Aside from staying in one (rentals are available on various online platforms like Airbnb or VRBO),…read morewhere else than a working houseboat to better get a feel for these canal-side living arrangements so popular in Amsterdam? On a dreary fall morning I dropped by around 11am and the museum was empty aside for a couple staff. I showed my "i amsterdam" prepaid pass, they scanned it quickly and passed me the headset for a free self-guided audio tour, which lasts about 30 minutes. The tour starts at the front, where's there's an example of an older set-up, then leads to the back of the boat where a more modern layout is shown. Numbers next to signs tell you what to listen to on the audio guide. Some interesting tidbits I learned are that orange is practically a national color in the Netherlands, hence why the wall paper and decorations are all orange. New boats must be constructed according to strict regulations, and only a set number of spaces along the canals are allocated to houseboats so there's a limited supply. More interestingly, when the Netherlands football (soccer to us Americans) team won the European Championship in 1988, parties got so out of hand that some houseboats sank because too many people were climbing on them! I thought this was a calm, fun way to start my morning, and staff were friendly and helpful. This museum you can easily go thru in about 30 minutes, regular ticket prices are: Adults: €9.5 per person for Full Day entrance 10am-5pm Adults: €8 per person for Morning entrance 10am-12noon Children up to 12 years: €5 per person For more info: houseboatmuseum.nl

Super tiny museum because it's literally a houseboat. It is self-guided tour (you're given an audio…read moreclicker) that takes 30-45 minutes if you're listening intently to every section, or a speedy 15-30 minutes if you just want to listen and read about the main exhibits. Definitely not wheelchair/disability-friendly. The inside can be cramped in some areas, so be mindful of any bulky backpacks/bags you're carrying around. The information was pretty interesting - they definitely tried to cram a lot into a small space. I wouldn't recommend large groups here unless you break it up into groups of 4 people max. One and done type of museum.

The NDSM Werf is a good place to go for free if you want to enjoy an hour or two walking around and…read moreseeing artists works. This is the old Netherlands ship works - some large battle ships came out of this building. But now it's a fantastic space for creatives and their studios - we were fortunate to see graffiti artists at work on some new installations outside. There is also the STRAAT Museum which we did not take the time to do. It's easy to get to - Ferry 4 is right outside Central Station - ferries are free - and it takes right to the entry.

I jumped on the free ferry (F4) from behind central station and as you approach you already feel…read morelike the coolest person. I came especially to see the Anne Frank mural by Eduardo Kobra which I was really excited about and it didn't disappoint. I loved it. NDSM had such a funky cool vibe, covered in amazing graffiti and street art and there was even more art in the warehouses, some that are free to view and some you have to pay to get in. I saw a lamppost piled to the top with birdhouses, I saw a van stuffed with mannequin limbs, I saw a red crate covered in big black spiders but I was more interested in the street art to be honest and NDSM is the place to go to see some amazing street art. There are cool places to eat and drink and it's just a lovely chilled place to wander.

A friend told me to check out this purse and handbag museum and I am happy I did. The fee for the…read moremuseum was reasonable but it was disappointing that they charge for the audio guide which I felt should've been included. Overall I enjoyed learning the history and different periods of which women used handbags. It was so cool to see the historical purses to the modern purses. There were some very unique and handbags to check out on all floors. Wow, if I had more room in my suitcase I could've definitely purchased a bag or two in their gift shop that had some cool handbags for sale. I would recommend this place for those interested in purses. It wont take too much time out of your day.

One of the many things I love about Amsterdam, is there's a museum for almost any interest. I…read morehappen to be quite obsessed with handbags and purses. Enter the Tassenmuseum! A small museum, located on the "Gentleman's Graacht" in Amsterdam's canal district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This museum is fascinating, and the exhibits are incredibly well designed. It takes the history of purses and bags back to the 1600s, when men were all about the purse. Another plus is that it's in an old canal house, which is fascinating all on it's own as a place to explore. The collection is enormous, and extremely well curated and researched. I was completely absorbed, as was my boyfriend! I loved the exhibits that displayed famous women's purses, and the contents! Haven't you always wondered what the Queen of England and Princess Grace carry around in their purse? I know I have, and now I know! Learned a new Dutch word: MANNENTASSEN = man bag! Why should the ladies have all the fun, and why should men overstuff their pockets? The museum is a perfect size, as you can spend a couple hours here, before "museum fatigue" sets in, and still feel like you saw everything, and learned some things. The café attached is elegant and sunny. The service is a little slow, but who minds, as you get to hang out in a beautifully appointed canal house. The gift shop is the best part!!! Many purses for sale, from high end, to bags for people like me. Accessories, fun doo-dads and other relevant miscellania are on offer. So worth a visit. I loved it!

What a cool 17th Century building. They have the permanent collection of Dutch art as well as a…read moretemporary exhibit. I didn't get to see all of the rooms in the museum, unfortunately. I arrived there so late, and the place was about to close. The museum has a massive collection of artworks, sculptures, and archaeological finds. There's also films, photos and interactive presentations of how their city blossomed from poverty to prosperity. It cost 10 Euro to visit this place and it's tucked between the stores in the shopping district of Kalverstraat. When I arrived there and didn't get to see, much because I felt rushed I suggest going there early in the morning, so you don't miss out on anything.

We spent about 2 hours on a self-guided tour of this museum, with an audio guide…read more There were 3 floors to visit. We climbed many stairways during the tour. There is an elevator, but only in one section of the building. We used it to exit. The museum is divided by time period. Each time period is housed in 1 or more rooms. Taking your time to watch the videos, listen to the commentaries and read the placards will be the most immersive way to learn the most here.

This festival takes place during the winter holiday season. I had really high expectations as it…read morehas been quite popular for a few years. I was told that there is a free boat tour where people line up in cues to get a ride, you can walk it along the canal edge, or you can do what we did and purchase a ticket online from "Those Dam Boat Guys". Personally, the later is great and well worth it. Our boat was small and gave us an intimate experience because the boat captain told us a little about the artistic lights and were could ask questions or slow down to take pictures. The lights are illuminated after dark which during the winter is quite early in the evening. Some of the lights were small displays and some were pretty magnificent. The whole festival takes less that 2 hours to view and it really is something to see both as a tourist or a local resident. I do suggest that the best viewing is when it is not a rainy evening so that you don't have an obstructed view from the boat.

Float thru an Amsterdam canal at night, drinking a beer and looking at light art?…read more Duh. FIVE STARS!

On our last day in Amsterdam, we decided to come check out their botanical garden, and we are very…read morehappy that we did! This is a nature lover's paradise right here. They have endless plants, flowers, a butterfly sanctuary, and an on-site cafe and store. One part of the botanical garden right next to the cafe is under construction, but I don't remember what they are going to put there. I was able to block out the construction noise in my mind and enjoy the amazing nature the botanical garden had to offer. This was also the place where I learned that Amsterdam runs their monthly emergency tests at noon on the first Monday of each month. Hearing all the air raid sirens in a peaceful setting was really strange. We come from Las Vegas, a hot and dry climate where most flowers and plants nestled here won't be able to survive in. Seeing all these flowers alive and well in a climate where it doesn't get too hot was a great opportunity to admire. Also included was the biggest palm tree I've ever seen in my life, which is enclosed in a different sanctuary tucked away in the back of the garden. Also located behind the garden is a canal, where we saw a few ducks hanging around. Numerous birds, such as parrots, can also be found. After walking around the garden and admiring the plants and flowers, we stopped by their on site cafe for a quick lunch. My mom and I had their soup of the day, which was a tomato soup served with bread on the side, and my dad had their espresso and some sort of egg salad meal, I don't remember the exact name. The soup, though it was a light meal, was excellent and it paired well with the bread. Before we left, we checked out their store, where I picked up a shampoo bar, a conditioner bar, and a face bar. My parents also picked up some plantable pencils to plant back at home, though these may not survive for long after they're planted. Visiting the botanical gardens was a great way to wrap up our trip to Amsterdam and it was worth spending an hour or two here.

Beautiful place but it does have a pricey entrance fee…read more All in all worth it. I recommend taking a few bites of food and really just enjoying the outdoors. In the greenhouse it does get hotter naturally, but is well ventilated and isn't ever unbearable. Amazing plants, but only the most important ones had signs in English. A treat nonetheless. Saw the largest potted fern of my life, really amazing. 2 story greenhouse gives great views!

The museum is small and very expensive but just doesn't stop there the museums figures are old and…read moreoutdated the staff isn't polite 49 euro for 2 people to spend a max of 20 minutes in side is completely absurd the mocktails inside were 10 euro each absurd agian never even vist this place it's overrated and BORING!!!

This was a fun way to spend a little time. As far as a wax museum, it is similar to other ones I…read morehave seen in other cities. Ok option if you have time but if you have limited time in Amsterdam...skip it.

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.