One of the must see museums when visiting Amsterdam…read more We also enjoyed taking a break at the cafe located inside the Rijksmuseum.

I am so bummed!! After being there for 5 hours, I still failed to make it to the 1700-1800 and the…read more2000s zones!! This place is HUGE! I now understand why tourists would plan an entire day there. Unfortunately, I had 2 other stops that day that I couldn't miss, so I had no choice but left at 2pm. I am soo glad I made it to the main hall first to see Rembrandt's Night Watch (granted it was through a piece of glass due to the restoration process). I would've been devastated if I couldn't. Love the info cards for almost all of the major art pieces to explain in detail on how it was created. Some tips: Buy your ticket ahead of time. Get there 15 minutes before your entrance time to get in line and for bag check. No water inside the exhibits. The coat check is your only option if you don't show up right at when they open. The lockers filled up within minutes. Don't be fooled by the opened ones because that means the lock is broken. Definitely worth a stop at the gift shop. (Like I said above) Plan to spend the whole day there.

I am beyond amazed that I get to see the actual Sunflower painting!! O.M.G!…read more I'm not posting any artwork here, because I don't want to take away anyone's experience. If I could go back to Amsterdam, I would definitely go back to this museum again. Yellow is such a joyful color. After visiting the museum, it has a deeper meaning to me. I went through entire museum floor by floor, showroom by showroom. Every corner has something that amazes me. I also got a chance to see how Van Gogh actually looked like! My goodness. I couldn't believe my eyes. A few tips: 1- you must make a reservation online ahead of time. I saw many people got turned away while I was waiting in line for security check. 1b- it's okay to be in line 15 minutes before your supposed arrival time. 2-it's best to buy the audio tour ticket along with the entrance fee instead of buying it on site. It was sold out when I got there. 3-there is a book store on the top floor, and you can actually take home a blank Sunflower coloring sheet for free! It's on an easel at the corner by the window.

TIP - order tickets ahead in time online to make sure you can get in on the day/time you want…read more A beautiful looking museum. Lots of Van Gogh art works to view and take in. Self guided tour comes with a player with headphones to that you can learn about the different Van Gogh art periods and works of art. Overall the museum was okay. You see a lot of Van Gogh art but not much about his life and world around him. I preferred the Rembrandt House as it showed his home and living arrangements - it gave you glimpse of his life at that time. I think the Rijks Museum would be a better choice to see a variety of artists.

Pleasantly surprised by this museum experience! Pre booked the tickets online in combination with…read morea walking tour. You get to choose to an entry window and should arrive within 30 minutes of the time on your ticket. We arrived first thing today at opening time of 9 a.m. Three floors, a basement, and a gardenfull of pop art--you can enjoy it in an hour or so. Eye catching and thought provoking are two words that come to mind regarding the art displayed. The gallery curators did an excellent job using the since in the house that is now a gallery. They made use of every nook and cranny, which made the experience even more of an adventure. Well done! Really glad we checked it out!

Well, this is a pretty small museum, but it actually focuses on really modern artists, including…read moreBanksy. Sure, it might not be the Rijksmuseum, but it is still a pretty decent museum to visit, even though it is small. Mind you, the crowds do flock here, but at least you don't have to book ahead.

Fun history of Bols and the distilling of different flavors of alcoholic liqueurs…read more Self-guided tour with audio. After you pay for your ticket at the front desk, you put your jackets and loose items in a locker (free) and pickup an audio tour device and program it for your preferred language (easy). You get a yummy cocktail to savor at the end! And there's a fun gift shop to peruse, where we bought tulip glasses for the purpose of drinking Genever . We enjoyed the Espresso martini and Red Light Negroni at the bar at the end. Both were made skillfully and tasted delicious! The highlight of the experience, honestly, was meeting Lars (aka "Larson") and Julia at the front desk. They were hilarious with each other and delightful with us. They helped us package the 6 tulip glasses in paper within styrofoam boxes for sturdy protection during travel. They are the true stars of this operation.

I enjoy distillery tours when I travel. I browsed the list of attractions that accept the I…read moreAmsterdam card and came across Bols Amsterdam. It's located near Museumplein by all of the major museums which was so convenient. I was interested in doing a cocktail class with the tour, but wasn't sure if I could book the class with the I Amsterdam card. I sent an email through the website and a DM on Instagram and no one responded, which was disappointing. When I arrived, I inquired about it. They offered to let me upgrade my ticket, but I declined. Once I got checked in, I received a vial of a mystery flavored genever to taste at the end of the tour. The tour is self guided and it is truly a sensory experience. The tour starts with the history of Bols, then goes into the process of making genever. There are interactive elements throughout. It was really cool to see Lucas Bols' original recipe book from 1820. Towards the end of the tour, I tried the mystery genever in the sensory booth. I don't remember the flavor, but it was red and it was sweet. The sensory booth contains a camera that records your reaction as you're tasting it. At the end of the tour, guests are able to enjoy a complimentary cocktail. The bar area was really cool. They have a flair booth where you can learn how to spin and throw cocktail bottles. They also had house music playing which created a fun vibe. The bartender that made my drink was Serchan (pronounced "Sar-John"). He was so nice and let me sample a couple of genevers. I ordered the First Aid cocktail. It was citrus forward and refreshing! He also printed out a receipt with the cocktail recipe. I threw some cash in the tip jar and learned that they accept cash in any currency! This was a fun experience! Any activity where I can have a delicious cocktail and learn something new is right up my alley.

Amsterdam, Netherlands…read more I was glad I was able to secure a spot to visit this historical place. We arrived on time for our reserved slot, and there was already a line outside, but it was organized. Staff checked everyone's reservation and reminded visitors about sticking to their assigned time. Visiting the Anne Frank House was a powerful experience. The space is preserved in a way that makes you feel the weight of history, and walking through the rooms where the family hid is both emotional and humbling. It's a reminder of how important their story is, and why it continues to be told. Walking through the actual hiding place brings the story to life in a way books and films can't. A must‑visit if you're in Amsterdam. It is incredibly impactful but be prepared for crowds and tight spaces. Despite that, the experience is worth it -- the history is powerful and the exhibits are beautifully done. Note: The steps in the house are quite steep, so wear a comfortable shoes or consider skipping the tour if you have difficulty with stairs. Photos or videos are not allowed inside. The audio and video presentations are available in several main languages, and they provide an audio guide for the tour.

Go, just go! Better yet read the book and then go. It is an incredible piece of history that should…read morenever be forgotten. There are no pictures allowed inside. Also make sure you pre-purchase tickets online before going. They open up on Tuesdays. The website will tell you when they go on sale. Plan on having at least an hour to go through the self guided tour. The stairwells can be steep and narrow, so please be aware of that prior to booking.

My parents and I had a fun time engaging in the Heineken Experience. We were on a tour where they…read moretook us through the birth of Heineken to how it's currently operating around the globe. We absolutely enjoyed the tasting throughout the tour and learned a lot about Heineken's operational growth throughout its journey. We totally appreciated the token that allow us to have a drink at the end before going to the rooftop for more drinks, games, and a sweet view of Amsterdam. We certainly appreciated everyone working at the Heineken factory; they were awesome.

This is a classic experience that just have to do when you go to Amsterdam. Tickets are available…read moreonline as well as in person and there's plenty of tickets available for each time slots. The staff was friendly and after listening to something in the beginning you go through your own pace through the rest of the experience. You do get a small beer halfway through as well as one in their taproom. They also have a gift shop and rooftop bar!

If you're going to take in a modern art museum while in Amsterdam, Stedelijk Museum is a good…read moreoption. Admission is €22.50, but if you're 18 and under - it's free! Two hours is a good amount of time to allow to explore the museum, from my experience. Prebook your time for an optimal, smooth experience. It's actually right by the Van Gogh museum so can make for a good accompaniment to that. Weekday mornings are best to avoid crowds. Grab one of their free audio tours when you walk in to get all the details on what you're seeing while walking through!

Contemporary art museum located in the Museumplein (museum quarter), worth dropping by if you're…read moreinto 21st century art. The original building has a red brick facade, built in 1895 in the Neo-Renaissance style, designed to house art donated by Sophia Adriana de Bruyn and the Van Eeghen family though has since them expanded to include other works. Major renovations in the last two decades led by Benthem Crouwel Architects, completed 2012, added a new extension which includes most of the front lobby, restaurant, space for additional exhibits on the upper and basement floors, and an unique escalator that connects top and ground floors. Nicknamed "the bathtub" for an uncanny visual resemblance when viewing the front of the building, its white color and exaggerated overhang looks very much like a tub yet to be installed. As for the interior, the spaces are striking with a lot of details in the architecture that make the building look like an art piece--clear glass windows encircle the lobby so you can see the original facade from the exterior, then angles, curves and staircases are placed to draw the eye to various lines and shapes in the modern wings, and overall the exhibit rooms are bright and open. Core exhibits include a number of mid-century modern and mid-21st century art of various media including painting, posters, sketches, sculpture, mobiles, photography and furniture. A free audio guide is available, though in the 1.5 hours I spent here the small museum placards were sufficient for me. Restaurant, cafe, gift shop and bathrooms are available. While busy, only the temporary exhibit on photography by Erwin Olaf was more crowded. Daily: 10am to 6pm, last entry at 5:30pm. Students and CJP: €10,00 Adults: €22,50 Under 19 years, those with special cards or passes: Free I used the "i amsterdam" tourist card which included entry to this museum, scanning this was quick and easy, you don't need to book separate tickets, just need to scan the QR code to enter the exhibit area. For more info: https://www.stedelijk.nl/en

Cheese museum, you say? Well, I say heck yeah! Free admission? Even better. Free samples? Give them…read moreall to me. Educational and historical information on cheese? Yes! Interesting and awesome. We learned about Gouda, the tools used to make cheese now and in the days of olde. Tons of fun photo ops and props. And once again, the tastings. I swear we tried at least 15 different cheeses. Had the cheesiest time! A+.

I'll cut to the cheese and get straight to the gouda part, where the smells in this store are…read moredelicious (and slightly funky, as cheese can be) and there are plentiful cheese samples to try. Groow-yere cheese knowledge at the mini cheese museum downstairs or really just a small room decked out with cheese-making equipment and some plaques describing the production process. Edam if I go back to Amsterdam, I might make emmental note to drop by and try some cheese and grab a small block or two to go(at). They pack in prep for shipping in airport luggage too. Aye-siago before I hava-arti-me living these puns down :)

Not a traditional "museum" by any stretch, but with Amsterdam being the city boasting the world's…read moremost museums, I can see how the claim is made with places like this. It's a really nice spot, and the guy who runs it is extremely open and friendly with a wealth of information. He truly lives for this! If you arrive before it opens, you'll see people gathered around the door entrance, and you're there wondering what kind of place this really is. Doesn't look big from the outside at all, and looks like a shop more than a museum. Once you get inside the small space, you're greeted with black lighting above which illuminates all of the fluorescent artwork. There are paintings and sculptures with bright colors across the spectrum. Then you walk down these steps into the dark basement and see his special rock collection with the makeup of the rocks highlighted under the black lighting. Reminded me of geology class. Cool place, quick 30 minute experience.

If you are interested in learning about florescent minerals, history, and art then this place is…read moreenjoyable. Nick is a nice artist who invites you to learn more about the interesting glowing minerals. I really enjoyed this place and can't wait to put up my piece of art I bought from here!