Last July, Richie and I planned for our first Eurotrip and the countries we chose were Netherlands and Spain. The charming country of Netherlands is famous for its Dutch windmills, world-class museums, tulips, wooden shoes, and canals to say the least. This small country is packed with many great attractions – we explored the capital city of Amsterdam for 2 days, visited the windmills of UNESCO-listed Kinderdijk and the northern Wadden island of Texel as day trips from Amsterdam for the next 2 days, and spent a night in a unique place in Amsterdam. You can certainly mix and match destinations, activities, and attractions depending on your interests and travel priorities.
Highlights of the Day
Hostelboat
Guided Walking Tour of Amsterdam
Canal Cruise
Coffeeshop
First Glance of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is every youngster’s dream destination, so we decided to start our trip with “Venice of the North”, another name for the city. We took the Emirates from Bangkok via Dubai to the capital of the Netherlands.
Officially known by the name Amsterdam Airport, Schiphol airport is of great importance in Europe – it is an international airport located 20 minutes from the city centerWe reached Schiphol airport at around 9.30 PM and yes, it was still not dark as you can see – strange sight for Asians like usMost of the hotels that are located close to the airport provide free shuttle pick-up and drop service from and to airport – we got picked up from Schiphol Airport bus stop by Ibis shuttleThe best way to beat jetlag when you reach a foreign country at night is to stay at a hotel close to airport and rest nicely until the next morning – we did the same in Hotel Ibis Schiphol Amsterdam Airport
On the Way to the City Center
Make sure you have enough coins to get the train tickets easily; the ticket machines do not accept notes.
We overslept. The morning was colder than expected. We had hardly unpacked our bags the night before, as we just came and crashed. We checked out from the hotel and got dropped to the airport by the free shuttle. Why are we again in the airport? Well, the airport connects to the train station, and trains are the cheapest and fastest way to get to the city center where we have plans to stay for the rest of our days in this city and this country.
If you find the iamsterdam photospot in the city center to be too crowded, then this is the place to get yourself clicked at – right outside the airport!This is the best restaurant we discovered in the airport – – you can select small, medium, or large sized bowls and fill it with fresh raw and cooked veggies at an economical rate
Apart from the bowl of veggies, I savored a hot bowl of the tastiest tomato soup – great brunch for the dayThere are plenty of trains connecting Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal
Hostelboat Anna Maria II
An important feature of Amsterdam is the Amstel river that flows through the city and staying on it in a houseboat is a must-have experience. Initially, houseboats were a way to deal with housing shortage in the city, but nowadays, you will find them plenty in the canals, the river, and in the docklands. You can decide to stay in a luxurious houseboat or a hostelboat with sharing options, we chose the later. We had booked 1 night in Hostelboat Anna Maria II – a cozy ship in the center of Amsterdam, followed by 3 nights in a hostel close to the Dam Square and De Wallen.
The hostelboat we booked was just 1 km distance away from Amsterdam Centraal station, so we preferred walking to the placeThe ship has 10 small but cosy cabinsThese cabins all have bunkbeds and limited free spaceThere are 3 toilets and 3 showers that are sharedThe dining space was huge where they serve free breakfast until 10 AMThe view was lovely with a backdrop of Amstel river and Centraal station at a distance
Guided Walking Tour
Walking tour is a great way to experience Amsterdam, a city which is so rich in history. Walking tours enabled us to see the sights and attractions at a relaxed and leisurely pace, while receiving important information from a trained and passionate tour guide.
Other than by boat or bike, this is an excellent way to enjoy the 400-year-old canals, merchant houses, and Golden Age architecture.
The guide took us around hidden Catholic churches, the Homomonument, the miracle of Amsterdam, the widest bridge, and the smallest house in Amsterdam, the World’s first Stock Exchange, the Begijnhof Convent, the Old Church, the New Market, Multatuli’s giant head, the Royal Palace, leaning buildings and gable stones, the Jewish Quarter, and much more!
Our guided walking tour started at Dam Square, one of the most well-known and important locations in the city and the countryThe Royal Palace, which was formerly built as the Town Hall, is still in use by the Royal Family, but partly open to visitors as wellNational Monument in the center of Dam Square is Netherland’s most important memorial to World War IIOur knowledgeable guide told us the amazing story of how this tiny settlement on the Amstel river became the cosmopolitan urban centerNetherlands allows consumption of recreational drugs, prostitution, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia as well, hence known as very liberal country – where else can you find a seedbank in the open?We walked through Chinatown area, which consists of a number of city blocks crammed with Asian markets, restaurants, and shopsOur guide told us interesting history regarding the Old Church – the city’s oldest building, located in the heart of its medieval center and surrounded by window brothels, bars, and housesOur guide taught us the scandalous side of Amsterdam’s history, with true stories we found hard to believe, while crossing past the Red Light District of Amsterdam, called De WallenWe walked to the Nieuwmarkt where farmers gather to sell their fresh produce every morningThis empty buiding standing in the middle of Nieuwmarkt neighborhood is called De Waag, and used to the former Amsterdam Museum, but now only has a cafe in front of itIf walking is not your style, you can rather choose a guided bike tour to explore around the cityMe posing simply in front of a bike while walking around the neighborhoods in AmsterdamAs we walked the pretty canals of the city we soon noticed that many of the tall, skinny, buildings are crooked – the guide explained us that all houses in Amsterdam are built on piles, drilled meters deep into the wet soil, hence they lean like thatWe came across strange yet beautiful artpieces all over the streets of the neighborhoodWe also enjoyed the tranquility of the Begijnhof, an almshouse with a famously peaceful courtyardThe Beginhof is one of the hidden treasures of Amsterdam – it is an enclosed courtyard with 2 churches and charming houses dating from the early 14th centuryThe tranquil Begijnhof in the heart of Amsterdam is like a village square in a metropolis, but it has still retained its sanctified atmosphere
CBeginhof was established as a residence for pious women who lived like nuns, although they took no monastic vows – you cannot enter the residential area, you must respect their privacy, and be quiet
Our guide also took us to the Jordaan district – the most famous neighborhood in the country, known for its beautiful bridges over the canals, nice restaurants, typical houses, and original shopsMore beautiful pictures from Jordaan neighborhood
It was little disappointing for us as we could not get to visit Anne Frank House. It is located in the Jordaan neighborhood. Getting ticket was really difficult. Also, do not miss shopping at the 9 streets area in Jordaan. 9 streets is the city’s most photogenic micro-neighborhood. It is known for its vintage and designer shopping, specialty stores, and more.
Lebanese Food and Flemish Fries
After the interesting walking tour, we decided to experience how the city looks from the canals. So we took a canal cruise. But before that, we gobbed on some real good vegan food as an early dinner at Stationsplein.
We found the best Lebanese fast food joint in Maoz Vegetarian – the signature Maoz Sandwich is to die for!Maoz Sandwich is a whole-wheat pita bread pocket (you can choose white pita bread too) filled with crispy handmade falafel balls topped with salads and saucesThe Flemish fries counter next door to Maoz vegetarian restaurant is a big hit – we picked up a medium-sized bag of them with vegan mayo
Canal Cruise
No matter whether you experience Amsterdam by feet or bike, it is compulsory to take up a canal cruise tour. Amsterdam is laced with 100 km of waterways, so this is considered to be the best way to experience the essence of the Dutch capital.
There are plenty of canal cruise operators, leaving from the place near the Centraal station called Stationsplein – we got our tickets from Lovers Canal CruiseWe got to soak up the city’s history on a fascinating audio guide while we went past grand merchant houses, gothic churches, museums, and medieval buildingsLovers’ small vessel canal cruise offers a glass-top roof that gives the best views of the most beautiful canalsIn an hour, we explored Amsterdam’s UNESCO protected canal ring and discovered plenty of interesting facts about the city along the wayWe enjpued sights of the most famous of the waterways, like the Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and PrinsengrachtWe came across the famous skinny bridge across the river Amstel, which is an Old Dutch design wooden bridge known as a double-swipe (balanced) bridgeAfter an hour of canal exploration, we were returned to Stationsplein from where we enjoyed the sunset against the backdrop of the busy city
Coffeeshop before you sleep!
For coffee in Amsterdam, do not head to a coffeeshop, but a cafe; for everything else, there is coffeeshop.
The country have decriminalized marijuana and hash since many years, still the laws on cannabis have always been shady, and it has never technically been legal. But we are glad that over-the-counter sales has been legalized and the places where you get them are called coffeeshops. Amsterdam coffeeshops are under continual scrutiny and must regularly dance with the law.
Dampkring coffeeshop is one of the best coffeeshops in the entire city, and has been around for nearly a quarter centuryWe had a great time tripping before we headed to the hostelboatWe spent some time in a sleek, contemporary casino with casual ambiance for roulette, poker, and slots
Finally, we reached the hostelboat while it started drizzling – oh yes, Dutch weather is very unpredictable – you never know when the wind from the North Sea blows in and cools the whole country down, causing the cloud to pour in as well.
Explore Netherlands in 6 Days – Day 2
On day 1, we experienced a great walking tour. We started at the center called Amsterdam Centrum, precisely at Dam Square, then went to the city center called Nieuwezijds Kolk, crossed Red Light District area called De Wallen, and ended at the west part of the center called Jordaan neighborhood. We also enjoyed 1-h canal cruise followed by visiting a coffeeshop in Stationsplein. Day 2 was more about fancy food and museum visit in Leidseplein next to Vondelpark, with a stroll by the Red light District at night.
Highlights of the Day
Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen
Meatless District
Leidseplein
Loafing Around
Changing Hostels
Our day started with a heartful breakfast in the hostelboat. Anna Maria II has a great dining space inside the boat where visitors can sit together and enjoy their breakfast.
There was a huge combination of different types of breads and spreads along with coffee and tea
We soon checked out and took a taxi to the hostel – Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen – where we had plans to stay for the next 3 nights.
Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen is known for its helpful staff who are always ready to answer all your travel queries – they have all facilities like free WiFi, laundry, locker storage, and breakfast serviceThe bunk beds in the hostel were spacious and super comfortable – we would highly recommend this place to budget travelersStayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen is in a quiet street overlooking the canal, in the heart of Amsterdam – this is the view outside our hostel
Lunch at Meatless District
It is a great idea to have a fancy meal together even when you are budget-traveling. As I am a vegan and Richie is a vegetarian, we always prefer to choose a vegan place where we both could enjoy the meal. In Amsterdam, we were excited to have a meal at Meatless District, as suggested by one of my vegan friends who had been to Amsterdam lately. It was in a walking distance of 30 min away from our hostel. The walk was interesting.
A little walk to the south from our hostel leads to the clock tower called Munttoren – it stands on the busy Muntplein square, near the flower market and the Kalverstraat shopping street.Did you know that Amsterdam is the bicycle capital of the world? They have separate pathway for bicycles all over the city!These always interest me – fresh fruits were abundantly available in Amsterdam
Meatless District used to be a vegetarian restaurant before, but it turned into a 100% vegan restaurant in 2016. You can enjoy your meal here even if you are a non-vegan – they have a wide range of plant-based menu satisfying all sorts of taste buds.
They have an open kitchen, where you can see their chefs prepare beautiful dishes, always freshly made, using organic and homemade ingredientsMeatless District serves one of the best plant-based burgers in the city, not to forget about the delicious sandwichOh yes, vegan cheese sandwich, and there are two layers of ’em – woah!The green sandwich was cold and based on avocado, strawberries, and fresh fruits – health-freaks would love itSee how happy we look after a hearty, plant-based, cruelty-free, guilt-free meal
Leidseplein
After such a lovely lunch, we headed to Leidseplein. It is a busy square at the southern end of Amsterdam’s central canal ring, almost facing the popular Vondelpark. Leidseplein was just 1.5 km away from Meatless District.
We came across many houseboats on the canals on our way to LeidsepleinThe footpaths had many beautiful open-air restaurants with canal backdropIt looked like a robot, but was a car run by batteries – cutest car ever seenLeidseplein serves as a transport hub in the city, with a number of tram lines intersecting here
If you are in Amsterdam, you cannot miss visiting one of Amsterdam’s grandest and most popular museums – Rijksmuseum. It is located right near Leidseplein.
The vast collection of Rijksmuseum showcases iconic art and a wide variety of artefacts that reflect more than 800 years of Dutch and global historyRijksmuseum has jaw dropping paintings by the great Dutch artists like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and moreThat was a huge chessboard in the complex of RijksmuseumWe were happy that we clicked our photo in front of Iamsterdam sign at the airport rather than here – this one was way too crowded
It is a great idea to stroll inside the Vondelpark after visiting Rijksmuseum. We spent a good amount of time there before we walked back to Stationsplein. It is around 2 km away.
For Heineken fans, it is a must to visit the original brewery in the city centre that offers a sensational interactive tour revealing the secret about the taste of the world’s best beers including Heineken
On the Way Back to Hostel
We had a long day exploring the city on our own. We basically used no public transport but walked all around, so got a bit tired. Before you crashed on to the bed of our hostels, we ticked a few more places on the way back.
We loved the food so much at Maoz, that we were back again on the second day to savor the delicious Lebanese pita bread filled with veggies and sauces of our choiceYou are in Amsterdam, so you have to follow the tradition – you cannot spend your day without visiting a coffeeshop, so we are here to follow the normsWe spent a good amount of time chilling in the Dam Square before going back to our hostelLook at our passport covers against the backdrop of De Wallen – the largest and best known red-light district in AmsterdamDe Wallen is a network of alleys containing around more than 300 cabins rented by prostitutes who offer their sexual services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lightsThe night was dark and the canals were filled with lights – it was a beautiful sight right outside our hostel
RECOMMENDATIONS
Visiting Anne frank House is a must among other must-see places in Amsterdam. You have to plan the visit as you need to book the entrance ticket many days prior to your visit. Visitors without ticket can line up in the queue in the evening, but beware the queue would be never-ending. Also, I would highly recommend to book your stays in Amsterdam much before as they are not very economical.
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN EUR)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Days 1-2 in The Netherlands – Amsterdam.
Stay at Hotel Ibis Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (1 night), Hostelboat Anna Maria II (1 night), and Stayokay Amsterdam Stadsdoelen (1 night) for twin sharing: 150
Food at La Place, Maoz, Meatless District, and others: 40
Train from Schiphol to Centraal and Taxi from one hostel to another: 14
Walking Tour in Amsterdam: 20
Canal Cruise: 16
Entrance tickets of Rijksmuseum: 18
Miscellaneous: 20
Total expense (roughly): 278 EUR
For a more customized itinerary, whether for solo or couple or group of any number of people, feel free to contact me on Contact Us page.
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Although we did the canal cruise and enjoyed a meal on it, I did not ever think of staying in a houseboat in Amsterdam. Now I think about it and it is probably a great idea! I did love walking around the streets and next to the canal, Amsterdam is such a beautiful city. Also, renting a bike to explore is a great idea!
It looks like you had a great time in the Dam! I know this city well as I used to visit every week! You took some great photos that made me reminisce about my times there. Good memories!
Wow, staying in a house boat (or should I say hostel boat) sounds like an amazing experience, I’d definitely be up for that some time! And good tip on the I Amsterdam sign at the airport – the one in the museum quarter is heaving!! x
What a great two day guide in Amsterdam – you managed to do so much in that time. The canal cruise is such a good idea to be able to see the city in a different perspective. I visited Amsteram almost 17 years ago and it was literally just to go to the clubs and the coffee shops! Would love to return one day, considering there’ll be a direct Eurostar train from April. Staying in a house boat is a fantastic way to see the canals.
It looks like you packed a ton into a short period of time! I LOVE the idea of staying in a Hostelboat! Next time I’ll definitely have to give it a whirl…
Never been to Amsterdam but through this post, I want to go go there immediately. Maybe, if I’ll visit, I can look back and check this post again to plan on where to go in Amsterdam. Thank you for this!
WOW!!! I got a lot of Highschool friends who’ve made it already in Amsterdam from their pictures I really wanted to visit these places. Your blog is great I felt like I was walking on the streets as well as I am scrolling down. I really hope one day when I plan my first Euro-trip I can visit these places too!
Woah how on earth did you manage so much on day 1 ?Did you even sleep at all? I hope you had a great trip on your trip .Yes in pictures i have notuced that i am amsterdam is always criwded you were smart enough to chose a smart spot
I’m visiting Amsterdam in September and all of this information will be very helpful for my trip. I had never heard of Amsterdam being referred to as Venice of the North! But it totally makes sense. I’m excited to go on a cruise through the canals.
You brought back good memories for me of Amsterdam. I used to have a place there for 5 years. I miss the canals and boats and just walking around the area.
In think you did quite a lot in two days and the wonderful clicks brought back wonderful memories of our trip. We have been there twice before and this year too we were planning for two more days before exploring Eindhoven and Rotterdam, Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in Europe and the desserts there are just lip smacking in addition to the natural beauty of the place. It was a pleasure too visiting the top museums there and would be featuring some of them shortly.
Your hostel boat is very interesting. It’s going to be an experience to stay there. But I don’t think the Stayokay is a good choice since the arrangement of the bunk beds. Not sure whether I can sleep with unknown people around me. I like it because you could do a lot within walking distance from your hostels.
Woah! You got so much packed into 2 days! I love Amsterdam. There’s so much to do!
Oh yes, it is always better to have few days in hand. Spend a day in each area and explore more.
Although we did the canal cruise and enjoyed a meal on it, I did not ever think of staying in a houseboat in Amsterdam. Now I think about it and it is probably a great idea! I did love walking around the streets and next to the canal, Amsterdam is such a beautiful city. Also, renting a bike to explore is a great idea!
Wow, it is great to know that you have had a great time there, Medha! There is always a next time, make sure to keep houseboat in your list then!
It looks like you had a great time in the Dam! I know this city well as I used to visit every week! You took some great photos that made me reminisce about my times there. Good memories!
I am in love with the city. Will visit there again this year end!
Wow, staying in a house boat (or should I say hostel boat) sounds like an amazing experience, I’d definitely be up for that some time! And good tip on the I Amsterdam sign at the airport – the one in the museum quarter is heaving!! x
Yes, the Iamsterdam outside the airport is the best!
What a great two day guide in Amsterdam – you managed to do so much in that time. The canal cruise is such a good idea to be able to see the city in a different perspective. I visited Amsteram almost 17 years ago and it was literally just to go to the clubs and the coffee shops! Would love to return one day, considering there’ll be a direct Eurostar train from April. Staying in a house boat is a fantastic way to see the canals.
Oh yes, even I am planning to return very soon, maybe we change the cards. I got to do more of clubbing there now 🙂
It looks like you packed a ton into a short period of time! I LOVE the idea of staying in a Hostelboat! Next time I’ll definitely have to give it a whirl…
Yes, we had very few days in hand. And we wanted to see everything, so yeah, the days were super-packed for us.
Never been to Amsterdam but through this post, I want to go go there immediately. Maybe, if I’ll visit, I can look back and check this post again to plan on where to go in Amsterdam. Thank you for this!
Yes, there are so many things to do. You can always have a look or ask me freely!
WOW!!! I got a lot of Highschool friends who’ve made it already in Amsterdam from their pictures I really wanted to visit these places. Your blog is great I felt like I was walking on the streets as well as I am scrolling down. I really hope one day when I plan my first Euro-trip I can visit these places too!
Thanks for your words. It means a lot! Great to know that I could make you experience Amsterdam through my write-up!
I badly wanted to visit Europe.. Maybe someday. Amsterdam is one of them. Thank you for this
Thanks, anytime!
Woah how on earth did you manage so much on day 1 ?Did you even sleep at all? I hope you had a great trip on your trip .Yes in pictures i have notuced that i am amsterdam is always criwded you were smart enough to chose a smart spot
This was a post for two days. Though I agree a lot we managed to do in a day. Yes, I slept well. Hahahaha!
I’m visiting Amsterdam in September and all of this information will be very helpful for my trip. I had never heard of Amsterdam being referred to as Venice of the North! But it totally makes sense. I’m excited to go on a cruise through the canals.
Great Sara, I hope you would have a great time!
You brought back good memories for me of Amsterdam. I used to have a place there for 5 years. I miss the canals and boats and just walking around the area.
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. You must’ve had a great time there then.
In think you did quite a lot in two days and the wonderful clicks brought back wonderful memories of our trip. We have been there twice before and this year too we were planning for two more days before exploring Eindhoven and Rotterdam, Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in Europe and the desserts there are just lip smacking in addition to the natural beauty of the place. It was a pleasure too visiting the top museums there and would be featuring some of them shortly.
Yes, it was intensive.
Your hostel boat is very interesting. It’s going to be an experience to stay there. But I don’t think the Stayokay is a good choice since the arrangement of the bunk beds. Not sure whether I can sleep with unknown people around me. I like it because you could do a lot within walking distance from your hostels.
I love staying in hostels, so it wasn’t an issue.