Houseboat Museum (optional)

Within a stone’s throw (literally) is the Houseboat Museum. You might already notice by now during your walk to the Nine Streets that there are numerous boats that line the canals in the Canal Belt.

Many of them are actually in fact, houses. And people do live in them! If you’d like to experience being in one of these houseboats, then the Houseboat Museum allows you that opportunity to see how people live in them.

The visit costs €9.50 and you might find the cost rather steep for a visit that takes just about 30 minutes. However, if you already have the I Amsterdam City card, the entry is free. So pop in if you do and look at how they maximise the limited space on board.

Lunch

You are spoilt for choice in the 9 Streets district when it comes to lunch. As I mentioned earlier, this area is home to numerous lovely and cozy cafes so take your pick. You can also choose to head for Pancakes Amsterdam where I had my lunch in two of my trips.

Western Church (Westerkerk)

After that, head northwards to Westerkerk, a 17th century Protestant church and also the burial site of artist Rembrandt van Rijn. While the exact burial site of Rembrandt is unknown, visitors can see the memorial plaque built to commemorate him.

Entry to the church is free of charge during its opening hours from 11am to 3pm. So, a visit right after lunch is the perfect time to do so.

There is also the 85m / 278ft church tower (Westertoren), the tallest of such in Amsterdam. Visitors can normally climb the tower on a guided tour during the months of April to September, but this is currently not possible due to restoration works ongoing.

Anne Frank House

Anne Frank House is one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands, and also arguably, in the world. It is a historical site now housing a solemn biographical museum of Anne Frank.

It features the ‘Secret Annex’, where Anne Frank and seven others hid from the Nazis for 2 years during the World War II. Walk behind the movable bookcase and enter this ‘Secret Annex’ to see the spaces where the 8 of them hid. View the various photos and personal items outlining the life of Anne Frank and prepare for a very emotional visit.

And if you have read Anne Frank’s diary, this is the perfect opportunity to see in real life, the exact confined spaces where she wrote her entries.

Things you need to know before your visit

It is absolutely necessary for you to pre-book your tickets in advance because tickets are not on sale onsite. Tickets are released on Tuesdays, specifically at 10am local time for dates six weeks in advance. So you need to snatch them quickly because they do sell out incredibly quickly immediately upon their release.

You will also need to be absolutely on time. If you are early, then you will be asked to wait outside until it is time for your entry. You can also get your photos with the Anne Frank statue while waiting.

The visit involves climbing steep and narrow stairways in the ‘Secret Annex’ so be prepared for that.

Canal Cruise

Right after your visit to Anne Frank House, you can catch a canal cruise from along the canal outside. Take note that there are two possible types of canal cruises. Firstly, there are the larger and enclosed boat cruises, of which many of them are included within your I Amsterdam City card. Secondly, which is also my preferred option, are the open and cozier boat cruises. But these are normally not part of the I Amsterdam City card.

I have experienced both, and I personally much prefer the second option because of two main reasons. Firstly, you get much better and unobstructed views of the canals and the surroundings. The boats also have the ability to travel along the narrower canals. And secondly, I found it much cozier. It is easier to ask questions, request for drinks or blankets and I found the commentary much more personal as well.

You don’t normally have to pre-book your boat trip unless you are travelling during the busy Easter or the summer months. I managed to get on to an open boat cruise on the spot in March as well as in May.

I highly recommend that you do at least either of these cruises. That is because we not only get to tour some of the most beautiful parts of the city, but also understood Amsterdam much more from the tour commentaries. For example, we got to know why the houses are built so narrow, how furniture gets moved up the narrow houses and some fun information about Amsterdam’s culture.

Jordaan

The canal cruise, and particularly the open boat cruise, will definitely give you a very informative and scenic tour of the Canal Belt. After that, cross over to the adjacent district of Jordaan.

Have a stroll around the neighbourhood and if it’s not too late yet, you may be able to browse through some of the markets or boutique art galleries in the area.

Similar to the Canal Belt, Jordaan is also famed for its charming canals and specialty boutique shops. It also is another place for lovely cafes and restaurants, ideal for your dinner too. If you’d like to try some Dutch snacks such as bitterballen, head to Winkel 43. Don’t expect any main dishes here though. This place is good for sharing various Dutch snacks while having a drink. Queues can get very long though.

And during the day or night while exploring Jordaan and the Canal Belt, you might come across the narrowest house facade in Amsterdam at the address – Singel 7 – measuring just 1.05m (3.4ft).

Choose 2 or 3 of the museums below for the day, but take note that Rembrandt House Museum is about 2km (1.2 miles) away from the rest.

Option 1: Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, featuring over a million artefacts covering a span of 800 years. It is well-known worldwide particularly for its collection of Dutch art masterpieces, and it houses the world’s largest collection of Rembrandt paintings.

There are over 80 galleries in the museum, so how much time you spend will depend on how much in detail or interest you have in the art culture. Typically, a visit can take anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. Therefore, I’d recommend that you start your museum visits with Rijksmuseum.

Once again, make sure to pre-book your tickets prior to your visit. Even if you have the I Amsterdam City Card.

I personally have not visited Rijksmuseum because I am not familiar with the art scene. But people who are will definitely appreciate the visit.

Option 2: Van Gogh Museum

As the name suggests, this museum houses a collection of Vincent Van Gogh’s art pieces and is in fact, the world’s largest collection of such. The vast majority of these art pieces were kept by van Gogh’s family, before being entrusted to the Dutch government to form the core of this museum.

The museum presents Van Gogh’s masterpieces in a chronological order, allowing visitors to observe the development of his art style and personal life over time. A typical visit generally takes around 2-3 hours.

Unfortunately though, Van Gogh Museum has ceased affiliation with the I Amsterdam City Card with effect from June 2022, so you will need to purchase and pre-book your tickets if you choose to visit.

Option 3: Rembrandt House Museum

This was where the artist Rembrandt lived and worked for 19 years. Its interior has been reconstructed so that you not only get a glimpse of his daily life, but also get to enjoy nearly a complete collection of his sketches.

A visit generally takes around 1-2 hours and is covered by the I Amsterdam City Card. Make sure to pre-book your tickets before you visit, even if you have the city card.

Take note though, that the museum is located nearer to the Binnenstad / city centre. It can be reached from the Museum Quarters by a few tram options. Make use of Google Maps to provide you with the quickest option from your location.

Option 4: Heineken Experience

If you are a fan of beer, and especially a fan of Heineken beer, then this tour of its original (but now defunct) brewery is one for you. This is a self-guided and interactive tour through its old factory, showcasing the brewing process and ending off with 2 free bottles of Heineken. It includes some hands-on experiences, a 4D sensory experience as well as some sampling.

A visit generally takes around 2 hours, and if you have the I Amsterdam City Card, you can enjoy a 25% discount off the original price. Use this link to pre-book your tickets if you have the I Amsterdam City Card.

As mentioned earlier, you can have add-ons to your Heineken Experience ticket. For example, you can also include a canal cruise and/or an entry to the A’Dam Lookout. I am not sure though, if you can get the I Amsterdam City Card discount on the add-ons and combination tickets, as I have not tried it myself. Let me know in the comments in case you know or have done it before!

Which options to pick?

Unfortunately, I am probably the worst person to give advice about art museums. However, Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are two of the most visited museums in Amsterdam. And I imagine this is so for good reason. If you have time, you can even try to get onto a Heineken Experience ticket in the evening.

The Heineken Experience will be interesting for a beer lover, and especially a Heineken beer fan.

Albert Cuyp Market

In case you are in between museum visits and are looking for a place for some lunch or Dutch snacks, the Albert Cuyp market is a 15-minute walk away from Rijksmuseum. It features over 200 stalls of food, clothes, gadgets as well as fresh Dutch produce in an open-air market along the street of Albert Cuypstraat.

Specifically, special mentions to Poffertjes as well as Rudi’s Original Stroopwafels, both of which are located fairly closely to each other. Both the poffertjes and stroopwafels were really amazing and the best thing is, they cost nothing like the fancy ones in the city centre.

Take note though, that the market is closed on Sundays.

A’Dam Lookout (optional)

The A’Dam Lookout is an observation deck at the top of the A’Dam Tower located in Amsterdam-Noord. From there, you get to enjoy a nearly 360° view of the area, including the Amsterdam Centraal station, the city centre, River IJ as well as the Amsterdam Noord area. And particularly nearing the sunset, this is one of the best bird’s eye view of the city.

And that’s not all! In addition to the views, you can take the ‘Over-the-Edge’ swing where you get to swing back and forth over the edge of the tower! This is also Europe’s highest swing! Furthermore, you can also take a virtual-reality rollercoaster experience.

Both the ‘Over-the-Edge’ swing and the VR rides are not included in the I Amsterdam City Card so you will need to purchase them at the counter on the day. Unfortunately especially during the evenings, you may have to wait for over an hour if you wish to take the rides.

Dinner

In case you chose not to visit the A’Dam Lookout, a couple of well-liked restaurants near the Museum Quarters include the Seafood Bar and The Pantry.

Otherwise, at the A’Dam Lookout is a panorama restaurant where you can dine in while waiting for your turn at the swing or VR ride. Additionally, a number of new trendy cafes and bars have also sprung up nearby in the Amsterdam-Noord area in recent years.

Depending on the location of your accommodation, you can shuffle the order of these places accordingly so you minimise walking.

There are numerous breakfast options in the area around the city centre, especially near to the Amsterdam Centraal station. For example, Omelegg, PrinsHeerlijk and Pancakes Amsterdam, or Lobby Nesplein and Lanskroon Bakery nearer to Dam Square, all of which were decent options that I tried.

Our Lord in the Attic Museum (Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder)

This is a restored 17th century house in the Red Light District that houses a secret Catholic church in its attic. It was set up by a wealthy Catholic merchant during the Protestant Reformation in the Netherlands. It was so called ‘secret’ because during that period, Catholicism was banned and Catholics were forbidden to hold public worship.

Therefore, the museum it is today not only provides an insight into how the houses of the 17th century looked like, but also a look at the secret Catholic church. The experience involves the climbing of steep and narrow stairs, leading to the hidden church at the top floor.

Opened as a museum since 1888, the museum is in fact the second oldest museum in Amsterdam after Rijksmuseum. A visit generally takes only around 1-2 hours.

This was the first attraction that I visited during my first trip to Amsterdam, and I definitely enjoyed my visit. The only unfortunate thing though, was that the church in the attic was undergoing restoration at that time and I didn’t manage to see it in its full glory. The price may be slightly steep, though if you have the I Amsterdam City Card, this should be of no issue.

Old Church (Oude Kerk)

Old Church is not only Amsterdam’s oldest parish church but also its oldest building. It surprises many visitors when they see a church located right in the middle of the Red Light District. The reason is just by circumstances – the church used to be adjacent to an old port where sailors would arrive and frequently visit, which then subsequently led to the development of prostitution in the area. This probably demonstrates the liberal Dutch approach, allowing the coexistence of the church with prostitution in the same area.

A visit to the church today will allow you to view its interior – the stained glass, vaulted wooden ceilings, the pipe organs as well as the numerous graves and tombstones. At the same time, it is also a place of modern and contemporary art with a number of permanent and temporary displays.

If you have the I Amsterdam City Card, pop in to have a quick look. For an additional €7.50 from end April to end October, you can also visit the Oudekerkstoren (Old Church Tower) on a guided tour.

New Market (Nieuwmarkt)

Even though the name suggests otherwise, Nieuwmarkt has been a centre of commerce since the 17th century. Come here for a daily market where you can find fresh produce and flowers, together with an organic farmer’s market on Saturdays.

This square was in fact built by filling in the canals – which you can definitely see clearly when looking at the map of Amsterdam!

Also surrounding the area is a number of cafes, restaurants and shops.

The Exchange Passage (De Beurspassage)

After that, head westwards back to the central area and to the street of Damrak. Arrive at a 50m (165ft) beautiful shopping arcade with an incredible ceiling painting as well as chandeliers made out of bicycle parts! The overhead painting pays homage to Amsterdam’s maritime history using themes of aquatic life, while the chandeliers, as you can already guess, pays tribute to the cycling culture of the city.

Dam Square (De Dam)

Once a 13th century dam on the Amstel River, this place has now transformed into a bustling city centre, and the heart of Amsterdam. The square is now surrounded by numerous historical landmarks, tourist attractions, shops, restaurants and is also commonly used as a meeting point for people. This is also a perfect opportunity to have some lunch in one of the nearby streets.

The square is also very commonly used for street performances, events and national celebrations. Stand in the square and enjoy the atmosphere while you decide on which attractions to visit.

National Monument

The National Monument is a 22m (75ft) stone pillar commemorating the victims of WWII as well as subsequent conflicts.

Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam)

Dominating the views from Dam Square is the Royal Palace Amsterdam, a 17th century Baroque building used for royal functions, and is open to visitors. It was originally built as a town hall before it was converted to a palace. The palace today boasts some lavish interiors as well as paintings by Rembrandt’s pupils.

In case you wish to visit the palace, make sure to check the calendar for its opening days. Each visit generally takes around an hour and is unfortunately not covered by the I Amsterdam City Card.

New Church (Nieuwe Kerk)

As the name suggests, the church was originally built in the 15th century when Oude Kerk became too small for an increasingly growing population. However, the building today functions more as an exhibition and event centre rather than as a church. In fact, it is famous for hosting some of the world’s high-profile exhibitions and ceremonies. Particularly, the Dutch royals make use of the venue for ceremonies such as royal weddings and coronations.

A visit to Nieuwe Kerk allows visitors to view its temporary exhibits, the grand pipe organ, stained glasses, as well as the tombs of several naval officers.

It generally takes around 1-2 hours to fully visit Nieuwe Kerk, costs €20 and is covered by the I Amsterdam City Card. Pre-booking is not necessary although highly recommended.

Mint Tower (Munttorren)

From Dam Square, you can head further south along Kalverstraat where you can do some bits of high street shopping along the way. If you are hungry, maybe you can stop by the (highly touristy and expensive) Van Wonderen Stroopwafels, though they normally have a very long queue.

Just shortly after Van Wonderen Stroopwafels, you will finally arrive at Munttorren. Originally built in the 15th century as part of the medieval city gate, it was subsequently rebuilt in the 17th century following a fire. As a result, the tower features a blend of 15th and 17th century architecture. It is so-called the ‘Mint Tower’ because this was where coins were minted during its early days.

It features a spire, 4 clock faces as well as a carillon of 38 bells that chime every 15 minutes.

Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)

This is the world’s only floating flower market and is located along the Singel canal. Especially in spring, the market sells very vibrant-coloured flowers including tulips, as well as seeds and bulbs of several different flowers. Even if you are not intending to buy any flowers, bulbs or seeds, a walk along the Bloemenmarkt is really pretty and pleasant.

Some visitors think that this is more a tourist attraction than a flower market, but that shouldn’t discourage you from having a look.

Rembrandtplein (optional)

Walking eastwards from Bloemenmarkt will bring you to Rembrandtplein, where you can find a statue of the artist. However, the area around this public square is more well known for its nightlife. If you’d like for some evening entertainment, make sure to return for the bars and clubs here at night.

Skinny Bridge (Magere Brug) (optional)

If you took an open boat canal tour around the Canal Belt area on Day 1, then you are likely to have seen this bridge from the waters. Located just a short walk from Rembrandtplein, you can get to see the bridge from land this time.

Originally built in the 17th century, it features a white-painted wooden drawbridge. Although it was rebuilt in 1934, the bridge retains the 17th century design but wider.

At night, the bridge is illuminated by thousands of lights and is hugely popular among lovers/couples.

Red Light District

Then, head back to the Binnenstad district for dinner. You might want to consider some options mentioned above or in the Netherlands Travel Guide: Planning for a Unique Visit.

After that, make sure to head back to the de Wallen / Red Light District for an eye-opening walk around. I found the walk in the area to be really interesting and nothing like I had ever seen.

In essence, women (and even men) rent a window space along the street. And with the approach of an interested customer, a curtain is drawn and a deal is done. Unlike the red light district of other countries, I found the one in Amsterdam to be perfectly safe due to high tourist crowds and police presence. Take note though, that taking pictures of the workers in windows are strictly forbidden.

In addition to the window prostitution, there are also numerous different sex theatres, adult-themed museums and shops dotted around. Understandably, none of the tourist cards will apply here, and don’t go around asking for student prices like one of my friends did!

Whether or not you want to participate in these shows or visit these museums is entirely up to you. But if you do, go with an open mind and the entire experience will be quite eye-opening. Don’t worry, they are for watching only and nobody will get physical with you. Just make sure that you are in the required age group!

I’d advise not to linger around too late into the night – while it remains safe, there may be some rowdiness from the drinking and coffee shop visits.

Before heading to Zaanse Schans from the Amsterdam Centraal station, have breakfast around the area with a few options nearby such as Omelegg, PrinsHeerlijk and Pancakes Amsterdam.

Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans is an open-air museum featuring an industrial theme of the 18th and 19th centuries. Expect to see a number of historic and functioning windmills, so is a perfect opportunity to see how they work. There is a range of mills open for visitors, including a sawmill, a paint mill as well as an oil mill. In addition, there is a wooden clog workshop and demonstration, a cheese shop, a spice shop as well as souvenir shops and museums in traditional wooden houses.

All of these create an atmospheric and picturesque glimpse into the industrial era of the past. A typical visit generally takes you half a day (around 4 hours).

Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience

Nearest to the bus stop is the Zaans Museum and likely to be your first point of contact when arriving by bus. Here, you can find a cafe and a visitor information centre, but the main thing here is the Zaans Museum and Verkade Experience.

At the Zaans Museum, you can understand more about the industrial history and art of the Zaan region. Then at the Verkade Experience, step into a 20th century chocolate and biscuit factory to see the original and functioning machinery of the process. If you are lucky like we were in my first visit, you may also get to sample the biscuits!

Wooden Clog workshop

The wooden clog workshop is free for all to enter, so make sure to visit it. Here, you can see a display of the evolution of the clogs and the highlight of it all is the live demonstration of the making of a wooden clog. However, the demonstration tends to happen only when tour groups arrive. So you may have to wait around when you are there. I have been there for 4 times now and I never had to wait too long for a demonstration to happen. It is a very interesting demonstration of how they carve and produce a clog so its sure worth watching.

Weaver’s House

This is a reconstructed living quarters where you can see live demonstrations of cloth-weaving. Unfortunately I have never got to see this despite being there 3 times since its opening.

Tiemstra’s Coopery

Here, you can watch live demonstrations on the traditional craft of barrel-making featuring the original tools used. However again, the Tiemstra’s Coopery is often closed especially during the low seasons and I haven’t been able to visit it either.

Cheese Tasting and shop

If you love cheese, then this is one you shouldn’t miss. Because I’ve never sampled so many different types of cheese at a single place as this. There are so many that you are also spoilt for choice as to which to buy! The shop is often extremely busy though, and yes, one of the reasons is because it is free to enter.

And in case you are lucky enough, you might be able to watch a cheese-making demonstration. Sadly I haven’t been lucky enough, because other than my first visit in September 2010 when they briefly explained the process to us (without any demonstration), the staff were all too busy with the crowd during my subsequent visits to even answer any questions.

The windmills

There are a few windmills that are open to visitors at Zaanse Schans, but they are almost never all open on the same day. Also, the standard Zaanse Schans ticket and the I Amsterdam City Card only allow you to visit up to 2 of them. The main mills are (from nearest to furthest) De Kat the paint mill, De Zoeker the oil mill as well as Het Jonge Schaap the saw mill. All 3 mills are quite different and described below.

De Kat the paint mill: This windmill grinds raw materials such as chalk to produce the pigments used for paint. It is the only of such windmill in the world.

De Zoeker the oil mill: This windmill presses seeds and peanuts to produce oil, and again is only of such in the world.

Het Jonge Schaap the saw mill: This windmill uses the wind to saw timber. It is fascinating to see how it saws quicker as the winds get stronger, and slower as the wind slows. Also, you get a very interesting silent video on how the saw mill was rebuilt to what it looks currently.

De Huisman: This currently houses a spice shop that is free to enter.

Boat cruise (Windmill hopper)

Located at the square next to the spice shop De Huisman is the jetty where the Windmill Hopper cruise departs. This is a 25-minute cruise along the canals to allow you a good view and commentary of the windmills. The open boat is only able to take 12 people at a time though, so I’d recommend you to make a booking prior to your visit to avoid disappointment.

To illustrate this, even though I’ve done four trips to Zaanse Schans, I have never once managed to go on this cruise. That is because we’ve either had bad weather cancellations, trips were fully booked, or that they were closed that day.

Each trip costs €12.50 per person and departs every half hour on days that they operate.

Zaan Time Museum

This museum is located at the westernmost end of Zaanse Schans and features a collection of Dutch timepieces over the last 500 years. Particularly, it also features one of the earliest world clock, telling the local time from 17 different locations around the world.

Yet again, another one I have never got to visit.

Lunch

In case you are hungry and need to have lunch, you can either head to Restaurant De Kraai for pancakes at 10% discount with your ticket, or to the Zaans Museum cafe.

After that, if you have completed your tour of Zaanse Schans, you can head to the town of Zaandam for the afternoon. You can do so either by bus service 801 (12 minutes) or by train (15 minutes walk to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station, followed by 6-minute train to Zaandam station)

Zaandam

Inntel Hotel

One of the first things you’d see after arriving at the Zaandam train station is the iconic Inntel Hotel. Designed by architect Wilfried van Winden, the hotel features a stunning facade that looks like numerous traditional Zaan-style wooden houses stacked one on top of another. This has to be without a doubt, the most photographed building in Zaandam.

While you admire the architecture of Inntel Hotel, don’t forget to also enjoy the Zaan-style houses all around.

And if you fancy it, you can even consider a stay at the hotel but be prepared to see cameras constantly pointing at your window!

Gedempte Gracht

Once you’ve gotten your perfect Instagram photo of the Inntel Hotel, head on down along Gedempte Gracht, a canal with shops lined on both sides. You can take a nice stroll along the canal while browsing the shops.

Monet Atelier (optional)

Once you reach the other end of the canal, you will be near the Monet Atelier. This is an exhibition of Claude Monet’s works located near where he lived in Zaandam in 1871. Specifically, these are the 25 reproduced works of Monet’s paintings done during his 4-month stay in Zaandam.

Opening hours of the museum change by the seasons, so make sure to check its website if you are interested for a visit. Take note though, that entry is not covered by the I Amsterdam City Card.

Dam Square (De Dam)

Not to be confused with Dam Square of Amsterdam, the Dam Square of Zaandam is a much smaller area best known for restaurants and nightlife in the town. In the middle of the square stands the statue of Czar Peter the Great, commemorating the former emperor of Russia’s stay in Zaandam while studying Dutch shipbuilding.

Czar Peter House

Continuing on about Czar Peter, you can also visit the house he lived in during his stay in Zaandam in 1697. This wooden house built in 1632 is in fact one of the oldest wooden houses in the Netherlands.

Because the wooden structure has warped significantly with age, a stone shell structure was built around it to give it additional protection.

Entry to the house is covered by the I Amsterdam City Card and it generally takes less than an hour to tour the small and humble house. Check its website for opening days and hours.

Once again, tough luck for me that it was closed on the day I was there.

If you have more time, definitely explore more of the town, such as the east side of the Zaan River. For example, Oostzijderkerk (East Side Church) and Sint-Bonifatiuskerk (Saint Boniface Church) are two churches just across from the Zaan River.

Finally, you can head back to Dam Square for some dinner and drinks, or at Het Zaanse Pannenkoeken for some light Dutch pancakes, before returning to Amsterdam.

You can head back to Amsterdam on a quick 12-minute train ride.

Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest and most famous gardens mainly because of its incredible tulips displays in spring. Indeed, there are over 7 million bulbs of 800 different tulip species planted in the garden each year. And even though it is open only for an 2 month period each year from mid March to mid May, the gardens attract more than a million visitors each spring.

The Keukenhof Tulip Gardens will be open in 2027 from March 18 to May 9.

Keukenhof Tulip Gardens

The gardens measures a total of 32 hectares and has over 15 km (9 miles) of walking paths to view all the different blooms of spring. During your visit, you not only get to see the millions of tulips, but also daffodils, hyacinths as well as some cherry blossoms!

Besides wandering around and exploring the garden, you can also take part in the following activities.

Pavilion flower shows

There are a total of 6 pavilions that house various flower shows in the gardens. Whether you wish to find some shade from the sun, enjoy some flower displays, or view some special flowers, these pavilions are where you can go to.

Especially so if you visit the gardens in mid March when the tulips are not yet in full bloom, the pavilions were where we got the best of the tulip displays. During my visit in late March of 2023, cold weather of the winter persisted and tulips in the gardens were still sparse. In the pavilions however, temperatures were regulated such that the tulips were able to bloom well.

We also got to see some very special blue and pink orchids!

Keukenhofmolen 

The Keukenhofmolen is a historic windmill that is currently no longer functional. However, climbing the windmill allows you to get an elevated view of the nearby tulip fields.

Whisper boat ride

From the windmill, you can also decide to take a 45-minute boat ride among the tulip fields for an additional cost. The name is so called because of how silent the boat operates.

Tickets to this ride can sell out really quickly, so you should preferably make your booking online whenever they are released on the Keukenhof website.

Lunch or picnic

Generally, it might take you between 3 to 6 hours to visit Keukenhof Gardens. So you may be in need of a place for lunch. You can head to Wilhelmina Pavilion for a light meal of sandwiches and soups where you can have a nice sit-down meal. Otherwise, you can also bring your own food into the gardens and have a picnic in the sun.

Cycling around the tulip fields

Even after you are done with the Keukenhof Gardens, don’t just head straight for the shuttle bus back to Amsterdam. There is a bicycle rental shop right at the entrance of Keukenhof so you can get a bicycle to cycle around the area.

While you are allowed to cycle around the fields, you should not enter the tulip fields. These fields are private property and walking into commercial tulip fields can damage bulbs, spread disease and create financial losses to the farmers. Always ask for permission if you see a farmer, or do not enter at all.

Return to Amsterdam

From my experience, there is normally a long line of people waiting for the bus shuttles back to Amsterdam, so you may potentially not get on the next immediate bus. Also, make sure you are catching the correct bus heading to the correct location you are going to.

Final day – Return

Until your transport to the airport or your train to other parts of the Netherlands, you can further explore Binnenstad area, or get some last minute souvenir.

If you have an extra day for your Amsterdam itinerary

On the whole, this 4-day Amsterdam itinerary (or 5-day in Spring) has pretty much covered the essential places for a first-timer’s visit. But below are some suggestions on how you can plan for longer stays.

Other attractions in Amsterdam

If you have extra days to spare, why not cover some of the less visited attractions in Amsterdam? Especially if you have the I Amsterdam City card.

You can cover a few more of the museum options listed above, or add on from the list of Moco Museum, the NEMO Science Museum, the Tulip Museum, National Holocaust Museum, Eye Filmmuseum – all of which are covered under the I Amsterdam City card.

Maybe you can also head east to the De Gooyer windmill, the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands at 26.6 metres (87ft). You can’t enter the windmill, but you can visit the IJ brewery next to it.

Day Tours to other Dutch cities

If you’d like to capture the essence of the other Dutch cities such as Rotterdam or Den Haag (The Hague), but wish to do it all within a day, the best way to do it is via a day tour. That was exactly what I did during my first trip to the country and I remember it to be a pretty comprehensive tour. But that had been 16 years ago and I’m sure even the same tour would have been modified in some way. Below are a couple of options* you could consider though.

Or if you prefer not to travel too far away from Amsterdam, you can certainly consider Haarlem or Volendam on self-guided trips.

Dutch countryside

If you enjoy exploring a small scenic Dutch town, you can definitely consider a day trip to Giethoorn. The availability widget below is for the exact same tour that I took, which included a canal boat tour, an option for a discounted lunch, and of course, free time to explore the town. You can see a Dutch town in (almost) its original and authentic state with much less people than you see in the cities.

If you have less days for your Amsterdam itinerary

I do not recommend it if you are a first-time visitor, but if you are really hard for time in Amsterdam, or if you wish to only do a weekend getaway, then you can try to pack your itinerary based on the following:

3 days

1 – Follow Day 1 of this Amsterdam itinerary accordingly (9 Streets, Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, Canal cruise, Jordaan)

2 – Pick a museum (probably Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum), then explore Binnenstad (Bloemenmarkt, Munttorren, Dam Square)

3 – Zaanse Schans, continue exploration of Binnenstad (Our Lord in the Attic Museum, Oude Kerk, Nieuwemarkt), then Red Light District at night

2 days

1 – Follow Day 1 of this Amsterdam itinerary accordingly (9 Streets, Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, Canal cruise, Jordaan)

2 – Rijksmuseum (or Zaanse Schans if you are not a museum fan like me), then explore Binnenstad, followed by the Red Light district at night

1 day

This will be an extremely packed day but with some careful planning and time management, you can do the following. There will not be time for leisure exploration of the picturesque city. And you will need to book your tickets to Anne Frank House as soon as they are released in order to secure an entry time that works.

The plan – Anne Frank House, followed by canal cruise in the morning. Then a Rijksmuseum quick visit before walking the Binnenstad district in the afternoon from Dam Square to Our Lord in the Attic Museum. Finally end off the day at the Red Light District after dinner.

What I did

Altogether, I have visited Amsterdam 4 times, of which 3 were during the spring. Other than the art museums (which I’ve declared that I’m not a fan of and for which you may very well be), this 4-day Amsterdam itinerary very well reflects the essence of what I have covered during those trips.

September 2010 (4 days)

1: Explored the Binnenstad district, including a visit to Our Lord in the Attic Museum, before walking to Dam Square, Munttorren, Bloemenmarkt.

2: Cycled around Rijksmuseum, Vondelpark, Amsterdam-Noord. Then visit to Anne Frank House and Canal belt area.

3: Zaanse Schans, Nieuwemarkt, Magere Brug

4: Day tour to Alsmeer, Rotterdam, Delft and Den Haag

Since our hotel was at the border of the red light district, we literally visited the area every night.

May 2018 (3 days)

1: Exactly as per Day 1 of this 4-day Amsterdam Itinerary

2: Zaanse Schans, then exploring the city and red light district at night

3: Keukenhof, then exploring the city

This itinerary was on a much slower pace, choosing more aimless walking and exploration of the city than covering attractions.

April 2019 (3 days)

1: Heineken Experience Rock the City combination (which includes a closed canal cruise to the A’Dam Lookout and tickets to its observation deck)

2: Keukenhof, then exploring Binnenstad including Dam Square

3: Zaanse Schans followed by evening departure

March 2023 (3 days)

1: Exactly as per Day 1 of this 4-day Amsterdam Itinerary

2: Zaanse Schans and Albert Cuyp Market

3: Keukenhof and Red light district

This trip was done together with my parents and sister, so was adjusted to a much slower pace.

Whichever itinerary or options you choose, I am sure you will have an eye-opening and unique experience with the culture and beauty of Amsterdam.

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