Explore Amsterdam

Introduction

Canals wind through the center of the historic city of Amsterdam, in all crossed by about four hundred stone bridges. Narrow, gabled waterside houses and 18th century warehouses and mansions together make up a truly distinctive architecture. Markets sell an abundance of brightly colored flowers including the tulip, which was a source of great wealth and prestige in the city in times past. Amsterdam is an eclectic mix of the traditional and the wholly modern, both thriving in the laid back atmosphere of a city that permits the red light district and the famous coffee shops.

Arts and Events

Vibrant, colorful Amsterdam has many different sides to its character, a variety of sides expressed in the variety of museums and galleries to visit. The Rijksmuseum is the largest art and history museum in the Netherlands with a stunning collection of 17th Century Dutch Masters: 20 Rembrandts and works by Vermeer, Frans Hals and Jan Steen. Modern art enthusiasts may visit the Cobramuseum and the Stedelijk, the latter housing over 100,000 objects. Monument to a girl hiding from oppression, the Anne Frank House is thought provoking and emotional. The Biblical Museum has artefacts from ancient Egypt and models of the temples of Herod and Solomon. Two charming cinemas, one with an Art Deco interior, are the showcases for The Dutch Film Museum.