The Best Attractions Around Centraal Station

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Amsterdam Centraal Station is your gateway to the city, as well as the rest of Europe. Not only is it positioned in the city center, but the station also serves as a transportation hub. Both tourists and locals travel through the station daily, whether visiting the city for holiday, traveling abroad or going to work. At CS, you can access the bus, tram, metro, ferry, taxi and train, easily connecting you to your destination. Snap a couple of photos of the station, too – the facade is beautiful.

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Dam Square is home to prominent historical landmarks, such as the Royal Palace, the National Monument, which honors World War II victims, and Nieuwe Kerk, the "New Church." The square is always lively, often filled with tourists, street performers, demonstrations, carnivals or other events. From the Dam, you can also hire a horse-drawn carriage to tour the city or pop by Madame Tussauds wax museum. Something is always going on.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

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This beautiful church, called the "New Church" in English, is tucked in beside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam's grand Dam square. It was founded in 1408 when the Oude Kerk ("Old Church") became too small for Amsterdam's growing population. The church was consecrated to St. Mary and St. Catherine during its Catholic years, receiving its current name only after the Protestant Alteration. After suffering extensive damage from the city's many fires, the church was rebuilt in its current Gothic style during the second half of the seventeenth century. It is no longer used as a church, but is still used by the royal family for weddings and coronations. The rest of the time it is used for organ recitals and as an exhibition space in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum. Several famous Dutch figures are buried beneath the church's floors, most notably naval hero Admiral Michiel de Ruyter and poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel. Immediately inside the doors, a set of steps leads to a free area with a view over the church and drawings of the layout of medieval Amsterdam as well as of the church tower that was supposed to have been built at the same time as the Town Hall (now the Royal Palace) but was never completed.

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Rising 22 meters (72 feet) above Dam Square, the National Monument is a symbol of remembrance for those who lost their lives in World War II. The white concrete pillar and detailed sculptures depict suffering, loyalty, resistance and liberation. Each year on the 4th of May, Remembrance Day, a ceremony and moment of silence is held to pay respect. The monument also serves as a promise to continual to strive for world peace.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

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One of the Dam's heavier features is the solid, neoclassical facade of the Royal Palace (1648-55), also known as the Paleis op de Dam (Palace on the Dam). Jacob van Campen -- the Thomas Jefferson of the Dutch Republic -- designed it as a stadhuis (town hall) to replace the decayed old Gothic one that in 1652 did everyone a favor by burning down. Van Campen intended to showcase the city's burgeoning prosperity; so its interior is replete with white Italian marble, sculptures, and painted ceilings. Poet Constantijn Huygens called it the eighth world wonder, and indeed it was among Europe's largest secular buildings at the time. It was built on a precisely tabulated foundation of 13,659 timber pilings -- a figure taught to all Dutch schoolchildren.

Not until 1808, when Napoleon Bonaparte's younger brother Louis reigned as king of the Netherlands, did it become a palace, filled with imperial furniture courtesy of the French ruler. Since the Dutch House of Orange's return to the throne in 1813, this has been the official palace of the reigning king or queen of the Netherlands. Few of them, however, have used it for more than their pied-à-terre in the capital or an occasional state celebration, such as Queen Beatrix's inauguration reception -- she prefers living at Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, but can on occasion be seen waving from the balcony here to crowds of onlookers below on the Dam.

In the Vierschaar (Court of Justice), until the 18th century, magistrates pronounced death sentences under images of Justice, Wisdom, and Mercy. Atlas holds up the globe in the high-ceilinged Burgerzaal (Citizens Chamber) and maps inlaid on the marble floor show Amsterdam as the center of the world. Ferdinand Bol's painting Moses the Lawgiver hangs in the Schepenzaal (Council Chamber), where aldermen met. On the pediment overlooking the Dam, Flemish sculptor Artus Quellin carved a stone tribute to Amsterdam's maritime preeminence; it depicts the Maid of Amsterdam and figures symbolizing the oceans paying the city homage. The weathervane on the cupola is shaped like a Dutch sailing ship. Every now and then, the 17th-century Hemony carillon tinkles out a melody.

Our Local Expert Says:

You may notice that not all the windows are red. The blue windows on Barndesteeg are windows for women who are women only from the waist up.

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Quite possibly Amsterdam's most defining feature, the Red Light District is the place to see some truly unique things. If prostitutes in windows aren't enough, you can also find an Erotic Museum, which takes you through the history of prostitution, the Hash Marijuana and Hemp Museum, which tells you all you need to know about weed, and the Banana Bar, a bar where waitresses are highly skilled in the various ways of eating a banana. If you want to learn more about prostitution in the Netherlands, visit the Prostitute Information Centre, located next to the Oude Kerk. If this doesn't excite you, the Warmoestraat, which runs along the Red Light District, is full of coffeeshops, bars, hostels and gay S&M clubs. Walking through the Red Light District today you may notice that some windows contain out of place fashion exhibitions. This is a result of the city's efforts to "clean up" the streets.

Our Local Expert Says:

Quintessential Amsterdam Experience

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The Oude Kerk, or Old Church, is Amsterdam's oldest church, dating from the1300s.  The church is conveniently located in the old city center, walking distance from Centraal Station, which used to be the site of the city's main port.  Sailors would stop in town for a night, visit the bars and prostitutes, then go to church to buy an indulgence, or "get out of hell free card", before heading back out to sea.  It was important to buy this indulgence, as such sea journeys were very dangerous and many men never made it back.  Ensuring they went to heaven in case of a tragic accident gave them peace of mind, and the Church's strategic position in the heart of the Red Light District earned it a great deal of money - everyone was happy.

These days the church is no longer active but serves as a center for art exhibitions. The famous World Press Photography exhibition starts its world-wide tour at the Oude Kerk each year in June.  During periods of no exhibitions, the impressive church is worth a visit on its own.

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Kalverstraat is a tourist site in itself. You can't imagine all of the stores lining this single street. This is certainly the destination for those looking for the usual main street fare with shops like Tie Rack and Sacha. The Kalvertoren, a covered mall located on Kalverstraat—close to the Munt—is also brimming with general commercial shops, as well as delightful little coffee shops and great places to grab a quick, rejuvenating lunch. For a truly outstanding bite to eat, hop over to Vroom and Dreesman. The store itself offers nothing remarkably unique, but the restaurant is worth the visit alone. From the Dutch chain HEMA to the enigmatically named Ron's Exclusive, these streets offer a little something for every wallet.