Centraal Station and Tourist Information Office

Situated in the Stationsplein, the Centraal Station is a crowded hub, bustling with trams, metro lines, passenger ferries, canal rides and of course, countless bikes and tourists.

Centraal Station

The Centraal Station building was designed by Pierre Cuypers and was opened in 1889. It is said that the construction lays on three man-made islands, resting on 8.687 wooden piles which have been driven deep into the muddy and sandy soil. The architect mixed Dutch Renaissance elements with Neogothic ones, in order to create a "transport temple", considered hideous by the locals of the time.

Bicycle parking near Amsterdam Centraal

There are over 500.000 bikes in Amsterdam, statistics show that 50.000 get stolen every year and 10.000 are recovered from canals.

Bicycle parking near Amsterdam Centraal

Bicycle parking next to the Centraal Station

NEMO Science Center

In 1997, the National Science Center of Holland moved its headquarters in this amazing curved building, stretching 30m above the water and resembling a vast ship. Visitors can interact with virtual reality and experiment with the newest technologies. In the summer, the roof transforms into a beach where visitors can admire the view at a picnic.

Saint Nicholas Church (Sint Nicolaaskerk)

It is the main Catholic church in Amsterdam, dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the protector of sailors and the patron of Amsterdam. Its twin towers and dome are an easy to spot landmark when walking outside Centraal Station.

The twin towers of Saint Nicholas Church (Sint-Nicolaaskerk)

Saint Nicholas is also known as Sinterklaas, the traditional Dutch version of Santa Claus, which brings gifts to children on the night of the 5th of December.

Amusement park in front of the Royal Palace, Dam Square

The Royal Palace was built on 13.659 wooden pillars, a number that every Dutch pupil learns. Jacob van Hampen designed the building in an unusual interpretation of the Dutch Renaissance style. It was finished in 1655, replacing the old city hall. In 1808, the Palace became the residence of Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, who was King of Holland until 1810. Since 1813, the building represents the official Royal Palace.

Amusement park in front of the Royal Palace, Dam Square

Dam Square or simply Dam, as locals call it, is the social, commercial and political center of the city, where almost anything can happen - like having an amusement park in front of the Royal Palace. The original dam was built in the 13th century to protect what was then a simple fishermen's village.

National Monument

It is an obelisk with symbolical sculptures that was built in the Dam Square in 1956 to commemorate the World War II victims during the Nazi occupation of Holland. It is now a very popular meeting place.

Nieuwe Kerk

Wealthy banker W. Eggert donated his orchard as a site for this Gothic church, as well as the necessary money to build it. It was called the Nieuwe Kerk to set it apart from Oude Kerk. Since the 19th century, it has the title of National Church of the Netherlands and every Dutch monarch was coronated there since then.

View from the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal towards Nieuwe Kerk

Singel Canal

It is the inner-most canal in Amsterdam, after encircling the city in the Middle Ages. Along its 1.7 km, one can reach important locations, such as the flower market, the Red Light District and Munttoren tower.

Bicycle on Singel Canal

Singel no. 7

This is claimed to be the narrowest house in the world, only 1m wide, but only the front door is narrow. The house, built on an irregular lot, widens behind it. Actually, the house on Oude Hoogstraat 22, even if it is wider (2.02m), is the narrowest house in Europe - no cheating.

View of Singel canal near Wijde Heisteeg

Building on Singel

View of the Rijkmuseum from Museumplein

Rijkmuseum is considered the most important museum in the Netherlands, with 260 rooms and 7 million pieces. It was opened in 1885 and designed by P. Cuypers. Its Neogothic style received criticism in those times. It features Rembrandt, Vermeer and also a Delft ceramics collection.

I amsterdam

I amsterdam is the motto that creates the brand for the city and people of Amsterdam. In saying or expressing I amsterdam, they demonstrate a clear choice for the city of Amsterdam.

Concertgebouw

The Concertgebouw was built on 2.186 wooden pillars, they were replaced in 1983 with 400 metallic tubes. The Great Hall of the Concertgebouw seats 2.037 and the Small Hall has 478 seats.

Concertgebouw

Opened in 1888 and designed by Adolf van Gendt, it is considered one of the few concert halls in the world with perfect acoustics. The resident orchestra is the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest).

Van Gogh Museum - Main Structure

One hundred of Van Gogh's most important works are ordered chronologically in order to understand the artist's journey that lasted ten years and ended with his suicide. The main structure was designed by Gerrit Rietveld and was opened in 1973. Designed to welcome 60.000 visitors per year, it is now visited by 1.5 million tourists per year.

Van Gogh Museum - the Exhibition Wing

The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of Van Gogh works in the world and it is the most visited museum in the Netherlands and the 23rd most visited art museum worldwide. The new wing was designed by Kisho Kurokawa and was completed in 1999; now it features temporary exhibitions.

View of Singel canal from Muntplein, behind Bloemenmarkt

The floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt)

Situated on Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein, it includes 15 florists and garden shops. It is considered the world's only floating flower market, although some of the shops are built on piers and a few on permanent barges and some guides mention that Bangkok has a real floating market, on boats and rafts.

The floating flower market (Bloemenmarkt)

Here you can buy everything from tulip bulbs and apricot trees to marijuana seeds and starter kits.

Floating flower market - detail

Mint Tower (Munttoren)

It stands on the busy Muntplein Square, where the Amstel river and the Singel canal meet, near the floating flower market. Its base is all that remains from one of the three main entrance gates in the city from the Middle Ages. In 1620, a lead tower was added.

Westerkerk

The tallest church tower is that of Westerkerk, at 85 m high, named "Lange Jan" (Long John). It is a Dutch Renaissance treasure, with the city's heaviest bell, the painted imperial crown of Maximilian of Austria. Also, it is the burial place of Rembrandt and his son, although the exact spot is unknown.

Anne Frank statue near Westerkerk

In 1942, when the Germans started rounding up Jews in Amsterdam, the Frank family went into hiding and for 25 months they hid in a secret annexe in Otto Frank's business premises on Prinsengracht. In August 1944, they were betrayed and deported. Anne, aged 15, and her sister were sent in Berger-Belsen concentration camp, where they died in March 1945. Anne hoped to become a famous writer, as she wrote on the 11th of May 1944. Her diary is now a symbol of the experiences of the Jews and has made her one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century.

Anne Frankhuis

Visited by over 800.000 people each year, Anne Frankhuis is the hiding place of Anne Frank, the 15 year old girl who became famous after her diary written during the war was published in over 60 languages. It is a moving experience, you can see the secret annexe, the moveable bookcase, Anne's room with film-star pin-ups on the wall, the diary room and the front attic. Anne died a month before Bergen-Belsen was liberated.

Homomonument

It is a pink marble monument near Westerkerk, dedicated to all the homosexuals persecuted because of their sexual orientation.

View of Prinsengracht

Prinsengracht was named after Prince Wilhelm of Orania. Along its 3.5 km you can admire the beautiful houses that managed to survive over the centuries and you can visit its main attractions: Anne Frankhuis, Westerkerk, Noorderkerk.

Houses in the Joordan

Bounded by Prinsengracht, Brouwersgracht, Singelgracht and Leidsegracht, de Joordan was built for the workers serving the aristocracy of the Grachtengordel (Canal Ring). The houses are smaller and the canals are narrower, but Joordan is worth a visit due to its characterful and quirky atmosphere and identity.

View of Prinsengracht from Brouwersgracht

One of the most terrific views in Amsterdam is the junction between Brouwersgracht and Prinsengracht. Brouwersgracht is named after the buildings that in the 16th-17th centuries were used as "pakhuizen" (brewery storage). Now, many of the buildings are elegant apartment buildings.

Bridge over Prinsengracht

View of Egelantiersgracht from Hilletjesbrug

Magna Plaza

It was designed by Cornelis Hendrik Peters and built between 1895 and 1899 to house Amsterdam's head post office. In 1990, this Neogothic building was transformed into the city's first shopping mall. The interior structure is well kept.

Magna Plaza - interior view

This is the place to shop for designer clothing and excellent souvenirs, from Gouda and Edam cheese to wines and clogs, all inside this beautiful Neo-Gothic building.

View of Kloveniersburgwal

The Amstel river

It passes through Amsterdam from South to North and photographers consider it an amazing sight. After reaching Hotel de l'Europe, the river slowly loses itself in the canal labyrinth of the city.

Tuschinski Theatre

The most elaborate cinema in Amsterdam or perhaps in the entire world, is the creation of a Polish tailor obsessed with the idea that film could change lives. Its creator perished in Auschwitz, but its exotic Art Deco/Art Nouveau creation lives on. It was reopened in 2002, after an expensive renovation. It now houses a beautiful cinema with six screening rooms.

Bridge on Staalstraat over Kloveniersburgwal

There are 1.281 bridges officialy registered in Amsterdam. Some of the most famous ones are Magere Brug, Torensluis and Blauwbrug.

East India House (Oost-Indisch Huis)

It is an early 17th-century building, the former headquarters of the Dutch East India Company. It once organized expeditions in the Orient, to bring silk and spices in the Golden Age of Amsterdam. Now it belongs to the Amsterdam University.

De Waag - Nieuwmarkt Square

This was originally a city gate, built in 1488 and it was later transformed into a weigh house, in 1617. Rembrandt's painting, "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" was painted in 1632 in the Theatrum Anatomicum of this building.

The Bulldog no. 90 coffeeshop

Situated on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, it is said to be the first coffeeshop in Amsterdam, the one that laid the benchmark for the contemporary coffeeshop.

Junction of Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Damstraat

Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam

The Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre) of Amsterdam is the name of a theatre building at the Leidseplein. The building is in the neo-Renaissance style dating back to 1894, and is the former home of the National Ballet and Opera. AFC Ajax has the tradition of going on the building's steps to be publicly applauded for a major win.

Urban art in Nieuwe Zijde

Francis Xavier Church "De Krijtberg"

It is a Roman Catholic church located on the Singel. It was designed by Alfred Tepe and was opened in 1883.

Red Light District

The houses situated between Oudezijds Voorburgwal and Oudezijds Achterburgwal now comprise the Red Light District, which concentrates most of the city's prostitution in one single area. Don't try to photograph the famous "girls in the windows", you might get your camera smashed.

View of the Oude Kerk from the Red Light District

Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, Oude Kerk is a mighty Gothic Basilica in the heart of the Red Light District and the city's oldest monument.

Oude Kerk

The city's oldest monument was started in 1334. Just a few of the Catholic ornaments survived after the Calvinists took over, but there are still three wonderful stained glass details worth seeing in the Mariakapel.

Oude Kerk

Although this mighty Gothic basilica was stripped of its Catholic ornaments during the Iconoclasm of 1566, it still has some features worth seeing, such as the Great organ, Maria Kapel, its amazing wooden ceiling and decorated pillars.

Belle statue in Oudekerksplein

Part of the Oudekerksplein, the square surrounding Oude Kerk, is used by prostitutes who offer their services from behind windows. In March 2007 a bronze statue named Belle honoring the prostitutes of the world was installed there.

Herringhuis

One of the Dutch delicacies is fresh raw herring, with chopped onion, sold as a snack from street stalls. Traditionally, you take your herring by the tail and toss it whole down your throat, with your head held back.

Gouda cheese

It is a round cheese made from cow's milk, with a yellow crust, named after the city Gouda in the Netherlands. It is a very tasty souvenir to buy from Amsterdam.

Clogs

A klomp is a clog from the Netherlands. Despite the fact that most Dutch no longer wear wooden shoes for everyday use, they remain popular among farmers and gardeners. Dutch wooden shoes are a beloved tourist souvenir. Approximately 3 million pairs are made each year.

Hundreds of parked bicycles