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.

The famous Magere Brug or Skinny Bridge gets its name from the narrow bridge that was originally…read morehere. Traditional says that there were two sisters who lived across the Amstel River from each other and had a bridge built so they could easily visit each other. More likely, the original bridge was named because it was so narrow that two pedestrians could not pass each other. Mager means skinny in Dutch. The bridge was replaced in 1871 with a wider Old Dutch double-swipe balance bridge to accommodate increased traffic. It is a very beautiful and popular bridge. Be mindful of the cyclists, though. They don't always look out for pedestrians.

Historic bridge and I think something worth seeing when visiting Amsterdam. Get out of the Red…read moreLight district and see the Amstel River and beautiful Oost after crossing the bridge. I may go check it out again today since it's such nice weather, and the bridge is FREE.

The streets that radiate from the Prinsengracht form the Jordaan (pronounced your-dan), a district…read moreof little houses where workers and servants lived during the Dutch Golden Age (in the 17th century, Amsterdam emerged as a jewel of Europe, thanks to the enormous wealth accrued during the century of global shipping and colonial expansion). Today, the section of the Jordaan bounded by two long commercial avenues -- Raadhuisstraat and Leidsestraat -- is known as De 9 Straatjes (Nine Streets), and is Amsterdam's stylish shopping district. The maximalist housewares shop & the Frozen Fountain. The area is lined with galleries; Ron Mandos or Annet Gelink for contemporary art, and Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen for photography. Colorful Belgian winter fashion filled the windows of Essential Amsterdam, fancy housewares at Things I Like Things I Love, and Dutch-inspired souvenirs (that aat the Ko concept store.

Fun lil bar. Owner makes you feel like a local. Cheap beer…read moreand eats with great people watching!!!

Great place to spend a warm sunny day. The shops inside the pier are nothing special. We did ride…read morethe Ferris wheel, it's cheap to ride and they serve beer woot! There are a plethora of places to eat on the beach, pick anyone of them you can't go wrong. My only complaint is the bugs flying everywhere. I know the business owners don't have control over those, but what they heck are they?? They were annoying but didn't ruin our visit.

My journey to Europe by myself was one of the best things I've ever done. (Second only to again…read moregoing to Europe with my bff a year later). One of the most fun days I had while visiting the Netherlands was taking a bike ride with the friend I was staying with to the North Sea in the Scheveningen District of the Hague. It was a windy day, and while the Dutch seem to know how to ride a bike with the wind literally pelting you from every direction, I myself had a hard time staying upright and keeping up. This became even more difficult as we approached the Pier! We eventually made it to the beach and the Pier, with its lively restaurants and shops. I tried a raw fish meal (herring maybe?) and Johanne showed me how to hold the entire fish by it's tail, and then eat it - I fell even more in love with the Netherlands at this point; food was already outstanding, but fish is my thing and this was delicious! We walked through the pier, then up and down the beautiful coast before riding our bikes back to her apartment. I saw a lot of beautiful places in the Netherlands, but since the Hague is the only City here that lies directly on the sea, I felt really fortunate to get a chance to see this surfer's paradise in person.

This place is SO MUCH FUN. You know it's a good spot when there's variety: tourists, yes, but also…read moresome locals. Families? Yep. Friend groups? Yes indeed. Couples? Please see my photo. Solos? But of course. There really is something for everyone. The bar and restaurant on the top floor is great--it's lovely, and it is worth visiting even if you aren't planning to head to the swing. (That said, the swing is fun and you should try it.) Excellent service, plenty to see and do, and a great beverage menu make for a lovely afternoon. I recommend reserving in advance and buying a package to save some money. I will report back after I try the VR roller coaster, but for now I am enjoying the sunshine! Update: VR roller coaster is a gas. Don't miss it. Also, remember to look up when in the elevator to the top.

We got tickets to go do the swing at the lookout in the evening. There's a fun elevator to get up…read moreand down and lots of fun facts you can read about the lookout. There's also other things up there like a rotating restaurant and a VR experience. The swing at the top is fun but can be chilly so dress warmly. There's also other fun photo ops and a bar on the rooftop.

it's a nice mix of stores in Jordaan. Minus one star for the over-taking of some of our favorite…read moreplaces by "tik-tok" followers. There are lines over the bridges waiting to get bubble tea or fries. The locals can no longer go to this place thanks to this ridiculous lemen behavior. But other than that, it's like a mall but outside. Be careful of the rude cyclist trying to run you over if you step in the way. Most likely these aren't typical Dutch cyclists but tourists or expats themselves being arrogant.

With only a limited time in Amsterdam (alas) before our river cruise would depart, walking the 9…read moreStreets neighborhood was a must. We took a taxi to the Anne Frank house and walked the few blocks to a starting point. It was a chilly, rainy November day but we had umbrellas, rain gear and determination! The neighborhoods are utterly charming, canals throughout, bordered by colorful houses, skinny sidewalks with bikes and cars squeezed in somehow. It so reminded us of Venice! Everything is so photogenic it's easy to burn through your phone's storage here! Shops and restaurants abound throughout. Would've loved to have more time to check them out but my wife did find some beautiful scarves in one. Walking the 9 Streets has been described as one of the great walks of Europe. A must see when in Amsterdam!

This is a must visit place for tourists. Pretty cool area to hang out, get some beer tasting going…read morewith some snacks. It's relatively close to an air port. There's another bar right beside it, so you have a side option if you're not a beer lover. We tasted some nice cocktails and would definitely recommend.

Five stars because its historical. We rode our bikes here, got off the bikes, took a picture and…read morekept it moving. If your hungry there is a cafe next to the bottom half.

Loved checking out this farmer's market on a dreary Saturday a couple weekends ago in Amsterdam!…read more Located in the Jordaan neighborhood, this market has a history of being located in this public square since 1623, when it was renamed after the newly built Noorderkerk, a church which still stands today. Its prior name was Prisenmarkt (named after Prinsengracht (Prince canal)). The earliest version of the market sold everything from pottery, textiles, household items, second-hand goods and pigeons. There's a detailed accounting of this market's history on their website. The current iteration of the market consists of 1) a farmer's market with many local and artisanal producers of farm produce, meats and dairy, baked goods, etc. and 2) a "general goods" market which consists of stands selling housewares, art, vintage clothing and accessories, antiques, textiles and household furnishings, and more. The former is held on Saturdays 9-4pm, the latter on Saturdays same time as the farmers market and Mondays 9-2pm. From where I was walking around, it looked like about three dozen vendors with stands of varied sizes gathered here to sell on a Saturday morning. I also arrived around 9:30am, so there were still vendors setting up too. What a bustling atmosphere and certainly lots of locals doing some weekend food shopping--saw plenty of veggies, fruit, bread, placed directly in bicycle crates (on the front or back of this popular transportation method Amsterdam is well-known for) and biked away. So many yummy looking items! It made me wish I had a kitchen there so I could buy and prepare food from this market. For more info: https://www.noordermarkt-amsterdam.nl/en/home-en and https://www.instagram.com/noordermarkt_amsterdam/

The Noordermarkt on Mondays only is when there are vintage sellers and not just clothes..... had a…read moregood selection of vendors and we did well finding kitschy resale items to fill our suitcases. And everything reasonably priced. Bring cash and your carry bags - some take cards but not many. There are clothes - and food stalls as well. Worth visiting if vintage kitsch is your bag