Weekend in Amsterdam - The Greatest Hits

Our Local Expert Says:

The most extensive collection of Dutch artists in Amsterdam.

Description:

Architect Petrus Josephus Hubertus Cuypers (1827-1921), the grandfather of modern Dutch architecture, designed the brick museum in a monumental Dutch neo-Renaissance, gabled style. Cuypers, a Catholic, slipped in more than a dab of neo-Gothic, too, causing the country's thoroughly Protestant King William III to scorn "that cathedral." The building opened in 1885 to a less-than-enthusiastic public reception. Since then, much has been added to the building and the collection.

The Rijksmuseum contains the world's largest collection of paintings by the Dutch masters, including the most famous of all, a single work that all but defines the Golden Age. The painting is Rembrandt's The Shooting Company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch, 1642, better known as The Night Watch. The scene it so dramatically depicts is surely alien to most of the people who flock to see it: gaily uniformed, but not exactly warrior-looking militiamen checking their weapons and accoutrements before moving out on patrol. Captain Cocq (once described as the stupidest man in the city, whose house on Singelgracht still stands), Lieutenant van Ruytenburch, the troopers, and observers (including Rembrandt himself) gaze down at us along the corridor of time, and we're left wondering what's going on underneath the paint, inside their minds. One sentiment might be irritation with this upstart artist, who painted some of their faces in profile or partly hidden, yet charged the full-face fee per man -- the militiamen hated the artistic freedom Rembrandt had exercised on their group portrait. In 1975, this masterpiece was restored after having been attacked and slashed.

Van Ruisdael, van Heemskerck, Frans Hals, Paulus Potter, Jan Steen, Vermeer, de Hooch, Terborch, and Gerard Dou are other artists represented at the Rijksmuseum. The range is impressive -- individual portraits, guild paintings, landscapes, seascapes, domestic scenes, medieval religious subjects, allegories, and the incredible (and nearly photographic) Dutch still lifes. In addition, the museum exhibits fine pieces of antique Delftware and silver.

Two rare furnished 17th-century dollhouses should be a highlight for children, by bringing the Dutch Golden Age to life for them in a way no amount of "real" stuff could. The dollhouses' former owners commissioned craftsmen to copy objects and ornaments, and the contents are exactly as they were in those days, only in miniature. Tiny seashells occupy a display cabinet. The tapestry room walls are covered with silk, the ceiling and mantelpiece are painstakingly painted, and Italian marble paves the hall floor. Silver spoons rest on the dining table and the family initials are embroidered on the napkins. Look carefully, and you'll even see pins stuck in pincushions.

In the Rijksmuseum Garden, breathe scented air and view interesting sculptural elements and other fragments from old buildings.

The Rijksmuseum also has a small gallery at Schiphol Airport.

Description:

Host to the world's largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh's artwork, this in one museum you cannot miss. Year round, you can view the permanent collection of his work, plus special exhibitions on display. On Friday evenings, stop by and enjoy some art, music and drinks. The museum also offers lectures on a collection or current exhibition every Sunday, except in July and August. Admission is €14 for adults and free for ages 17 and under. The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00 daily and on Friday until 22:00.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

Our Local Expert Says:

Best Market

Description:

While the Netherland's largest outdoor market (rumored to be the largest outdoor daily market in Europe) is an important tourist attraction, it is still predominately a Dutch experience. Locals mob this street daily, sifting through cheap clothing, fresh foods, toiletries, and electronics while traditional herring and cheese vendors loudly advertise their wares in Amsterdam's native tongue. Here, visitors to the city can immerse themselves in the authentic Amsterdam experience while buying souvenirs at half the price of those found in the tourist shops of the City Centre. The market is located in the famous de Pijp neighborhood, Amsterdam's Quartier Latin. While many visitors may want to combine a stop at this market with a visit to the nearby Heineken Experience, the savvy traveler won't want to forget the bustling and diverse dining and nightlife scene found here as well.

The Albert Cuypmarkt is named after the street on which it is located which is, in turn, named after a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Amsterdam's longest-running market was first officially organized in 1904 as a Saturday evening event. Now it runs Monday through Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and hosts over 300 stalls.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best meal under 10 euros.

Description:

Situated in a lofty and spacious former church, Bazar captures the atmosphere of a North-African market place with its décor and fusion of foods from Arabic countries. Located along the city's largest outdoor market, which is also a popular nightlife area, you will find couples as well as rowdy groups of friends starting their night out here. While the service is average for the Netherlands, the inexpensive and varied menu of delicious foods more than makes up for it.

Description:

Heineken is truly an international brand, easily recognizable by the green bottle, golden hue and great taste. At The Heineken Experience, explore Heineken's history and use all five senses to experience how the company makes its beer. Tours are self-guided. The Experience is open daily from 11:00 to 19:30. In June, July and August, the museum is open from 10:30 to 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Adults cost €17.00, children ages 8 to 15 €13.00. For those that are of drinking age, the admission includes the cost of two beers.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

Our Local Expert Says:

The Leidseplein is full of nightclubs of varying degrees of quality, but the three main venues worth checking out are Paradiso, Melkweg and Sugar Factory

Description:

Amsterdam's main nightlife area is undoubtedly the Leidseplein. Full of cafes and bars with outdoor seating and heated umbrellas, this is a great place to sit down for a drink and watch the city go by, both by day and by night. In Leidseplein you will also find the very large Bull Dog Coffeeshop; the building it's located in was once the police headquarters. On the streets leading away from the square you can find many bars with live music in the evenings, as well as small Italian restaurants that specialize in 5 euro pizzas; the food is good, fast and cheap.

Description:

Originally founded in 1968 as a creative outlet, Paradiso is now a concert venue, club and cultural center. Paradiso caters to a diverse audience, hosting musical shows, such as country, pop, rock, and punk genres, as well as non-musical events, like poetry festivals and modern dance performances. Musicians such as Al Green, White Stripes and Lady Gaga performed in the main hall, while Franz Ferdinand made their start on Paradiso's small stage. Word of advice: buy your tickets in advance.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

Description:

Experience the life of world-renowned artist Rembrandt van Rijn by visiting his home and studio. See where he lived, gathered inspiration, produced his work and taught pupils. From paintings and drawings to etchings and copper plates, the museum owns almost all of his work and rotates the displays. Demonstrations of paint preparation and etchings, as well as children's activities, are offered daily. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00, charging €10 for adults and €3 for children ages 6 to 17. Tours are available upon request.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert

Description:

The Bloemenmarkt, or Flower Market, is one of Amsterdam's most famous attractions. In the summer, the market is full of bouquets of the country's tulips, but beautiful flower arrangements of other varieties can be found year-long. It is here that you can also buy bulbs for all sorts of varieties of unique tulips, including certified bulbs that can be exported. But aside from flowers, the flower market is lined with souvenir shops containing every typical souvenir from Holland you can imagine.

Our Local Expert Says:

The most impressive building in Dam Square is the Royal Palace, but don’t expect to see the Queen; she lives in The Hague

Description:

Located in the heart of Amsterdam, from here you are waking distance to many of the city's attractions. You can grab a bite to eat at one of the many fast food joints around, and watch the various street performers put on a show. Otherwise, you can sit on the large white phallic World Ward II monument and people watch in this busy square; stay long enough and you're sure to see something bizarre. In the square you can find a few reasonably priced souvenir shops, as well as the official Amsterdam tourist bureau.

Description:

In summer, you may have to wait an hour or more to get in, but you shouldn't miss seeing and experiencing this house. It's a typical Amsterdam canal house, with very steep interior stairs where eight people from three separate families lived together in silence for more than 2 years during World War II. The hiding place Otto Frank found for his family, the van Pels family, and Fritz Pfeffer kept them safe until, tragically, close to the end of the war, when it was raided by Nazi forces and its occupants were deported to concentration camps. It was in this house that Anne, whose ambition was to be a writer, kept her famous diary as a way to deal with both the boredom and her youthful array of thoughts, which had as much to do with personal relationships as with the war and the Nazi terror raging outside. Visiting the rooms in which she hid is a moving and eerily real experience.

During the war, the building was an office and warehouse, and its rooms are still as bare as they were when Anne's father returned, the only survivor of the eight onderduikers (divers, or hiders). Nothing has been changed, except that protective Plexiglas panels now protect the wall on which Anne pinned up photos of her favorite actress, Deanna Durbin, and of the little English princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. As you tour the small building, it's easy to imagine Anne's experience growing up in this place, awakening as a young woman, and writing down her secret thoughts.

To avoid lines, get there as early as possible -- and while this advice isn't as useful as it used to be, because everybody is giving and heeding it, it should still save you some waiting time. A better, strategy if you're in town from mid-March to mid-September, when the museum is open until 9pm, is to go in the evening; it's usually quiet then. Next door, at no. 265-267, is a modern wing for temporary exhibits. A bronze sculpture of Anne stands on nearby Westermarkt.

Description:

If you're thinking freshly baked homemade pancakes, then head here. What's more inviting is the ambience in which you can feast on, at a gabled canal house. The friendly wait staff is more than eager to help you out and get you your order. The menu features items like Pancake with Cheese, Sunflower Seeds, Onions and Mushrooms and dessert items including Hot Cherry, Vanilla Ice Cream, Cherry Liqueur and Whipped Cream Pancake—could ask for more pancake options?

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.

Description:

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.

Description:

At NEMO, embrace your inner child and use all five senses to learn about science and technology in a hands-on environment, with subjects ranging from elements and energy to sports performance and space. If you need a break, head to the roof terrace, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the harbor view. NEMO is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and Mondays in June, July and August. Admission is €13.50, ages four and up. You can also host an event or bring your school group.

-Jessica E. Lipowski, Amsterdam Local Expert