Places of Interest in Amsterdam

Information on the main tourist attractions, places of interest and sights to see in and around Amsterdam...

Note that for one weekend in September there is a National Heritage Weekend. On this weekend thousands of monuments and other buildings are open to the public free of charge. Many locations also present special activities such as concerts and guided tours. Dates vary from year; see the Holland Tourist website.

Amsterdam

The I amsterdam Card is the Amsterdam tourist pass. It consists of:

  • A chip-card for free and discounted entry and offers at participating tourist attractions, museums and restaurants
  • Public transport ticket for use of GVB trams, buses and metro services
  • Full-colour I amsterdam pocket guide

There is a choice of a 24, 48 or 72-hours card. A card is valid within the calendar year. They are sold at the Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board (ATCB) information offices or online.

Amsterdam sights

The Dutch capital welcomes over four million visitors each year. It is a multicultural city with a programme of popular annual events and a variety of attractions for all ages and nationalities.

Canals and waterways: Amsterdam is sometimes referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. It has over 160 canals and waterways and 1,000 bridges. The three main canals are the Herengracht, Prinsengracht and Keizergracht, which were created in the Dutch Golden age. Tourists can explore the city, see the architecture and learn about Holland’s history by taking a canal cruise.

Museums: There are a number of museums and art galleries in Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum is the largest national museum in the Netherlands and houses a collection of 17th century Dutch art. Other famous Amsterdam museums include the Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank Huis and Rembrandthuis.

Heritage sites and monuments: Almost a third of the buildings in Amsterdam were built before 1850 and there are more than 6,500 national monuments in the city. Dam Square, in the centre of Amsterdam, is situated on the site of the 13th century Amstel dam. Koninklijk Paleis, Nieuwe Kerk and other examples of Dutch architecture from six centuries of history are found around Dam Square. The Oude Kerk church is Amsterdam’s oldest monument.

Parks and gardens: Situated in the city centre, Vondelpark is the largest of Amsterdam’s parks. It attracts approximately 10 million visitors annually. In the summer it hosts a variety of open-air theatre and music. There are six children’s playgrounds and activities held during the week.

  • For more information on city parks and gardens: Click here

Annual events: Amsterdam has a full calendar of annual events including Gay Pride, Queen’s Day and Liberation Day celebrations. The Four Day Marches is held each year in Arnhem in the province of Gelderland.