Amsterdam is also a city of tolerance and diversity. It has all the advantages of a big city: culture, nightlife, international restaurants, good transport - but is quiet, and largely thanks to its extensive canals, has a little road traffic. In Amsterdam your destination is never far away, but get a bike for an authentic local experience.
Canal Belt
Amsterdam continues to look good on a postcard (or Instagram), largely thanks to its 400-year-old waterways, which are criss-crossed with a host of bridges that outnumber those in Venice. A word on those famous canals: Singel was the medieval city moat. The connecting canals and streets, originally home to workers and artisans, have a number of cafés and shops.
Explore Amsterdam’s parks and canals (on skates)
If you enjoy skating, you'll love Amsterdam. Traditionally in winter, the frozen canals provide a playground for ice-skating locals. Fearless skaters whoosh along narrow city canals at the marathon-style event of Elfstedentocht – a 200km race around Friesland. But due to warm conditions, the race hasn't been held since 1997. In summer, you'll find locals and tourists alike skating through the park. All year round, at 9pm on a Friday night, a group of skating enthusiasts meet opposite in the the Vondelpark to join a 20km, three-hour tour through the night streets. It's called, imaginatively enough, Friday Night Skate and its final destination is the pub.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum, which in English means – The State Museum, exists for more that two hundred years and today belongs to the most breathtaking museums in the world. During its existence, the museum went through many transformations and remains now, especially after its complete renovation, the attraction you should not miss during your trip to the Netherlands.
Grab vintage shopping finds and local food – at an Amsterdam market
Visit the flea markets to discover the multi-ethnic spirit of Amsterdam. The most famous is the Albert Cuypmarkt, a large general market that snakes through the heart of Pijp. It offers a great insight into Dutch life, selling everything from smoked eel to Surinamese sherbets.
Open all year round, the floating flower market is where you can find a spectrum of beautiful flowers as well as iconic tulips and bulbs. Bold colours throughout the shop make for a scenic walk. If you’re planning a trip in winter, Christmas trees are also on sale during holiday months.
When it comes to nightlife in Amsterdam, there are venues, dance festivals and club nights to suit every taste. DJs keep the crowd going with everything from techno, dub step and trance to hip-hop, funk and deep house. Some of the most well-known venues include Paradiso, Melkweg, Bitterzoet, Club Up, Trouw, AIR and Escape.
Whichever way the wind happens to be blowing on your visit, one thing's for certain: Amsterdam will continue to grow, as it has done since 1200, whether literally or metaphorically.
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