Planning to go on a holiday? Read this to know all the tips and tricks that will make your Amsterdam vacation worth remembering.
The bustling metropolis, brimming on canals, on the North Sea coast of Netherlands, western Europe, is horseshoe-shaped Amsterdam. Translated to the Dam on the river Amstel, the capital is the political, social, economic and cultural of the Netherlands. Founded as a small fishing village at the mouth of river Amstel during the earlier half of the 12th century, the settlement grew into a major European port, post the damming of the river and increasing nautical exploration by the Dutch during the European Renaissance age. Encashing the rich historical and cultural heritage from its golden age during the 17th century when it was at its pinnacle, the Dutch capital is a major contemporary European tourist destination.
About Amsterdam
The 100 km+ canals serve as the bloodstream of the city, justifying its sobriquet “the Venice of the North”. The three main canals are Prinsengracht, Herengracht and Keizersgracht. A defensive moat called Single was built during the Middle Ages, giving it a unique horseshoe shape in the inner centre. Local transport is primarily cycling around on biking paths or through the waterways. Modern Amsterdam is an intensely urbanised agglomeration of 90 islands connected by 1200 bridges.
Sloten is the oldest part of the town, where Dam Square has the City Hall and Royal Palace. At present, 177 nationalities are in this global melting pot. It is an education hub with 2 renowned Universities and many academic institutions gracing the hallowed lands. The International Institute of Social History is the worldʼs largest documentary and research institution. Hortus Botanicus is one of the worldʼs oldest botanical gardens where the progenitor of coffee plants of entire central and South America is still revered alive. Tulips were introduced to the Dutch landscape in 1593 and have become a cultural identity, signified by the Keukenhof Tulip Festival and other spring season festivals.
Residents Worth Knowing
Some world heritage sites in the precincts are the 42 fortifications in a 135 km periphery (called its Defence Line) and the iconic canals. Some famous residents of this quirky megapolis are:
- Rembrandt
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Philos Baruch Spinoza
- John Locke
- Rene Descartes
- Anne Frank
Attractions to Visit:
Apart from the above details, there is so much to see and experience in the famous vibes of this city, whether it is its nightlife, legalised cannabis coffee shops or even its inclusive Red Light district in De Wallen, located east of Damrak. Not wrong to say that the Dutch spirit stands VALIANT, STEADFAST and COMPASSIONATE – they seek to stand up for their off-stream character bravely and perseveringly to make an inclusive society. Let us go through a list of Dutch attractions enticing tourists and residents:
- Historic Canals
- Rijksmuseum for Dutch Golden Age art
- Van Gogh Museum
- Dam Square
- Amsterdam Museum
- Stedelijk Museum
- Hermitage Amsterdam, Concertgebouw Concert Hall
- Anne Frank House
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum
- Natura Artis Magistra
- Heineken Experience
- Hortus Botanicus
- NEMO Science Museum
- Nightclubs like Melkweg, Paradiso
- ARTIS Zoo
- Museum Rembrandthuis
- Albert Cuyp Market
- National Maritime Museum
- The Oude Church
- Jordaan (Noordermarkt shopping)
- AʼDAM Lookout
- Vondelpark
- Eye Film Museum
- Bloemenmarkt
- De 9 Strategies
- De Wallen
- Begijnhof
- Amsterdam Centraal Railway station
- Muiderslot
- NDSM
- Skinny Bridge
- Leidseplein
- Westerkerk
- City Canal cruise
- Jewish Museum
- Efteling
- Micropia
- Oosterpark
- Pythonbrug
- Hash Marihuana and Hemp Museum
Flights to Amsterdam (AMS) from the UK
Although the distance between London and Amsterdam is a mere 358 km and there are a variety of transport connections, flying out of the UK to AMS is the fastest means. Consequently, there are 84 daily direct flights from London, 10 from Manchester and 11 from Birmingham. All of them take some minutes above one hour to complete the journey. The cheapest tickets range between £45 – £180. The average cost for a return flight is £127. The cheapest month to fly out of the UK is May, while Virgin Atlantic is the most popular airline on this insanely busy route, which has 4 million passengers annually. The cheapest tickets are EasyJet and Vueling Airlines, while the London Luton Airport is the cheapest of the six city airports in London. The route is serviced by operators like Vueling Airlines, British Airways, KLM Airlines, Swissair, Iberia and Lufthansa.
Weather in Amsterdam
The typical European cold winter is a part of Dutch weather but since Amsterdam lies on the North Sea coast, it leaves a moderating effect on the climate due to warm westerlies. The temperatures rarely fall below -5 degrees. The best weather to go on an Amsterdam vacation is from April to June when the summer is pleasant, and the colourful tulips brush against the blue horizon. The spring season is when Nature is dressed at its best, making for camera-worthy memories. July is the hottest season when the temperatures soar past the uncomfortable 30s. The autumn season is the next tourist-centric period in September and October. November is the wettest month, while snowfall is expected for 11 days in December and January. The winters are long, very cold, windy and cloudy.
Hotels in Amsterdam
Since tourist footfall is an economic pattern in the country, there are hotels, inns and apartments to accommodate everyone. Some popular hotels with thousands for an Amsterdam vacation are:
- Ruby Emma Hotel at Oost
- Joy Hotel at Zuidoost
- INNSide by Melia
Other notable hotels are:
- Crowne Plaza Amsterdam South, an IHG hotel
- Hampton by Hilton
- Park Plaza Victoria
- Amsterdam Teleport Hotel
- Van der Valk Hotel
- Intercontinental Amstel Amsterdam (premium hotel)
- Radisson Blu ( City Centre)
- Kimpton De Witt
- Novotel Amsterdam
- Ibis Schiphol
A few cheap options are:
- Hotel Aalders
- Volkshotel
Travel Restrictions
British passport holders can go on an Amsterdam vacation without any visa formalities. However, they are advised to keep passports, driving licences, citizenship cards or any utility bill as ID proof. The rest of the travellers, except those from the EU, need a Schengen visa. The covid restrictions have been removed, with total effect in 2022 only. So everybody is welcome to Amsterdam for a Dutch gig!
Moreover, modern Amsterdam is an economic trade centre in Europe. It is the birthplace of conglomerates like Philips, AkzoNobel, Booking.Com, TomTom, ING, etc. Apart from that, corporations like Uber, Netflix and Tesla have regional headquarters here. The worldʼs oldest modern Stock Exchange has been here since 1602. Schiphol Airport (AMS) is the 3rd busiest in Europe and the hub of KLM Airlines. It is at a mere distance of 358 km from London; the shortest flight takes 1 hour, while a train ride would take a minimum of 3 hours and 52 minutes. A ferry travels from Newcastle and Hull (UK) to the Ijmuiden ferry port near Amsterdam. So don’t miss out on these attractions on your next Amsterdam vacation.