Guidebook for Amsterdam
Food Scene
By far our favourite cafe and bar to go to in the summer because of the terrace seating. But nice venue in winter as well. Small menu, but always enough to choose from.
354 locals recommend
Café Cook
2 James CookstraatBy far our favourite cafe and bar to go to in the summer because of the terrace seating. But nice venue in winter as well. Small menu, but always enough to choose from.
We can only say: Have a Turkish breakfast once in your life. Served on Saturdays untill quite late.
181 locals recommend
Podium Mozaiek
191 Bos en LommerwegWe can only say: Have a Turkish breakfast once in your life. Served on Saturdays untill quite late.
Café-Restaurant Stork
201 Gedempt HamerkanaalFish galore by the IJ River! In an old machinery factory.
Specialty beers! There are three or four beer cafés called Gollem in the city and they all belong to the same owner. But THIS one in Raamsteeg is the original and has this genuine old pub feel. Admitted: the newer Gollems have comfier seating but this one is the real deal if you ask us. We never miss a stop at this venue when entertaining friends from outside the city.
34 locals recommend
Cafe Gollem Raamsteeg
4 RaamsteegSpecialty beers! There are three or four beer cafés called Gollem in the city and they all belong to the same owner. But THIS one in Raamsteeg is the original and has this genuine old pub feel. Admitted: the newer Gollems have comfier seating but this one is the real deal if you ask us. We never miss a stop at this venue when entertaining friends from outside the city.
Drinks & Nightlife
Dance hall in an old Gas Producing Factory. Some days free entrance, some days part of a festival, sometimes used as a television studio.
17 locals recommend
Gashouder Westergasfabriek
1 KlönnepleinDance hall in an old Gas Producing Factory. Some days free entrance, some days part of a festival, sometimes used as a television studio.
A coffee terrace and restaurant that slowly turns into a night club on Fridays. Free entrance, low key.
428 locals recommend
Pacific Parc
23 PolonceaukadeA coffee terrace and restaurant that slowly turns into a night club on Fridays. Free entrance, low key.
Best terrace by the water in summer! Situated behind a very unattractive busstation and beneath a parking garage. You would never go here if you didn't know it was there.
436 locals recommend
Waterkant
55 KapelwegBest terrace by the water in summer! Situated behind a very unattractive busstation and beneath a parking garage. You would never go here if you didn't know it was there.
Sightseeing
Old shipwharfs, raw scenery and cultural hotspots. Coffee bars, city beach and fireplace chilling in old warehouses. Old trams, caravans and buses junkyard. A photographers walhalla on both sunny and rainy days.
127 locals recommend
NDSM Loods
85 NDSM-PleinOld shipwharfs, raw scenery and cultural hotspots. Coffee bars, city beach and fireplace chilling in old warehouses. Old trams, caravans and buses junkyard. A photographers walhalla on both sunny and rainy days.
Lookout over Amsterdam with a drink (entrance 12 euro per person). Dare devils take a seat on the swing (5 euro pp). Planners book a table in advance at Moon or MADAM depending on budget.
603 locals recommend
A'dam Lookout
5 OverhoekspleinLookout over Amsterdam with a drink (entrance 12 euro per person). Dare devils take a seat on the swing (5 euro pp). Planners book a table in advance at Moon or MADAM depending on budget.
Amsterdam is best discovered by boat. Rent here if you have boating skills. If not, just step on board a 'rondvaartboot' near Central Station.
(This is at Nassaukade, although this map is pointing elsewhere)
54 locals recommend
Mokum Boot Huren Amsterdam
351 NassaukadeAmsterdam is best discovered by boat. Rent here if you have boating skills. If not, just step on board a 'rondvaartboot' near Central Station.
(This is at Nassaukade, although this map is pointing elsewhere)
Hidden gem! Had been living in Amsterdam for years before we saw this unique tranquil place. Unreal that this is hidden in plain sight. Pass through it when you wander about the city center or after a visit to the Amsterdam Museum.
277 locals recommend
Begijnhof
1 BegijnhofHidden gem! Had been living in Amsterdam for years before we saw this unique tranquil place. Unreal that this is hidden in plain sight. Pass through it when you wander about the city center or after a visit to the Amsterdam Museum.
Parks & Nature
It is a park full of cafés, pubs, restaurants, a brewery, movie theatre, dancing venues, and terrasses. It has regular (food)markets AND it's a park. What more can you want? Do check the calender to see what's on.
1599 locals recommend
Westerpark
4 HaarlemmerwegIt is a park full of cafés, pubs, restaurants, a brewery, movie theatre, dancing venues, and terrasses. It has regular (food)markets AND it's a park. What more can you want? Do check the calender to see what's on.
On a sunny summer evening your hosts will be out here with friends playing a game of Kubb or having a barbecue or picknick. That is, if you don't require our assistance :-)
373 locals recommend
Erasmusparkbuurt
On a sunny summer evening your hosts will be out here with friends playing a game of Kubb or having a barbecue or picknick. That is, if you don't require our assistance :-)
Also called "Amsterdam Beach". Direct bus leaves at the crossroads near the studio. Alternatively you can take the train+tram combination if you don't like buses. (Nice to know: In the 1930's the house you are staying in was built along the direct tramline to the beach - onfortunately stopped operating in 1957 :-))
303 locals recommend
Zandvoort aan Zee station
Also called "Amsterdam Beach". Direct bus leaves at the crossroads near the studio. Alternatively you can take the train+tram combination if you don't like buses. (Nice to know: In the 1930's the house you are staying in was built along the direct tramline to the beach - onfortunately stopped operating in 1957 :-))
Arts & Culture
Fotography Museum. Not so large, not so ancient, not so literate. Just nice.
792 locals recommend
Foam
609 KeizersgrachtFotography Museum. Not so large, not so ancient, not so literate. Just nice.
Stadsschouwburg literally translates into City Theatre, but make no mistake. The City Theatre across the street actually named City Theatre is a movie theatre. (Are you still with us? ;-)) Stadsschouwburg is a theatre that hosts drama and cabaret, lot of them subtitled or English spoken.
136 locals recommend
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
26 LeidsepleinStadsschouwburg literally translates into City Theatre, but make no mistake. The City Theatre across the street actually named City Theatre is a movie theatre. (Are you still with us? ;-)) Stadsschouwburg is a theatre that hosts drama and cabaret, lot of them subtitled or English spoken.
See old Dutch wooden houses and mills. Cloggs, clothing, the whole Dutch shabbang. Not far from Amsterdam.
651 locals recommend
Zaanse Schans
KraaienestSee old Dutch wooden houses and mills. Cloggs, clothing, the whole Dutch shabbang. Not far from Amsterdam.
Our favourite museum. Has a nice overview exhibition of Amsterdam history AND has a larger multi-story collection for rainy days or just for people who love meandering through museums. Be sure to go seek for the mini café in traditional style. Oh and once you're done stop by Begijnhof -also listed in this guide.
111 locals recommend
Amsterdam Museum Building
92 KalverstraatOur favourite museum. Has a nice overview exhibition of Amsterdam history AND has a larger multi-story collection for rainy days or just for people who love meandering through museums. Be sure to go seek for the mini café in traditional style. Oh and once you're done stop by Begijnhof -also listed in this guide.
Must admit we've never been here ourselves, but it is on our list. This museum is an opened up legacy of a family called van Loon. In 1602 Willem van Loon co-founded the Dutch East-India Company. Seven days a week the current family van Loon opens their home and collection to the public. Get a glimpse of their life in one of the finest canal houses of the city. Also heard nice things about their almost secret tea garden.
138 locals recommend
Museum Van Loon
672 KeizersgrachtMust admit we've never been here ourselves, but it is on our list. This museum is an opened up legacy of a family called van Loon. In 1602 Willem van Loon co-founded the Dutch East-India Company. Seven days a week the current family van Loon opens their home and collection to the public. Get a glimpse of their life in one of the finest canal houses of the city. Also heard nice things about their almost secret tea garden.
Essentials
Nice and small. Has your daily basics. Walking distance. Not the cheapest but you'll live.
109 locals recommend
AH Bos en Lommerweg
117 Bos en LommerwegNice and small. Has your daily basics. Walking distance. Not the cheapest but you'll live.