Museum of the Canals: located on Herengracht, a scenic street with beautiful, canal-side…read morehomes--this museum takes visitors thru the history of Amsterdam's canals, from the reasons for development, the process of designing and constructing, the growth of the city and industries around the canals. Arriving to the building you go up a short flight of stairs and are directed to a ticket counter followed by a wait to the left of the counter in a seating area with a few benches. At the counter they scanned my "I amsterdam" card, and passed each visitor a free audio guide, available in multiple languages. Then the staff indicated to wait for the next tour that happened to start in 5 minutes (I think they're timed about 15 minutes apart). At that point, a staff member motioned the 7-8 of us in a small group to the hallway and provided instructions on how to use the audio guide. Close to the entrance of each exhibit room there is a digital marker where you scan your audio guide listening device and the relevant recording starts playing. There were about 7-8 rooms in the museum, 5 for the main exhibit and 3 additional rooms for an exhibit "Animals of the Canals" and a period room with mirrors. Estimated time is about 45 min to 1 hour for this museum. I enjoyed the tour and learned about how they decided to lay out the canals in a semi-circular format, though wish I had a little more time to spend in the room with the museum building model. Regular admissions are-- Adult: € 17,50 Student/CJP: € 12,50 Children 6 up to 17 years: € 9,50 Children 0 up to 5 years: free Museumkaart, Stadspas, iAmsterdam City Card, ICOM Card: free Hours are Mon: 12-5PM, Tues-Sun: 10AM-5PM. For more info: https://grachten.museum/en/

I used my iAmsterdam pass here at the Museum of Canals. The main portion of the experience is timed…read morewhere you enter into different rooms that show a projector/hologram presentation. It was cool to learn about Amsterdam and its canals without it being terribly boring and information-overload. This is a good museum for kids. The only thing I wasn't really a fan of was that the last room went a bit long (because it is somewhat self-paced) and I could see other antsy visitors wanting to leave the room (not knowing it was the last room, so we didn't want to interrupt the group ahead of us). A sign stating that it was the last "timed" room and that we could exit that room early would've been nice.

The national maritime Museum is really kid friendly. After a day of dragging my child to historic…read moresites, I needed to find something that he would enjoy too. We had the I Amsterdam card and so this made good sense as a choice. We heard it was great for kids and it really was. Doris the diver is basically a play area for kids 2 to 7. There's also bathrooms right next to it that include changing tables, small sinks, and small toilets for littles. We spent most of our time exploring the replica of the Dutch East India company ship. My son and I had a great time walking around the ship and lowering our heads to crawl into tight spaces. My son especially liked the police system in the cargo hold and trying to find the drawings of the wrapin the cargo hold.The views here are nice and it was a fun place to explore on a sunny spring day.

I never saw the inside of the museum but the surrounding area is beautiful in the early hours of…read morethe morning.. I wanted to share my photos of this beautiful museum which is simply breathtaking to view before sunrise. :)

Located a little outside of Amsterdam, the world famous Keukenof gardens are truly gorgeous with so…read moremany types of tulips!! They're only open 8 weeks of the year from about mid March to mid May. Buy your tickets ahead of time! I recommend going right when they open because it can get really crowded later in the day. There's plenty of food options, bathrooms, and photo ops and other interactive exhibits and activities. Lots of gift shops and most of them have different items than the other ones so be sure to look at them all.

Keukenhof truly exceeded my expectations. It's a beautiful garden and well worth a visit. They have…read morea few ticket options, including daily entry or entry plus transport with the bus. The website is very user friendly and also gives you an idea of what crowds will look like for the day. Overall, highly recommend when visiting Netherlands during tulip season!

Included in the Zaanse Schans Card is entry to the Zaans Historical museum--they require you to put…read moreyour things in free lockers and hang your coats in free racks. You can get a free audio guide in your preferred language. From the museum to the biscuit/chocolate factory experience (a separate building connected by bridge) it takes about an hour. We enjoyed learning about all the different industries that have thrived in the Zaanse area. The interactive displays are interesting for families with children as well (especially ages 6 and up). You get a free biscuit sample--I tried coffee and my husband tried chocolate. The mechanized biscuit factory machinery display was impressive. I played the game at the end that tests whether you are good enough to be a Verkade girl--fast enough to pack at least 15 biscuit tins with 3 stacks of 3 biscuits, but only perfect ones, and as you fill each tin, the conveyor belt moves faster. It's a touchscreen and you move the biscuits with one finger. I tried just right handed or alternating right and left, but it's harder than it sounds. If you let too many good ones break by falling off the conveyor belt, game over. It was strangely gratifying. At the gift shop I bought some Verkade chocolates to bring back for coworkers. Fun museum overall!

Save your Euro,this is a Good location, good site.Surrounded by the most beatiful water,and…read moreWindmills, The cheese is great, the jams are great we tasted quite a bit.Unfortunately the other people in there, acted like they were having dinner and would not leave the lines. So unfortunately, the staff had to continue to tell people, to move on as they would sit there and try five pieces of cheese and literally walk in circles to basically eat everything in one sitting. The building is actually nice on the inside, but not really worth the cost of entry. We had a free entry due to tripadvisor credit. THANKS TripAdvisor !! That is the only reason I went other than that, I personally would have saved my euro €.. Zaans Museum

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.

Do you want to peek inside to learn how a wealthy couple would have lived in Amsterdam in the…read more1800s? Used the I Amsterdam Card to visit the Museum Willet-Holthuysen which is located on famous ring of canals. The house was built for Jacob Hop, mayor of Amsterdam, around 1685. In 1739, the outside was redesigned in the Louis XIV style. The house was later acquired by Louisa Holthuysen and her husband, Abraham Willet. The couple was childless and lived quite a Bohemian lifestyle travelling and collecting art. Louisa was a very shrewd and strong businesswoman who had to keep bailing her husband out of debt despite her giving him a generous allowance. Much of the art collected was due to Louisa's art preferences. Upon her death, she bequeathed the entire building and its contents, including the art and books collected by her and her husband, Abraham Willet, to the city of Amsterdam on stipulation that it became a museum bearing their names. Loved exploring the three floors and beautiful gardens that are open to the public. Get the free audio guide which gives insight into the home and the occupants. No large bags are allowed but lockers are available. Love how the Victorian furnishing provide a backdrop for a contemporary fashion display. Such an interesting contrast in lifestyles. Definitely worth a stop while exploring Amsterdam.

This was a great spot to get in out of the cold (lol) and to see the inside of a house off of the…read morecanal. It told the story of a married couple that lived there and because of their extensive collections they left the house (the wife) to the city. It's not in its original state but the museum did a good job reimagining how it would have been. I enjoyed learning about the couple (even though no one really knew the truth about the relationship) and the home's history. It's self guided so you just take your time to explore.

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!

If you're into modern art and design, the Stedelijk is a must. The location is perfect--it's right…read moreon Museumplein, so it's close to everything and easy to work into a day of sightseeing. The museum is huge, and the collection is incredibly diverse, ranging from classic modernists like Mondrian and Picasso to wild contemporary installations. Definitely plan to spend at least 2 to 3 hours here if you want to see both the permanent collection and the rotating exhibitions without rushing. One of the highlights for me was the cafe (Fonda/Sandberg). It has a beautiful, airy design with lots of natural light, making it the perfect spot to recharge with a coffee after walking through the galleries. The "bathtub" architecture is just as cool on the inside as it is on the outside!