A Living City: Amsterdam
Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, was founded in the 12th century as a fishing village on the banks of the river Amstel.
The city, which has developed over time, is now the richest city in the Netherlands in terms of population and culture. People of many nationalities live together and freely in the city. According to the researches, racism is very low in the Netherlands, probably for this
reason, people do not hesitate to show their identities.
Amsterdam has a bicycle population as well as a human population. Since it is a flat city, most people provide transportation by bicycle. There are traffic lights for bicycles as well as for cars on the roads. It is necessary to pay particular attention to these lights when walking.
It is also very enjoyable to rent a bike and tour the city. It is possible to call Amsterdam a green city, with its parks, tree-lined roads and ramp-free streets, the city is bikefriendly.
Another way to get to know Amsterdam is to take a canal tour on the canals that cut through its stone streets.
There are exactly 165 channels in the city. You can also take a touristic boat tour on these canals, or you can rent an hourly and daily electric boat. You can take everything you need with you and spend part of your day on the canals of Amsterdam.
Places to Visit in Amsterdam
Dam Square: Amsterdam’s most famous square. Dam Square can be called the center of the city. There are many cafes and shops in the square, which also includes the Royal Palace. At the same time, the New Church and Madame Tussauds Museum are located in
Dam Square.
Van Gogh Museum: This museum, where the works of the famous painter Van Gogh are exhibited, is quite famous. It is very impressive to see the originals of the works we are familiar with and to learn about Van Gogh’s life.
In the museum; More than 200 paintings, more than 500 drawings and 700 letters from Van Gogh are on display. In the museum, the works of Van Gogh are exhibited chronologically and you can see the paintings in which the famous painter also describes his turbulent mood. For me, the Van Gogh Museum is in the first place among the museums that should definitely be visited in Amsterdam.
Rijksmuseum: The museum has been serving as the city’s most important art gallery for
800 years and has the title of “State Museum”. Built in 1876, the Rijksmuseum was opened to visitors in 1885 as ‘the largest museum in the Netherlands’.
Very important works of Dutch artists are exhibited in the museum. In this museum, you can see the originals of very famous works. The museum is located on Museumplein, right
next to Voldelpark.
Moco Museum Amsterdam: This museum is like a gateway to modern and contemporary art. The works of many artists such as Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, JR, KAWS, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, Andy Warhol are exhibited in this museum.
Tickets must be purchased from the website to enter the museum. In the museum located in Musseumplein, you can see works full of irony and humor that reflect modern society.
Anne Frank’s House: I can say that it is one of the most impressive museums I have been to. Since Anne Frank was Jewish during World War II, she escaped from the
Nazi occupation and took shelter in this house with her father and 6 other people.
Anne Frank, who was 11-12 years old at the time, spent the years 1940-1942 hiding in this
house and kept a diary throughout this period. After these two years, they were captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp.
The only survivor of these 8 people was Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank, who wrote his daughter’s diary into a book. In 1960, this house where they stayed was turned into
a museum. In this house you can see photos, diaries of Anne Frank.
Vondelpark: The largest city park in Amsterdam and the most famous city park in the Netherlands, Vondelpark. The park is green and there are ponds in it. It is not possible to visit all of the park, which is quite large.
But when you get tired of visiting the city, it is very pleasant to take something to eat and have a lunch or dinner in this park. Since it is close to the city center, it is also a perfect route to take a rest.
Flower Market: The Netherlands is a country identified with tulips. Bloemenmarket (Flower Market) has been established since 1862 and is the world’s largest floating flower market.
The currently landed market is really enjoyable to walk around, Bloemenmarket impresses
you with its colors and scents from the flowers. You can also grow plants at home by buying seeds from here. It can be a good memory to remind you of your Amsterdam visit.
Waterlooplein Flea Market: Waterlooplein is the name of a square in Amsterdam. A flea market has been held in this square since 1882. In this market, many things you can think of, from antiques, secondhand clothes, to various accessories, are sold.
It is quite enjoyable to visit this market while having a snack. In this flea market, you can find vintage products from even very famous brands for half the price.
De Negen Straatjes Neighborhood: One of the most popular shopping places in the city. You can visit special design stores in the neighborhood consisting of 9 small streets. This neighborhood, where the heart of fashion beats, is a nice route to visit Amsterdam boutiques. Local people also mostly shop from this area.
Jordaan Neighborhood: It can also be called the most famous district of Amsterdam. This neighborhood, which was in the city center where the working class and immigrants were concentrated in the 17th century, is now a frequent destination for tourists.
With its beautiful restaurants, luxurious art galleries and stylish houses, it is a place that
should definitely be visited. Since it is located in the center, you will definitely cross your path with thisneighborhood while walking on the streets of Amsterdam.
Food and Drink in Amsterdam
I have to say that the people here care about healthy living. It is possible to see cafes selling healthy fruit juices and healthy food options on every corner. Vegan options are also plentiful.
I definitely recommend you to eat pancakes in Amsterdam. There are many famous crepes and there are both savory and sweet options. It can be preferred for breakfast.
Pancakes Amsterdam is among the most preferred venues.
The only problem is that some branches only accept credit cards. Likewise, Creppes and Waffles are pretty good too. Amsterdam is a city with a lot of culture. For this reason,
there are also options for the cuisines of various countries.
The cuisine of Suriname, one of the oldest colonies of the Netherlands, is also among the cuisines you can experience in Amsterdam. Waterkant restaurant is a nice restaurant where you can experience Surinamese cuisine. It is a very famous place, so it is necessary to make a reservation in advance.
Amsterdam is a city that will really make a place in your heart with its people of different styles, friendly people and lively streets. One cannot help but dream of living here while visiting this city. The life of the people of Amsterdam in harmony with each other encompasses you.
