AMSTERDAM Amsterdam’s Golden-Age canals, exciting museums, and exotic shops make for a one-of-a-kind vacation.
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ome to unforgettable landmarks like the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House, Amsterdam is the jewel of the Netherlands. The city has earned a nickname as the “Venice of the North” due to its extensive canal system. As you make your way on foot around the city, you will take in views of tall, thin canal houses with embellished gables dating back to the Dutch Golden Age (1588 to 1672). The settling foundations of the buildings makes their profiles lean slightly askew left and right, taking on a most wondrous, fantastical aspect. Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city where the worlds of art, finance, and history come together in a refined fashion. In addition to being the cultural capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam is a financial center of Europe due to the positioning of the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. In the city’s De Wallen district, the famed red lights of Amsterdam signal some of the wilder bars and exotic coffee shops where people from around the world come to experience uninhibited Europe. During my trip to Amsterdam, I was lucky enough to visit a few of the worldclass treasures nestled within the city. Before I get into the best things to see in Amsterdam, I’ll add the disclaimer that the time to go is between the middle of April and the early part of May if you want to experience Holland’s tulip season.
THE BLOEMENMARKT The Bloemenmarkt is Amsterdam’s floating flower market. I highlight it as a must-see attraction simply because there’s nothing like it in all of Europe. Founded in 1862, the market is positioned on the city’s Singel Canal. Terra Travelers || 6
Within the floating market, you’ll find more than a dozen shops. It’s the ultimate place in the city to pick up keepsakes to bring back home. I spent a good chunk of an afternoon browsing windmill trinkets, Dutch chocolates, and other unique treasures. Bloemenmarkt is also the best spot in the city to pick up Dutch tulip bulbs. I even picked up some fresh-cut Dutch tulips for my hotel room to bring in the scents of the Dutch countryside as I relaxed in the evenings.
RIJKSMUSEUM I would consider a visit to Rijksmuseum, the base of any Amsterdam vacation. The ultimate museum of the Netherlands, Rijksmuseum houses works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and many more. Rijksmuseum also happens to be housed in the same square as the Van Gogh museum. This museum is very nicely laid out to allow you to maximize your visit. It also has some charming attached gardens. While the blooms are regularly changed up at the museum, I happened to be lucky enough to be visiting when a sunflower installation was on display.
THE JORDAAN
On the suggestion of a friend who has spent a good chunk of time in Amsterdam for work, I decided to book a hotel located in the city’s Jordaan neighborhood, a leap of faith because I had never heard of this little corridor before my visit. Jordaan is very aptly considered to be the Greenwich Village of Amsterdam. Full of narrow passageways and canal contours obscured by leafy trees, Jordaan is a hip spot full of the best lowkey cafés and restaurants in the city. The specialty shops and indie boutiques in the
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