A brief tour guide cannot possibly do justice to this intriguing country. One of the joys is that all the sights are within easy reach of the visitor. The most highly recommended way of finding your bearings in Amsterdam is to take a few leisurely strolls through the downtown area. The layout of the city center (four concentric canals and three major squares) is ideally suited to this.
Make your way to the Centraal Station and work outwards from there. Another trip that is not to be missed is a cruise through the canals in the famous glass-topped boats. The tour lasts 1,5 hours; there is a multi-lingual commentary. Try this one at the cocktail hour – few cities can be seen in such a pleasant light. Your hotel will direct you to the pier.
There are innumerable art museums and galleries; don’t miss Rijksmuseum (the richest collection of Dutch painting in the world) and Vincent Van Gogh Museum. Amsterdam is the diamond cutting capital of the world. Take a guided tour of a diamonf merchant’s workshop. Both Asscher’s and A van Moppes & Zoon welcome visitors.
An unusual attraction in the city is the house in which Anne Frank took refuge durung World War II. If you can time your trip to Holland to coincide with the annual Floriade Seasons, it will be something you will not regret. There are three Floriades; Spring, Summer and Fall, and they are displays of loristy and horticulture. The Floriades are continuous – the Spring season starting on 30 March, and the Fall season closing on October 15.
Even if the Floriade is not in full swing, you can see Holland’s floral beauty in the Keukenhof Gardens at Lisse, or by taking a boat trip through the tulips no visitor should go without. Not far from Amsterdam (an easy dat trip) are picturesque villages villages of Spakenburg and Bunschoten.
Related Link: Amsterdam Travel Guide
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