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Home › Articles › International Travel › Amazing Amsterdam

Amazing Amsterdam

Gateway to the Arts and Trades

By Tara McLellan

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A new period of renaissance has begun in Amsterdam, with a blossoming population of young people living and studying in the city, new building and architecture planned to revitalize dormant areas and a cultural boom attracting orchestras, ballet, theatre, museums and galleries. Amsterdam truly has something to offer every visitor, approximating nearly four million each year.

For shoppers and bargain hunters, every corner of the city has its distinctive areas for the best buys. In fact, there are currently more than 9,000 shops in Amsterdam, offering a variety of goods and food. Traditionally, the best known shopping street is the Kalverstraat, but there are many other areas of the city that are now growing in popularity and in diversity in shops, such as Boven 't IJ, Plein '40-'45, Oud-Zuid and Oud-West.

In addition to shopping centers, the city also maintains many colorful markets. The main market attractions are the Dappermarkt and the Albert Cuypmarkt.

If museum hopping is your interest, the city will pose a difficult dilemma: choosing which ones to visit first. Amsterdam has more than 50 museums and galleries, covering the spectrum of interests from traditional and modern art to science and nature and history.

Perhaps the best-known art museums in the Netherlands are the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museums. The Rijksmuseum has the largest collection of art in the country, with collections of old masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer and Jan Steen, as well as a vast print, drawing, sculpture, furniture, silver, glass, Dutch history and Asian art sections. The Van Gogh museum houses approximately 1,500 works by the master, as well as paintings by contemporaries such as Gaugin, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec and others.

Science and nature enthusiasts can tour the NEMO, the national center for science and knowledge, and the historical Artis Zoo, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands. History buffs will want to visit the Amsterdam Historic Museum, with an overview of Amsterdam from the 13th century to today; the Biblical Museum, with artifacts from Egypt and ancient Jewish and Christian sites; and the Anne Frank house, which tells the story of Anne and her family during the German occupation.

Amsterdam is perfectly planned for walking tours, with seven pedestrian routes, covering a total of 30 major attractions, as well as an extensive system of canal transportation. The city celebrates food and drink like no other in the country and easily has the highest number of top restaurants and cafes.

For fun and culture, visitors may want to plan a trip to Amsterdam during festival time. Starting in June and running through August, the city comes alive with festivals celebrating the visual and performing arts, as well as food, music and entertainment.

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