With about 800,000 people, Amsterdam is one of the smaller capitals in the world, but it is a very popular city for tourists visiting the Netherlands or just the city itself. And, if you just have several days in the Netherlands, make a visit to Amsterdam your main thing.
Of course, Amsterdam is well known for its Red Light District, but it has much more to offer. Amsterdam is teeming with museums, like the famous Van Gogh Museum and of course the National Rijksmuseum. Also the Anne Frank House is one of the hotspots to visit, if you want to know more about the time during the war. It has some more strange museums as well, like a Torture Museum, a Sex Museum and a Hash(!) Museum. As Amsterdam is a major trading centre for diamonds, you will also find a museum about this precious jewel as well.
Walk along the canals and over the many squares Amsterdam offers, and enjoy a city that has something to offer for both the culture and art lovers, and the more kinky type of person. All put in a beautiful setting with water and typical Dutch historical building styles.
Neighbourhoods
This section gives some introductory information on the neighbourhoods that are most interesting for tourists. Note that the names used here do not always correspond to the administrative divisions used by the city.
• Historical Center is the area confined by IJ lake to the north, Singel and Inner Amstel to the west and south, and Oudeschans to the east, is the oldest part of Amsterdam. It comprises Dam Square, the Red Light District and Nieuwmarkt as its major sights. Lots and lots of good bars are found in this area, especially on and around Nieuwmarkt.
• Gouden Reael is the neighbourhood just north of the railroad to Haarlem. It is the historical docklands, with lots of water and beautiful warehouses. It is a bit difficult to enter; the easiest way in is via Haarlemmerstraat.
• Canal ring - This is the part of town best known to tourists. The five major canals of Amsterdam (Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, Singelgracht) form rings around the medieval center, each from a slightly different period of architecture. The best way to see them all is to just wander around, or take a canal tour.
• Jordaan is a mid-19th century blue-collar neighbourhood stretching north-south between Prinsengracht and Singelgracht, and Leidsegracht to the south. It is now an upscale area, with lots of boutiques, galleries, and fancy restaurants. Also, the area houses some of Amsterdam's better cafés.
• De Pijp is a late-19th century neighbourhood to the south of the Canal Ring. It is known for its Bohemian athmosphere, steep staircases, and it boasts the largest food market in Amsterdam (Albert Cuyp market).
• Oud-West is from the same period as De Pijp (above), with has much the same feel. The neighbourhood is built roughly parallel to Jordaan, only further to the west.
• Oud-Zuid is a large district to the south of Leidseplein. It is mostly famous for Museumplein (where Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are located) and Vondelpark. Architecture buffs will enjoy Oud-Zuid because of Plan Zuid, one of Europe's earliest examples of large-scale city planning. The result is simply stunning, which is why Oud-Zuid nowadays is a very popular and upscale neighbourhood.
• De Baarsjes is one of Amsterdam's last pre-WWII districts. It is a pleasant residential area, ideally suited for a stroll across the many squares that make the neighbourhood famous.
• Eilanden (literally: Islands) is a group of artificial islands found in the eastern parts of IJ Lake. Although there isn't much going on in this neighbourhood, it is world-renowned for its late 1990s architecture. Some of the islands can be reached on foot (going east from Central Station); the others are further afield, and are best reached by streetcar.
00:00 - Highlights
01:00 - King's palace
9:14 - The bridge is printed on a 3D printer
10:47 - De Wallen or Red Light Street
16:21 - City center
01:13:11 - Anne Frank House
01:22:17 - Jordaan district