Trip on the canals and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Things to Do Tips

I have done canal trips 4 times & enjoyed it everytime

The best company to go with is canal company they have 3 lines Red, Blue & Green
They stop at various sights like Leidseplein, Prisengracht, Amsterdam centraal allowing yu to hop on & off.

Travel for the whole day is euro 16, this allows you various entrance discounts into museums etc.

Otherwise we went with the company Plas they did not go via Anne Frank's house & lasted an hour for Euro 6.50 or other companies leaving from Centraal & DamRak can charge Euro 7

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Website: www.canal.nl

No-one should leave Amsterdam without a visit to the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazi’s for 25 months, from 6 July 1942 to 4 August 1944.

The first translation of “The Secret Annex” appeared in Dutch in 1947 and since then the book Anne Franks diary has been translated into more than 60 languages.
The original diary is on display in the museum.

I first read this young girl's diary as part of my school cirriculum. The feeling I felt when being inside the secret annex was one of sadness, how brave she was in the face of adversity and terror. Her father Otto Frank survived Auschwitz of the 8 people that were in hiding.

Be advised there are very long queues so get her early or later in the day. Also bear in mind that you are not allowed to take photographs inside the museum. It does get exceptionally busy inside and you are asked to pass through the house in a respectfull manner.

As at 2009 Aduts E8 Children 10-17 E4 tour lasts approx an hour no guided tours. There is limited disabled access. The information is posted in English and dutch. No discount for I-amsterdam card or museumkaart
Opening times winter months 9am - 7pm summer 9am - 10am

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Phone: +31-20-5567100
Address: Prinsengracht 267
Website: http://www.annefrank.nl

This church is in the “Oude Zijde” (Old Side) of the medieval city and ironically its location is smack bang in the heart of Red Light District. This Gothic church was built in early 14th century in honour of the patron St Nicholas. The church tower was built in 1565 & is one of the most beautiful in Amsterdam. The Calvanists left their mark on this church smashing & looting many of the churches priceless paintings, statues & alters.

Unfortunately you can only visit the tower on weekends when special tours are operated. We decided not to visit the church as the tower was not open but decided to rather climb the tower of Zuid Kerk which was open with a 30min tour.

Opening hours Mon – Fri 11am – 5pm & Sun 1-5pm Adults Euro 5
Tower open Weekends 1pm-5pm every 30min Euro 5
Museum card – free, children under 12 free

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Phone: +31-20-6258284
Address: Oudekerksplein 23
Website: http://www.oudekerk.nl

This was Amsterdam’s first protestant church, built by Hendrick de Keyser in 1603-1611. The church no longer functions as such & it now houses the Municipal Centre for Physical Panning & Public Housing. What is special is a guided tour up the tour Wed – Sat, June – Sept 2pm,3pm & 4pm this is done by students & lasts 30min. The tour takes you to the top of the tower, with 160 stairs to climb but with many rest spots. The guide shows you the clock mechanisms & the 3 bells at the top of tower. Volunteer bell ringers ring the bells & the there is a definite art form in bell ringing.

There are great views over the city & your guide will point out some key buildings. It was rather rainy when I went up so the photo’s are a bit dark but well worth the experience. Entrance is Euro

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Address: Zuiderkerkhof 72
Directions: Off St Antoniestraat near Pintohuis

This is one of several clandestine “secret” churches established after the Calvanist coup or the so-called Alteration in 1578. The Calvanists were a fanatical Protestant movement who roamed from city to city under the nickname geuzen (beggars), mudering priests, nuns & Catholic sympathisers smashing papist idolatry in churches. Catholics were forced to worship in these clandestine churches.

Jan Hartman & his family bought 3 adjacent buildings with his family living on the ground floor of the canal side, he had the loft converted into this secret church. Much of the construction is suspended from the roof. The Baroque alter is seldom used nowdays as it is rather delicate. There is a beautiful organ in the church & its workings can be seen under the gallery floor. There is a room dedicated to the Miracle of Amsterdam which took place on the night of 15 March 1345 at a house on Klaverstreet where the vomit of a man with the sacramental last rites was thrown into the fire & it did not burn. The wafer was kept at the Oude Kerk for safekeeping & then lost only to be rediscovered at the sick mans house.

Today it is still used for special masses, weddings & concerts. There is a tiny room halfway up the stairs which is thought to be the chaplain’s bedroom. I really enjoyed my visit here, well worth a visit & lots to see

Adults Euro 7, Children Euro 1 free with Museumkaart

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Phone: +31-20-6246604
Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40
Website: http://www.museumamstelkring.nl

Here you can get a glimpse of how a wealthy dutch family lived in an 18th and 19th century canal house. Upon Mrs Willet-Holthusen’s death her will left her 17th century canal house to the city of Amsterdam stating it must be made into a public museum – this immortalises the family name through history.

On the 2 floors there is an elegant ballroom as well as a dining area & master bedroom all furnished with comparable furnishings. In the basement a kitchen & scullery giving one a glimpse of what the servants were required to do. The servants also entered into the house at the basement level where we enter today. The garden is laid out in a French fashion the more statues you had in the garden displayed your wealth.

Apparently there used to be a nightclub next door of course not in those days but you can see from the garden it has been torn down & we now await to see what is going to be going up in its place.

Adults Euro 6 Child Euro 3 Open Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm wknds 11-5pm

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Phone: 020 523 1822
Address: Herengracht 605, Amsterdam
Directions: tram 9, 14 to Rembrandtplein
Website: http://en.willetholthuysen.nl/nl/home-mwh-en

These 9 little alleys are set up like tic tac toe over 3 canals & have the most unusual and delightful one off shops. Reestraat, Hartenstraat & Gasthuismolensteeg to the north, Prinsengracht to the west, Singel to the east and Runstraat, Huidenstraat & Wijde Heistreeg to the south, Berenstraat, Wolvenstraat & Oude Spiegelstraat.
The bazaar arty Boekie Woekie, Kaas Kaamer for cheese lovers, Pompadour for those that love a bit of cake (just looking puts on the pounds!!), Stout (means naughty in dutch) for sexy lingere or Laura Dolls for vintage clothing. Think unusual & you should find it here.

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Directions: Between Rozengracht/Leidsestraat

Find this beautiful courtyard hidden behind closed doors, a former convent dating back to 14th century. At no 34 there is the oldest preserved wooden house in Holland dating back to 1465.
The Beguines were a Catholic order of unmarried women from wealthy families who cared for the elderly. They lived a religious lifestyle without taking monastic vows.
The last true Beguines died in 1970's. Because they owned their houses they could not be taken away after the Calvanist coup.

Nowdays it is still homes for single women - but this is not a pick up site Boys check out RLD for that :-)

Open 9am - 6.30pm and opens 1pm Mondays

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Phone: 623 35 65
Directions: intersection of Spui & Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal
Website: http://www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl/index_engels.html

In the courtyard is the Begijnhof Kapel, this is a clandestine church where the Beguines were forced to worship after they lost their Gothic church it has lovely marble columns, wooden pews and stained glass windows commemorating the Miricle of Amsterdam

Admission free
Eucharist service 9am Mon - Sat Sunday10am

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Directions: in the courtyard

This is the English church, a gothic church built in 1392 used by the Beguines until the Calvanists took it away & it was eventually rented out to the local community of English and Scottish Presbyterian refugees.

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Directions: southern end of Beginhof courtyard