I’m no authority in what places are the must-dos. But I can tell you which are the ones I went to. I’ll sprinkle in some basic information along the way and tell you about my experience. Your trip will be different than mine. But I thought I’d share what I saw.

I’ve always contemplated about living in Amsterdam instead of Rotterdam. For now, I have made my peace with my residential choice. But Amsterdam is 40 minutes away from Rotterdam. Any visit is quick, convenient, and affordable.

Someone once asked me what was the riskiest and most adventurous thing I’ve done in my life. I said, I fell in love. And that was in Amsterdam.

Drugs, sex, parties, canals, bikes, and a gazillion tourists – all of these can be found in Amsterdam. But so can art, culture, history, liberty, friends, and love! While cliche, Amsterdam is an obvious and logical recommendation.

For other places I’ve visited in the Netherlands, you can visit these links: Rotterdam and Groningen.

For photos I’ve taken in the Netherlands, you can visit these links: Rotterdam and Maastricht.

Here are five places I visited in Amsterdam:

Rijksmuseum

For people who enjoy art and/or had a blast inside the Louvre, I get the sense that Rijksmuseum is for you. I’m not a big fan of either. But I see the appeal.

There is so much to enjoy that a day would not be enough. And everyone else says that repeats are necessary to fully digest the plethora of collections.

I prefer sticking to the hits. Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and Hals’s The Merry Drinker are all located inside the museum.

I do find the building’s architecture impressive. And if you are fortunate enough, a fireman might be casually hanging around with a firetruck, willing to take you in his vehicle, and lifting you up to get a panoramic view of the building. I was lucky and the experience was amazing!

Van Gogh Museum

I prefer focus. I don’t like getting overwhelmed. And I want a story that is told in an organised manner. And those are probably some of the reasons I prefer Van Gogh Museum over most of the ones I’ve been to, Rijksmuseum and the Louvre included.

Unlike the Rijksmuseum, I went through the entire catalog, not just the hits. The exhibits are structured chronologically, allowing me to understand his personal circumstances and to see the corresponding progression of his works.

There are great struggles and sacrifices behind all the fame and glory he’s experienced since his death. There’s glamour now. But there was tragedy before. And the untold stories of the people who surrounded and supported him during his tumultuous life was eye-opening for me.

Anne Frank House

I’ve never heard of Anne Frank until I moved to the Netherlands. And part of the beauty of the museum is how that lack of awareness is irrelevant. To me, she’s a representation of young Jewish dreams that ended up not seeing the light of day due to the Holocaust.

The mood is somber. Pictures are not allowed. And the confines of the house can be problematic for anyone claustrophobic. And imagine being nowhere but the secret rooms for two years… That was Anne Frank and her family’s experience. I just remembered how much I complained about being asked to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic…

The experience transported me back to the days when she and her family feared for their lives. The space I am freely able to roam around in, alongside the liberties I enjoy now, would be luxuries for them. My potential, that I am wasting despite my relatively privileged circumstances, is a waste and a tragedy. For one so young and who had so little, the impact that she made was humongous.

Heineken Experience

I went to the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. And I’ve been living in the Netherlands for close to two years now. But I’ve never been to the Heineken Experience. I said to myself, why don’t I visit what is in my backyard?

The place is a former brewhouse that now functions as a museum. As expected, there’s drinking. A lot of souvenirs, personalised or generic, await. And in case those two things do not entice you – a glimpse into the man behind the brand, a walkthrough of the beer making process, and the evolution of the company through the times, are also part of the tour. There is some form of 4D experience which I found amusing and confusing.

Albert Cuyp Market

The Albert Cuyp Market is crowded enough to generate a vibe of hustle and bustle without bordering on suffocation. It’s easy to go around and take a stroll.

If you are up for a quick bite, there are a variety of options to choose from. My favourite is a stroopwafel, in a stall that’s apparently been owned by the same family for generations.

Not for me, but in case you’re interested. There are also vegetables, fruits, meat, fish, clothing, and souvenirs.

The market also has the location working in its favour. It is situated in De Pijp, which is a trendy neighbourhood with nice cafes and restaurants.

All photos were taken from 2022 to 2024