Amsterdam Travel Guide: Things to Do, See & Eat

Amsterdam is one of those cities that instantly makes sense the moment you arrive. The scale is human. Everything is reachable on foot or by bike. The canals reflect the gabled houses and you think: yes, this is exactly what I imagined, and somehow it’s even better.

The Rijksmuseum houses the Dutch Golden Age collection — Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and hundreds of masterworks. The Van Gogh Museum next door has the largest collection of Van Gogh’s work in the world. Book both online in advance.

The Anne Frank House is moving, crowded, and necessary. The secret annex where the Frank family hid for two years is preserved essentially as it was. Allocate 90 minutes and book the early morning slot.

Beyond the museums: rent a bike. Cycling through the Jordaan neighborhood, over the bridges, past the markets and cafés, is the best way to feel like a local. The Albert Cuyp Market on a Saturday morning is the liveliest street market in the city. A canal boat cruise in the evening — with bridges lit up and reflections doubling everything — is Amsterdam at its most cinematic.