Things to do in Amsterdam
The Van Gogh Museum houses some 200 paintings and 550 sketches showing Van Gogh in all his moods. These combined with hundreds of letters by Van Gogh, and selected works by his friends and contemporaries, form the core of the museum's collection.
The Anne Frank House in the center of Amsterdam is the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her famous diary during World War II. The original of the diary is on display as part of the Anne Frank House's permanent exhibition.
The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum in the Netherlands, with more than a million visitors each year. The Rijksmuseum is a familiar Amsterdam landmark and possesses an unrivalled collection of Dutch art, from early religious works to the masterpieces of the Golden Age.
The Amsterdam Royal Palace is built as the town hall, the building's Classical facade and fine sculptures were intended to glorify the city of Amsterdam and its government.
The Old Church with little houses clinging to it's sides, remains a calm heaven at the heart of the freneric Red Light District. It's buildings, especially the Gothic-renaissance style octagonal bell tower, was used by sailors to get their bearings.
On the edge of the Red Light District, the Museum Amstelkring houses in the restored 17th-century canal house with two smaller houses to the rear. The lower floors of the building became a museum in 1888 and today contain refurbished rooms, as well as a collection of church silver, religious artifacts and paintings.
The Stedelijk Museum houses the civic collection of modern art, displaying works by Picasso, Matisse, Cezane and Monet. The museum also stages contemporary art exhibitions, and a sculpture garden is to be found behind the building.
The Netherlands is famous for it's windmills. Today there are still more than 1.000 mills. Nowhere in the world you will find as many windmills as near (the Dutch village) Kinderdijk. Around 1740 no less than 19 sturdy mills were built here. They have been well preserved to the present day.
The Magere Brug (situated on Amstel, between Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht and in opposite of the Carré theatre) is a traditional double-leaf Dutch draw-bridge connecting sides of river Amstel. About every 20 minutes the bridge opens, as the bridge master lets boats through. The original bridge was built in 1670.
A narrow, vaulted passageway leads to the Begijnhof. This charming garden is surrounded by old houses. The devout celibate Béguine nuns have been replaced by old ladies. In the centre of the lawns stands a medieval church, while number 34 is the oldest house in Amsterdam. Entrance on Spui is indicated by a carved sign, entry is free.
The National Maritime Museum holds the largest collection of boats in the world. Displays of real-size boats, models and maps give a chronological view of Dutch naval history.
