternoon snack.. especially pleasant was the CoBrA Cafe with outdoor seating.

Directions: Museum District

VAN GOGH Van Gogh Museum Review

Over 200 paintings and 500 drawings are on exhibition in this modern, sleek museum. Many of the world's favorites are here, and these are easily seen in combination with a trip to the now only partially open Rijksmuseum next door. A nice shop is out on the Museumplein.. also one in the museum itself. And Van Gogh never sold one painting during his lifetime... I wonder what he'd say now about what happened afterwards.

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7

Directions: Part of the Museumplein... Tram 5 and 16

Phone: +31-20-5705252

Website: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl