5 Things To Do In Amsterdam

5 Things To Do In Amsterdam - These are five things I really enjoyed doing in Amsterdam that I think are worth recommending. They also don’t take a lot of time so you can add some or all of these to whatever you already have planned.

Number one is to do a boat cruise of the canals. Amsterdam is known for its incredibly quaint and historic canal system and you really should see it from the water. You get a totally different perspective and it’s a nice way to sit down and rest your feet when you’ve been walking around a lot. Bonus! There are lot of boat companies to choose from and you should also get some history about the city and specific sights along your route. I think it’s definitely worth the money.

Number two is to see Amsterdam by bike. If you’re not a confident bike rider, I wouldn’t recommend renting one, however, because biking in Amsterdam is serious business. There are a lot of people on the road coming from all directions and they also allow motor scooters in the bike lanes (I don’t understand why). I was lucky enough to hitch a ride on a bike instead! We were staying with wonderful friends who said It’s even better to get a ride because then you get to look around and enjoy without being worried about the actual navigating and cycling. Lucky us! It’s one of my favourite memories of the city and I felt so much a part of things being in the bike lane.

Number three is to visit the Flower Market or Bloemenmarkt. Founded in 1862, the market used to be supplied daily by boats and the stalls still sit on the canal - so technically this is a floating market. It’s full of colour and a nice spot to stroll through. You can also buy souvenirs of seeds and bulbs to take home with you. Tulips, of course, are synonymous with The Netherlands! Just make sure your package has a customs stamp clearly marked so you don’t encounter any difficulties at the border.

Number four is to eat food out of a vending machine. Apparently fast food wasn’t fast enough for the Dutch because they’ve made it even faster. You can get hot food snacks without speaking to a single soul, including lots of Dutch snacks, too, like krokets and kaassouffles. Just choose what you want, put your change in the slot, remove your food, and eat! It’s really simple and quick. You’ll notice a lot of these spots and they’re quite popular.

Number five is to take a photo with the I amsterdam sign. This slogan began as a marketing campaign and has since been adopted by locals as a way of saying to all the MILLIONS of tourist each year that Amsterdam isn’t just for them, it’s for everyone. Such a nice thought. There are several signs but the best one is behind the Rijksmuseum at Museumplein. It’s enormous and usually covered with other people snapping photos. I think that’s part of the fun because it makes for great people watching. There’s another sign at Schiphol Airport and a third sign that moves around the city to various special events.

I hope you enjoyed this video of five things to do in Amsterdam. I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell me which looked like the most fun to you.

Subtitles available in English, Dutch and Spanish! Click the 'CC' button (bottom right).

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[EileenAldis]

Which of these 5 things looks like the most fun to you?

[agung]

Thank you making this videos i enjoyed very much during this pandemic thank you sister

[raymond]

You're so cheerful, looks like Amsterdam is now on my bucket list

[RedroomStudios]

for doing a canal cruise I think you have to be there during the warm part of the year or luck out with a warm day in the early spring or late autumn so that the boats will have their roofs retracted (for those that have that option). the ride is nowhere near as enjoyable with the roof closed. as much fun as biking looks, as you say it can be very intense and tricky with all the other bikes and pedestrians. the locals have it absolutely mastered and I will leave it to them in their own city. I had an interesting experience in the Bloemenmarkt on my first visit. I ran into a bride that was having her wedding the next day and apparently it is a tradition for brides to be to go to the market and find a stranger to buy them a flower, and that day it was me. I found it amazing how crowded this spot could be on a Saturday! some of my travel companions tried the hot food vending machines but I passed... the fried foods just dont look that great when you arent sure how long they have been sitting in there! always enjoy taking shots of the I (am)amsterdam sign. in fact the museumplein in general is one of my fave spots in the city. it has a dreamy surreal feel to it!

one thing we did that was a bit different on our last trip was hop on one of the trams out to Flevopark in the east of the city. no tourists out there, just locals biking and walking their dogs etc. it was a nice change of pace and to see a bit of nature on the edge of the water.

[lalitalune]

I LOVED seeing Amsterdam from the canals. What a tranquil way to explore.

[zCristian]

The bicycle ride looks like the most fun out of everything !and of course, taking a picture/selfie in the I Amsterdam sign is pretty iconic and something i wouldn't miss!

[TheIggyTech]

Biking is a must! Amsterdam really comes alive when you try biking through it (though for any visitors I would suggest reading up on the bike lane rules and hand signals if you aren't familiar already. It's pretty simple but good to know if you want to avoid pissing off any Dutchies). I also recommend trying one of the loads of third wave cafes (coffee) that scatter the city. Just off the top of my head there's Lot Sixty One, Two For Joy's, Black Gold, Sweet Cup, and if you don't mind chains there's CoffeeCompany as well.

[johnsain]

2:25 ...I remember these in New York City in the 1960's when I was a kid. They were called 'Horn & Hardart' and were very large rooms and a pretty nice dining atmosphere. The variety of foods was much greater than what appears to be available in FEBO. There is info on the net if you're interested.

[beltfed]

I think I’d go for the boat tour!  Isn’t that truly the most elegant way to see Amsterdam?
A bike would be second. Amsterdam is like an open air museum and the scenery alone is super!
Your comment from the back of your bike made me laugh out loud!  Ha!
Food would be next…As nice as the machines are…I’ll take a little cafe to hang for a while!     Great video!!!

[angelafoss]

I'll try all five next time I am in Amsterdam. Another well edited video -- thanks for sharing your fun! Angie

[klaverbeeklaan]

Also visit, rijksmuseum OR Rembrandtmuseum. In Amsterdam the houses are small so we use the Parks as our backyeard. The Parks are really beautiful especially Vondelpark. You must visite the Wallen. To do with kids is Nemo and Artis. Also fun is a part called "het ij". In the summer you can dine at the restaurants called pplek, ijkantine or another place. Your view is over the water and sering Amsterdam on the Otherside. If you want to come to Amsterdam visit on Kingsday. This is a really fun holiday in the Netherlands where we celebrate the birthday of the King.

[Reformatt]

Sadly, the Amsterdam sign is gone. The city removed it and relocated it to the Airport.

[litehousguy]

The boat cruise would probably be the first item on the agenda :) I'd try getting on a bike, but being since I haven't ridden one since I was around 12, well let's just say it would be interesting in the middle of all that traffic LOL

[AdamHuberYouTuber]

Loved it! Can't wait to visit someday :)

[mylonash]

So when you announced that number five was a boat cruse of the canal I thought, "Oh God, not another boat ride!" But you slipped that clip of Marc in and he had such a grand look of satisfaction about him that I thought, "maybe a boat cruse of the canal would just be a beauty to do."  What great travel bait this video is.  Exceptionally edited and very well thought out.  Thank you for sharing.

[thomaslucia]

Another fun, great video - thanks Eileen! Wish we could meet on mutual visits in AMS!!

[nancyjohnson]

They all look like fun. Laughed out loud about bike ride.

[IlonaF]

Hello! Good video! I have one question) where can I find this lovely vending machines in the city?..

[alteredillusions]

I love doing the canal tour. Next time I need to do it at night. Did you do a night tour?

[davidb]

Weed, Red Light District at night, herring, vlaamse frites, feeling gezellig.