Canal boat tour
A tacky canal boat round-trip is actually very interesting and nice! You will see a lot of the city in one hour, and hear a lot about the history and the reasons why the houses stand crooked, or how many bikes are stolen or thrown into the canals every year. The companies on Damrak are cheapest but have explanations over the speakers in multiple languages, causing lots of repetitions, and short explanations in your own language. I know that ‘Blue Boat’ and ‘Lovers’ offer headphones so you’ll have longer explanations in your own language only. Others may do so as well.
There are also dinner cruises in the dark. The city is like a fairytale with all the little lights.
Or if it’s dry you can consider the smaller open boats run by Friendship tours for example, with live explanations from the guide.
When you pass nice places you want to visit more indepth later, just write down the names and go there afterwards.
Climb a church tower
From April through October you can climb various church towers for a fee (about €9, prices may vary). You go up in a small group with a guide, stopping at intervals to hear more about the history. You will have about 10 minutes on the top to appreciate the views and take photos.
- For example Westerkerk church tower (right next to Anne Frank House) with amazing views over the old roofs of the Jordaan area and canal belt. Anne Frank describes the sound of these church bells in her diary. NOTE: Currently closed for renovations!
- Or you can go up Zuiderkerk church tower instead.
- Or climb Oude Kerk church tower with views over the oldest part of the city.
Fabrique des Lumières
In Westerpark an old industrial building now shows beautiful moving video art of adaptations of famous artworks, for example by Gustav Klimt, Salvador Dalí and others (new shows all the time). You walk into this dark huge room and you are surrounded by moving art and accompanying music. Lie or sit down in the mirror room to enjoy the mesmerising effects or walk up the stairs to appreciate it from above.
Museum Harbor
Free of charge and right next door to NEMO Science Museum and its fantastic roof terrace you can find the Museum Harbor. It’s the quay beside NEMO lined with multiple historical ships with people living in them. Signs in front of every ship tell you more about their history.
Scheepvaartmuseum (the National Maritime Museum) is within a stone’s throw as well. Or go up to NEMO’s roof terrace to enjoy lovely views over Amsterdam.
Museum Harbor
EYE Film institute
This funky building is bliss for modern architecture fans. But it also has a sunny terrace and indoor restaurant with amazing views across IJ. It’s also a film museum and cinema.
A flipbook made at EYE
At EYE, you can have a mini flipbook made with a short ‘movie’ of yourself for only €4.95. Go to EYE’s shop for examples and instructions. Think up a funny short scenario beforehand!
A’DAM tower
A fairly new sight in the city is A’DAM tower which will hosts hotels, nightclubs, and has a rooftop viewpoint and restaurant. However, personally I prefer the views from DoubleTree hotel’s rooftop bar.
A’DAM Tower does offer a very spectacular ‘over the edge’ swing at 100 meters (328 feet) above the ground!
Don’t worry, that last photo was taken using a green screen. 🙂
Boom Chicago
Go to a Boom Chicago comedy show on Rozengracht 117. It’s in English and takes the piss out of both American and Dutch culture. It’s half improvised. You can also take improvisation classes.
Museums
Go to the page with recommended museums.
Other things to see and do
Also see:
- my pages about parks & city beaches
- and about other things to see and do
- Iamsterdam’s pages about things to see and do
- “what’s on” > see which festivals, concerts, temporary exhibitions, sports events are taking place
- YourLittleBlackBook city guide
- the app ‘2days‘
>> Back to Amsterdam tips main page…
Cecilia 