Amsterdam is the Netherlands’ capital city and is located in the province of North Holland. In this city, you will discover historic buildings, beautiful museums, an abundance of parks, and canals galore.
There are several ways to reach Amsterdam, but we opted to drive to Amsterdam from Bussels which is about a 2.5 hour trek through beautiful contryside.
Museumplein
If you love art, then the Museumplein is a must-visit place during your time in Amsterdam. Literally translated as “Museum Square” this area of the city is home to three of the city’s most important museums: the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art, and the Van Gogh Museum. I’m not a huge modern art individual, so we opted to vist the Rijksmuseum to see works of Rembrandt and Vermeer, and the Van Gough Museum because I just love him.
While you are at Museumplein, don’t miss the “I AMsterdam” sign at the Rijksmuseum!
Rembrandthuis
If you don’t know this already about me, I love museums. So of course I had to add one more tour during my visit. My last museum in Amsterdam was Rembrandt’s House. This house tour gave you a great perspective on how this artist lived and worked. If you love Rembrandt, this is definitely worth the visit.
Visit the Flower Market
Did you know Amsterdam’s flower market is the only floating market in the world? The Amsterdam Flower Market is located on the Singel canal between the Koningsplein and the Muntplein and it has been around since 1862. The market is open all four seasons, and it’s the perfect place to pick up souvenirs. I was able to pick up a couple of bags of tulip bulbs and ship them back to the US. They make great living souvenirs.
Get Lost
Amsterdam is not a very large city (about 84 square miles), and it offers so many methods to explore. So get lost and see what you can find. Explore the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht canals (built in the 17th century), grab a drink in a square, walk the streets and discover something new. I think the walking around part was one of my favorite parts of this city. And I can’t wait to get back.
