Amsterdam is amazing and controversial. Some believe that tourists here at every turn are waiting for debauchery, half-dressed female bodies in the legendary windows, and clouds of fragrant narcotic smoke. But in fact, it is an atmospheric European city with picturesque streets, tulip fields, idyllic canals and, of course, the legendary Van Gogh paintings. Entertainment lovers will certainly not pass by the Leidseplein. Romantic admirers and admirers of flowers – the beautiful market and the Keukenhof park. And, of course, connoisseurs of the traditional excursion will not stand aside. The Museum Quarter with its numerous expositions and exhibitions is the ideal place to satisfy your curiosity. We will tell you about the main attractions of Amsterdam, where to go and what to see.

Kekenhof

Holland is famous all over the world for its ability to grow vegetables and flowers, produce elite seeds. The most famous flowers here are tulips, a kind of symbol, a visiting card of Holland and Amsterdam. Keukenhof – flower park – is 38 hectares of incredible flower beauty and amazingly designed artificial landscapes. Those who come here for the first time fall into an emotional stupor from the huge number and enchanting variety of flowers. What kind of tulips you will not see here: from miniature to huge in size, the most fantastic colors and tones.

The entire territory of the amazing park is an original flower arrangements of various shapes and colors that fit well between the trees and ponds. Lilac, pink, bright yellow, scarlet, purple tulip fields of various configurations create a truly fabulous spectacle. Flowerbeds and lawns in the form of stars, ovals, circles, rectangular stripes amaze with fantastic beauty. It is doubly pleasant to realize that this flower fairy tale was created by the imagination and hands of florists-designers.

The sculptors did a good job here as well – among the floral arrangements there are funny animal figurines in unexpectedly interesting interpretations. The park hosts international tulip season exhibitions every year, when the main flower panorama is prepared every year by different countries in turn. Russia also takes part in them under the slogan “Russian Season” and adequately demonstrates the high art of floristry and floriculture.

A ticket to the Keukenhof park costs 14 Є. You can buy it on the park website or on the bus that takes tourists to Keukenhof.

Amsterdam City Card for 24, 48, 72 or 96 hours – from 60 €
Public transport ticket – from 7.50 €
Holland Pass: Amsterdam and Holland – 40 €
Public transport and Hop-off boat ticket (24 hours) – €32.50

Leidseplein

Leiden Square (Ledseplein) is a recognized center of evening and night entertainment. It (the square) is located in one of the busiest places in Amsterdam, in the northeast of the Singelgracht canal, at the intersection of 3 streets. This area is replete with restaurants, bars, boutiques, shops, theaters, dance clubs, cafes and other places of entertainment. During the day, the square is full of people relaxing in cafes, bars, walking along the sidewalks, shops and shops.

In the evening, it is colored with hundreds of lights of various shades, turning into a continuous fireworks display. Thousands of Amsterdam residents and tourists come here to have fun in coffee shops, attend theater performances, and watch various shows.

What kind of establishments on Leiden Square attract crowds of people who, like moths to light, fill the space of Leidseplein to capacity. Very popular among young people is the Bulldoq Palace coffeeshop, which, ironically, was opened in a former police station, where thrill-seekers can smoke marijuana legal in Amsterdam, relax, drink and eat. It has its own, non-traditional menu, including, for example, hashish cakes. Inexperienced visitors should not come here, except to see the arrangement of such a specific institution (there are about 1 thousand of them in Amsterdam).

On Leidseplein there are theater box offices where you can buy tickets for any performance or concert in all theaters in the city. In one of the corners of the square is a neo-Gothic castle, which houses the Stadsschouwburq theater. His repertoire includes dramatic performances and musicals, which are eagerly attended by the audience. At the opposite end of the square there is another building that looks like a castle. It houses the “American Hotel”, known for the fact that the wedding of the famous spy Mata Hari took place there and the bohemian life was in full swing.

Not far from the hotel there is another theater called Boom Chicaro, which hosts comedy shows. The streets adjacent to the square are filled with all kinds of shops, pastry shops, bistros and other commercial establishments. They offer a wide variety of products. In the neighboring lanes there are nightclubs, casinos, rock establishments, among which is the legendary Paradiso club, where in 1995 the famous duet Rolling Stone gave a concert, tickets for which cost thousands of dollars. In the vicinity of the Leidseplein, there is the picturesque city park Vondelpark.

Van Gogh Museum

The modern building of the modern type is a tribute to the memory of a brilliant artist who received world recognition only after his death. Van Gogh lived a short life (37 years), he began painting seriously at the age of 31, and in 6 years he created as many canvases, drawings and sketches as many artists wrote in many years. An extraordinary, controversial, mysterious painter left the world more than 800 paintings, about 450 drawings and more than 1 thousand sketches. According to his biographers, the artist, in addition, generously distributed his works to tavern visitors, who for the most part could not adequately appreciate the talent of Vincent van Gogh and did not keep the drawings.

The preservation of the artistic heritage of the great genius of the brush is the merit of the widow of his younger brother Theo, and her son. It was they who contributed to the popularization of creativity, which was worthily unappreciated by society during the life of the artist. In 1926, all the artist's masterpieces were transferred to the Amsterdam City Museum, where they remained until 1973, and then transferred to the newly opened museum. All works are presented in 4 thematic sections in accordance with the periods of creativity. In addition to the works of Van Gogh, the museum's expositions include paintings by other of his outstanding contemporaries: Picasso, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Manet and others. In addition, there are personal belongings of the genius and letters addressed to his younger brother.

Ticket to the Van Gogh Museum – 20 €

Rembrandt Museum

The most interesting tourist attraction is the Rembrandt House Museum, where you can visually see not only the priceless art paintings of the great Dutchman, but also the environment where he lived for 17 years. Now it is hard to imagine that such a genius, whose paintings are considered unsurpassed masterpieces, became bankrupt, and all his property was sold at auction. Thanks to the surviving detailed inventory of the items sold at the auction, it was possible not only to collect everything, but also to completely recreate the living environment of the artist's house.

The Rembrandt House Museum was officially opened by Queen Wilhelmina on June 10, 1911. The museum was created by the collective efforts of artists and patrons who donated engravings, paintings, pieces of furniture, returning them to their original place. A special merit belongs to the honorary board member Harsten, who donated money for the purchase of the building and for the purchase of paintings. Many donated the items they had as a gift: Warburg from New York was the first to donate an early Rembrandt engraving “Saint Jerome at the Trimmed Willow”, 6 engravings were donated by Israels, 11 were donated by the Rijksmuseum from their collections. So over the course of decades, the Rembrandt House Museum acquired a modern look, identical to what it was during the lifetime of the brilliant artist.

Based on numerous exhibits, one can conclude that Rembrandt's hobbies were collecting weapons, ancient military equipment, and ancient tomes. The museum presents the master's working accessories: brushes, paints, scrapers, containers for mixing paints. It seems that the artist left them for a short time and will soon return to continue creating.

National Maritime Museum

There is nothing surprising in the fact that the Maritime Museum is located in Amsterdam, no. Where, if not here, in the capital of a sea power, should he be? The whole history of Holland is connected with the seas, ships, pirates. And the most suitable building was chosen for such a museum, built in the 17th century for the warehouse of the Dutch navy according to the project of Stalpaert.

The monumental building, outwardly resembling a majestic ship, perfectly reflects the status of Amsterdam as a powerful world port of that time. The National Maritime Museum was opened in it in 1973, becoming a significant object of the country's history and culture.

The expositions and exhibitions of the museum illustrate in detail the 500-year-old history of Dutch maritime navigation. At the pier in front of the museum building (it stands on the water) a real ship is moored, outwardly similar to the legendary sea vessel Fast Indiaman, which sank on its first voyage (1749). The museum expositions inside present ancient artifacts of navigation, models of various ships, maps, anchors, diaries, steering wheels.

Deployed special exhibitions for children, demonstrating, for example, whale hunting, work in the port. Here you can become a member of a virtual journey on a ship along with famous sailors of the past, experience pitching during a storm and take part in a naval battle.

Rijksmuseum

In a huge brick building with a peaked roof, which occupies an entire block, there is the State Art Museum – the Rijksmuseum. The massive building was designed by the architect Kuipers (1876-1885) with the expectation of an ever-increasing number of exhibits. The museum collections give a broad idea of the development of art in the Netherlands from the 15th century to the present day. The largest collection is a collection of paintings by Dutch artists, among which the pearl is the famous painting by Rembrandt, illustrating the Golden Age of the state – “Night Watch”. It is located on the 2nd floor in the “Gallery of Fame”, where hundreds of people come to look at the artistic masterpiece.

There are many paintings by other Dutch artists – Rembrandt's contemporaries: Hals, Steen, Vermeer, etc. – magnificent examples of easel art. The variety of genres is amazing: religious subjects, individual and group portraits, scenes of everyday life, seascapes, still lifes, nature in all its manifestations. In addition to paintings, sculptures made of wood, bronze and marble, jewelry, dishes and other exhibits are exhibited here.

Rijksmuseum: Skip-the-line ticket €18.50

Street red-light district

The famous Red Light District, in fact, a whole district of Amsterdam, where at every turn there are hot places such as coffee shops, porn shows, sex shops and paid sex establishments. The special color of these places attracts crowds of tourists who are eager to see with their own eyes the features of a street that is not typical for other cities. In the illuminated shop windows, naked beauties lure with their frank appearance, everything around breathes with carnal passion. During the day, these quarters are interesting with ancient buildings of medieval architecture, in which institutions are located, the opportunity to sit in cozy cafes with a cup of coffee, and ride a boat along the canals.

There have already been several attempts to close the Red Light District, but each time the decision causes a violent protest of “moths” and brothel owners. Now the municipality has bought some of the brothels and given them free use to designers who opened fashion boutiques in them.

Hermitage on the Amstel

The world-famous Hermitage of St. Petersburg has its own branch in Amsterdam, which exhibits collections that cannot fit in St. Petersburg. After the closure of such branches in London and Las Vegas, the Hermitage was opened in the capital of Holland, where a lot is connected with the Russian reformer tsar Peter I. There were also family ties between the thrones of states: King Willem II of the Netherlands was married to the daughter of Emperor Paul.

The leadership of the Amsterdam Hermitage (Director Ernst Wen) organizes temporary exhibitions of exhibits brought from the storerooms of the St. Petersburg Museum. According to the agreement, exhibits from other museums should not be shown here: 1 euro from the cost of the entrance ticket goes to the account of the Hermitage of St. Petersburg.

The Government of the Netherlands has given a high honor to the Russian museum pearl, having provided the collections with the old classical building Amstelhof (1683), the facade of which has become the longest in Amsterdam. Once it was a shelter for elderly women, but later it lost its purpose due to inconsistency with modern requirements. In 2009, the Amstelhof was restored by 3 architectural bureaus, which renovated the interiors, the facade and the area around the building, turning it into a wonderful historical, architectural and museum monument at the address: Amstel, 51. To visit 1 exhibition, you need to pay 15Є.

Zoo Artist

“Nature is the teacher of art” – this is the translation of the name of the very first zoo in the city, founded in 1838 by famous zoologists of the Netherlands. From the very beginning of its existence, the management of the zoo has sought to accommodate rare species of animals and birds, among which was the quagga zebra, the last specimen of an ancient extinct species of African zebras. In addition to representatives of the fauna, the Artis has a Planetarium, Zoological and Geological Museums, which makes it not just a spectacular institution, but a real scientific and educational center.

Visitors can see here the pygmy donkey, alpaca, rare animal Vantussi, Japanese macaques. The territory has an extremely interesting thematic design of the zones: a lawn of camels, an alley of parrots, a monkey rock, a children‘s farm, an aquarium, a gallery of predators, pavilions of birds, reptiles. Inspection of the zoo – a distance journey through the planet of fauna.

Royal Palace

This is one of the 4 Palaces placed at the disposal of the current reigning Queen Beatrix, where she holds receptions and various ceremonies. The gray high-rise building was erected as a city hall in the Golden Age of Holland as a symbol of the power and greatness of the kingdom in the 17th century. Despite the external gloomy simplicity of the huge building, it is the personification of luxurious decoration and rich interior design.

An example of this is the Central Hall, on the marble floor of which 2 maps of the world are depicted with designations on the hemispheres of the places of the Dutch colonial presence. Magnificent paintings adorn the halls of the Palace, among which was the largest painting by Rembrandt “The Oath of Claudius Civilis” (the leader of the Batav tribe against Rome). Unfortunately, the canvas has not been preserved in its original form; its fragment is now in Stockholm. The impressive size of the building, which for many years was the largest administrative building in Europe, allowed him to claim the title of the 8th wonder of the world. Now the Palace is willingly visited by citizens and tourists.

Diamond Museum

This museum is a vivid evidence of the talent and hard work of the Dutch, not only experts in marine shipbuilding and the cultivation of elite plants, but also excellent craftsmen of fine diamond cutting. The famous jewelry company Koster Diamonds, which turns nondescript stones into dazzling diamonds, has given rise to the creation of the Diamond Museum. The world merit of the company is the efficient use of steam in the processing of stones, so the museum and the factory are located in the same building as a whole.

Admiring the iridescent brilliance of various diamond jewelry, listening to interesting legends and real stories about legendary stones, you can go directly to the factory workshops. Here you can get a complete picture of the process of turning diamonds into the most expensive gems in the world. Those who speak English and Dutch have the opportunity to watch a film about the history of diamonds and their cutting.

The exhibits of the museum are products of incredible beauty, real works of art made in different parts of the world. Among them is the famous diamond-encrusted tennis racket, which is given as a prize to famous tennis players. There are also copies of famous works here, for example, a silver skull of a monkey, completely studded with diamonds; painting (copy) “Starry Night” by Van Gogh, with a scattering of diamond stars. Here you can see the products of the famous jewelry houses of the world (Tiffany, Graff, Mikimoto and others).

Entrance ticket to the Diamant Museum – 7.50 €

NEMO Museum

Who has not admired the romantic image of the fictional, but such a real hero J. Verne?! Who was not amazed by the brilliant insight of the great science fiction writer, who predicted the appearance of a submarine, when there was not even a hint of it?! Anyone who is familiar with Verne's legendary book “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and is fond of scientific experiments considers it necessary to visit the NEMO Museum.

The museum is housed in an unusual building that looks like a fantastic ship. In fact, this is a science and entertainment center designed primarily for children and youth. The purpose of creating such a center is to foster interest in science and technological processes among the younger generation. Such an original project of the building was developed by the famous master of high-tech architecture Renzo Piano. In 1997, Queen Beactrice inaugurated the new Museum after 6 years of construction.

The design of the center uses analogies with the famous novel: the halls look like decks demonstrating various devices. Here the secrets of various technologies, genetics, biochemical and economic processes are revealed. Each floor of the 4-storey building has a specific theme of scientific experiments conducted in the form of shows, entertaining games, competitions and serious scientific experiments. The museum attracts thousands of children from many European countries.

Canals of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is called the Venice of the North for a reason. With the legendary city on the water, the capital of Holland is related not only by this poetic comparison, but also by numerous canals encircling the Old Town in four concentric semicircles. All this splendor is complemented by more than 1500 bridges and 90 islands. All channels are artificial. The Singel was dug first – not for the sake of beauty, but primarily in order to develop trade and “maritime” communications of the country. Not surprisingly, it quickly became the center, and in the Golden Age of Holland, it was here that the nobility settled.

Many of the buildings of that time have survived to this day – today they are the “face” of the city's architectural ensemble. Further, the city was “surrounded” by Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht – along them there are many luxurious mansions built later. A walk along the canals is something without which an excursion program in Amsterdam is simply unthinkable. Such a pleasure costs about 16-20 euros, depending on the organizing company. In order to save money, you can purchase a combo ticket, which will also include a visit to a museum. There are enough options offered by local agencies, you can always choose the right one.

4-Course Dinner Cruise €79 Evening Pizza Cruise
€39 Open Top Canal Cruise €13 Canal Cruise € 13 1.5-Hour Evening Canal Cruise €19.50

Muidersloot Castle

Holland is an amazing country where a variety of architectural masterpieces coexist on a not too large area. Not far from the city there is a beautiful medieval castle Muidersloot – majestic, mysterious and impregnable. The first mention of it refers to 1280. However, it is likely that the history of the fortress began much earlier.

In any case, the XIII century is the heyday of the castle. In those days, it was the place of collection of trade duties. By the end of the century, the owner was killed and the castle fell into disrepair. Restoration work began in the 1370s. In the Middle Ages, the castle repeatedly “passed from hand to hand”, was completed and restored. In 1895, it was transferred to the state and turned into a branch of the state museum. Today, collections of weapons and portraits remind of the affairs of bygone days.

The opening hours of the castle depend on the season. In summer, from April 1 to October 31, its doors are open from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and from 12:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. In winter, guests are accepted only on weekends, from 12-00 to 17-00. The entrance ticket costs 15.5 euros for adults, 9 euros for children aged 4 to 11 years, free of charge for children under 3 years old. You can get to the castle by buses No. 320, 322, 327 – they all depart from the Central Station.

Dam Square

Dam Square is the historical center not only of the city, but of the whole of Holland. There is nothing surprising in the fact that the life of a country located below sea level has always been associated with water. So the main square is a dam built in the 1270s and connecting the two banks of the Amstel River. Gradually, it grew, turning into a mooring place for merchant and fishing vessels. Together with them, a fish market was formed on the square, the fame of which “scattered” throughout Europe.

Over the years, the appearance of the square has changed – it reflected almost every historical event, one way or another related to Holland. Only one thing remained unchanged – the majestic harmonious appearance and the “central” status. Getting to Dam Square is not difficult – the nearest stop, which is called Dam, is just a few steps away.

Madame Tussauds museum

Madame Tussauds is one of the branches of the famous London wax museum. During his visit, you can meet face to face” with Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, as well as modern celebrities – Madonna, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and many others.

Getting to Madame Tussauds is not difficult – it is located on Dam Square, not far from a public transport stop. The exposition is open daily from 10-00 to 21.00. The ticket price is 23.5 euros. When buying online, a discount is provided – you can order a ticket on the website for 19.5 euros.

Tickets for Madame Tussauds and the Amsterdam Dungeon – 30 €
Ticket for the Heineken Experience – 18 €

Stedelijk

The City Museum, or as it is often called Stedelijk, is one of the most famous and popular in the city. Its collection contains paintings by world-famous artists – Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Marc Chagall and even Kazimir Malevich. A lot of litigation and litigation is associated with the latter, and, alas, 5 out of 34 significant paintings in 2008 were transferred to the heirs and “scattered” in private collections. The collection of the City Museum presents many works by contemporary artists in different styles – pop art, video art, povet art and others.

Until 1972, visitors could also enjoy an extensive collection of Van Gogh paintings. Later they all moved into their own building. The City Museum is located in the Museum Quarter, at Museumplein, 10. You can get to it from the center by trams No. 2, 5 or buses No. 170, 172. The exposition is open daily from 10-00 to 18-00, on Fridays – until 22-00. The entrance ticket for adults is 17.5 euros, for students – 9 euros. Children under 18 can visit the City Museum for free.

Anne Frank House Museum

To understand why the Anne Frank Museum is popular, you need to “turn the pages” of Dutch history and stop at one of the saddest, whose name is the Second World War. Anne Frank was an ordinary 13-year-old girl who, according to the German occupiers, was unlucky – she was born into a Jewish family. Only because of this, for two years, Anna, along with her loved ones, was forced to hide in a shelter in the very house where the museum named after her works today. Unfortunately, the girl never saw the end of the war – she died in the Belsen camp. The main exhibit of the museum is Anna's diary. Also on display are photographs, furniture, personal belongings, and the father's office has been completely restored.

The museum is located a 20-minute walk from the Central Station – in the historic center of Amsterdam. There is a tram stop very close, through which routes No. 13, 14, 17 pass. During the “tourist season”, from April 1 to November 1, guests are welcome here daily from 9-00 to 20-00. From November 1 to April 1, the schedule changes, from Monday to Friday the museum is open from 10-00 to 20-00, on Saturday – from 9-00 to 22-00, on Sunday – from 9-00 to 19-00. The entrance ticket for adults is 9.5 euros, for children from 10 to 17 years old – 4.5 euros. Children under the age of 10 can visit the exhibition free of charge.

Oudekerk Church

The Oudekerk is the oldest building in Amsterdam. The temple, founded in 1306, was repeatedly restored and completed, but, nevertheless, retained its Gothic-Renaissance appearance. The outer and inner decoration of the Oude Kerk is admirable and, of course, worthy of attention. Today it is impossible to say for sure whether this is true or not, but some historians claim that it was in this church that Rembrandt baptized his children, and his wife was also buried. It is located at Oudekerksplein 23, right in the middle of the Red Light District.

From the Central Station, it can be reached on foot in 10 minutes or by tram number 4, 9, 16, 24 or 25. The nearest stop is Dum Square. It is open for visiting from 10:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Saturday and from 13:00 to 17:30 on Sundays. The entrance ticket costs 10 euros. Another 7 euros will have to be paid extra for climbing the bell tower accompanied by a guide. This can be done in the summer season (April-September) on Thursday, Friday or Saturday from 13-00 to 17-00.

Weight Chamber

The Weighing Chamber is one of the oldest civil buildings in Amsterdam that have survived to this day. Built in the 15th century, at different times it served as a city gate, town hall, fire station, anatomical theater. Looking at these walls, you involuntarily turn the pages of history in your mind and remember the valiant past of Holland. In 1632, the Chamber of Weights “lit up” on one of Rembrandt's paintings – The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Tulp.

Unfortunately, in the building of the weighing chamber, located in the center, on Nieummarkt Square, these days there are public organizations and it can only be viewed from the outside. You can get here by tram number 5.

Exchange Berlage

Stock exchange Berlage is one of the most interesting buildings of the center, built at the end of the 19th century according to the project of the outstanding Dutch architect Hendrik Berlage. It became a kind of model of the Amsterdam architectural school of the 20th century. From the moment of its opening until the end of the 20th century, the Berlage exchange was the country's main stock exchange. Now a small museum has been opened inside, where you can learn about how white-collar workers worked more than a hundred years ago, and a large concert and exhibition hall where significant events take place.

In 2002, it was here that the current King of the Netherlands, Willem Alexander, and his wife, Argentine Maxima Cerruti, got married. The Berlage Stock Exchange is located at Danmark 243, a five-minute walk from Central Station. You can get to it by trams No. 4, 9, 16. The doors of the museum and cafe are open daily – from 10-00 to 18-00 (on Sundays – from 11-00).

Amsterdam Arena

The Dutch love football and know a lot about it. It is not surprising that the Amsterdam Arena, built in 1996 and which became the “home” for the country's most famous club, Ajax, almost immediately became its hallmark. Bright matches and concerts are regularly held here. At various times, Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones and other world-famous stars performed on stage. The stadium, resembling a spaceship, can accommodate more than 50,000 spectators – an excellent indicator for Europe.

The Amsterdam Arena is famous not only for its size, spectacular events and football matches, but also for its well-thought-out infrastructure. Despite the fact that the stadium is always sold out, there is no crowding at the entrances. In addition, it can be reached by any transport (the nearest metro station is Amsterdam Beilmer Arena), and parking is designed for 12,000 spaces, which virtually eliminates the “struggle” among car owners.

You can visit not only during football matches or concerts – every day, when there are no significant events, excursions are held here. The cost of the entrance ticket, which includes a walk around the stadium and a visit to the museum accompanied by a guide, is 16 euros for adults and 10 for children. True, tours are conducted only in English and Dutch.

Vondelpark

Amsterdam is still the capital, in the center of which it is easy to get tired of the hustle and bustle. You can hide from them in the Vondelpark – a “wild” corner of nature among civilization. On its territory, you can do everything or almost everything – wallow on lawns, walk dogs (under supervision, of course), run along special paths and even have sex away from playgrounds. This is a kind of “territory of freedom” for tourists and, of course, local residents who are tired of numerous museums and architectural masterpieces.

Vondelpark has its own attractions. First of all, this is a museum of cinematography and a summer stage, where in the warm season you can watch a performance or a concert right under the open sky. In addition, while walking around the territory, you can accidentally “stumble” on interesting sculptures and pavilions (including beautiful roses). For outdoor enthusiasts, there are tennis courts, skateboard and sports equipment rentals.

From the city center to the Vondelpark can be reached by tram number 1 (stop Overtoomsesluis) or number 2 (stop Corn.Schuytstraat). He works around the clock. Entrance to the territory is free. You can also visit any event on the summer stage for free.

A'DAM Lookout

A'DAM Lookout is rightfully considered the best observation deck in Amsterdam, because only from its height you can see the whole city in a 360-degree panorama, including the bustling port, the historic center and numerous canals. It is located on the 20th floor of A'DAM Toren, the most fashionable tower in Amsterdam, which is as popular as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

One floor below is the Moon, the best of the panoramic restaurants in Amsterdam, and on the twenty-first floor, the daredevils will find the unforgettable attraction Over the Edge – the highest swing in Europe, allowing visitors to view the city from a hundred meters high. You can get to the observation deck daily from 10 am to 10 pm, while the last visitors are allowed in no later than an hour before closing. The entrance ticket for adults costs 13.5 euros, for children from 4 to 12 years old – 7.5 euros.

Attraction “Amsterdam Dungeon”

The unbridled flurry of various emotions that the most terrible spectacle of Holland evokes attracts the undisguised interest of the public to it. The Amsterdam Dungeon is a show that chills the blood and deprives one of sleep for a long time, but foreigners from different parts of the world still strive to get here. What awaits tourists who descended into the “Amsterdam Dungeon”?

Perhaps nothing good and life-affirming – only medieval horrors, torture scenes, creepy rides and inherently disgusting installations. The most famous “entertainment” are “Bloody Tribunal”, “Labyrinth of Death”, “De VOC Soul Traders” and “Reaper – Journey to Hell”.

The attraction starts its work at 11 o'clock in the morning, and the last session falls on 6 o'clock in the evening. You can get into the “Amsterdam Dungeon” on any day of the week – this “hellish” show has no days off. A ticket costs from 17.5 to 24 euros.

flower market

Bloemenmarkt is the name by which the main flower market in Amsterdam is known in the Netherlands. In addition to the fact that this place is famous for the huge number of flowers for sale, the flower market has become a real city attraction. The first florists began to trade here by boat as early as the 17th century: floating along the canals along the pedestrian streets, they traded flowers, earning their living.

Until 1862, the Amsterdam flower market was located on the Sint-Lucienval canal, but after the elimination of the city moat, it was moved to a modern place – near Dam Square on the Singel Canal. Today, the flower market is a floating shops on barges plying along the waterfront. The windows display flowers grown in Holland and brought from exotic countries.

Local tulips amaze with a special variety, the bulbs of which tourists can buy at an average price of 3 to 5 euros and a dozen.

Yard Beguinage

Most tourists learn about this place by accident, and often have no idea about it at all. However, this attraction deserves no less attention than other visited places in Amsterdam. During the Middle Ages, the building of the Beguinage housed a shelter for Catholic women who preferred to lead a reclusive, almost monastic lifestyle, but did not take tonsure.

The beguinage was a closed courtyard built in the 14th century, surrounded by houses where the hermits lived and prayed. And although there are no more beguins here today, up to a hundred single women live on the territory of the Beguinage. The courtyard is interesting, first of all, for its medieval atmosphere and authentic architectural appearance. You can enter the territory through the main entrance, located on the side of Spui square on Gedempte Begijnensloot street.

The entrance is preceded by a miniature arch decorated with skillful stucco. Despite the fact that the buildings of the Beguinage were repeatedly rebuilt, one wooden house built in 1528 managed to survive in its original form. Everyone can visit the Amsterdam Beguinage absolutely free of charge from 9 am to 5 pm.

Albert Cuyp Market

The Amsterdam Cuyp Market is not one of the mass attractions, which is directly related to its remoteness from the city center. At the same time, the unique atmosphere of the medieval market that reigned in the city many centuries ago is recreated here. On the stalls of the Cuyp market, you can find goods from all over the world from Asia to Australia, and fragments of phrases of all possible languages and dialects are heard in the human polyphony.

Spices from Morocco and Turkish sweets, bright African fabrics and non-trivial European souvenirs, Arabic jewelry and Chinese electronics – this is not a complete list of goods that are full of market stalls. The Albet Cuyp market is already over a hundred years old – the official date of its foundation is considered to be 1904, but every visitor gets the impression that he has returned to the past at least several centuries ago.

In addition to shops and stalls, there are several dozen cafes and bars in the Cuyp market, there is a cheese museum and even a miniature fountain. The market is located on Albert Cuypstraat. The only day off is Sunday. On other days it is open from 9 am to 5 pm.

Church De Kruytberg

Erected in 1884, the Gothic church De Kreitberg was built according to the design of Alfred Tepe on the site of the Jesuit chapel of Jesus Christ. Its elaborately decorated façade, lancet windows decorated with stained-glass windows and colorful sculptures serve as a vivid embodiment of Gothic architecture. At the same time, masses in the church church are conducted today.

The name “Kreuterg” in literal translation means “chalk mountain”. This is explained by the fact that in the old days the house of a chalk merchant was located on the site of the church. You can find the church near the turn to the city Flower Market. The entrance to the temple is available for both believers and tourists who want to see church interiors, skillful stained-glass windows and murals, as well as a beautiful altar with their own eyes.

coin tower

The tower towering above the Mint Square in Amsterdam has been preserved since the time when the medieval city was still surrounded by a powerful fortress wall, protecting it from strangers. Located near the Flower Market at the confluence of the Amstel River and the Singel Canal, the Coin Tower borders the Kalverstraat shopping street.

According to historians, the tower and the guard and watch quarters located next to it were built at the end of the 15th century. The fire of 1618 significantly destroyed this part of the city fortification, and a couple of years later, reconstruction work was carried out in the tower. The style chosen during construction embodied the latest ideas of the Renaissance.

Today, the Coin Tower is one of the most recognizable symbols of Amsterdam and a popular tourist attraction. Travelers walking near the tower can hear the melodious play of 38 bells that ring every 15 minutes, and on Saturdays from 2 to 3 pm, local bell ringers arrange real bell concerts.

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