Amsterdam Tourist-Attractions

Amsterdam Tourist-Attractions information

Anne Frank's House

Everyone knows at least the basics of the story of Dutch girl Anne Frank and her family, who hid from the Nazis in a secret annex of the house of a Christian family during World War Two. The original building still stands, and now operates as the Anne Frank House Museum. For many people, a visit to Anne Frank's House is their most moving experience in Amsterdam. It may also be your most crowded experience in Amsterdam so go early to beat the rush. Address: Prinsengracht 263. Open: daily 09h00-19h00 (until 21h00 Apr-Aug). Admission: EUR7.50, adults; EUR3.50, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-556-7100. Transport: Trams 13, 17, 20.

Vincent Van Gogh Museum

One of the city's best museums, the excellent Vincent Van Gogh draws a crowd on most weekends - you might be better going in the earlier part of the week to try and avoid this. The museum has a substantial and definitive collection of more than 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Van Gogh and his contemporaries. Van Gogh's own work is arranged chronologically in five periods. Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7. Open: Mon-Sun 10h00-18h00; Fri 10h00-22h00. Admission: EUR10, adults; Free under 12 years old. Tel: +31 (0)20-570-5200. Transport: Trams 2, 5 or 20 from Centraal Station go past the museum.

Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk Museum has by far the best collection of modern art in the country. It concentrates on works from the second half of the 20th century, and there are almost always temporary exhibitions or installations by new artists. The Stedelijk has notable works from Picasso, Matisse, Cezanne, Mondrian and Chagall, amongst others. The restaurant, with its walls painted by Karel Appel, is a particular treat. Address: Oosterdokskade 5. Open: daily 10h00-18h00 (until 21h00 Thu). Admission: EUR9, adults; EUR4.50, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-573-2911.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is Amsterdam's largest and most popular museum, containing some of the greatest works of art found anywhere in the Netherlands. The central attraction is the collection of 17th-century Dutch Masters, featuring canvases from some of the finest artists in history, including Rembrandt and Vermeer. The rest of the collection ventures further afield and in galleries such as the Print Room and the Asiatic Art room you can see photographs, statuary and all manner of artefacts drawn from art epochs all over the world. A range of special exhibitions relating to art and history keep the Rijksmuseum's offerings fresh and exciting for repeat visitors. With over a million objects in the entire collection only a fraction is on view at a time but you should still budget several hours for a visit. Adderss: Stadhouderskade 42. Open: daily 09h00-18h00 (Fri 09h00-22h00). Admission: EUR10, adults; free, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-674-7047. Transport: Trams 2, 5 and 20 from Centraal Station, all go along the Stadhouderskade past the museum. *Please note that the Rijksmuseum is undergoing extensive renovation from December 2003 until 2009. Although the most important works from the collection are on display in the Philips Wing, the main gallery is completely closed during this period.

Canal Tours

Leaving from the Damrak in front of Centraal Station are the canal tours, which weave their very leisurely way along the most important of Amsterdam's canals. Avoid the boats with pre-recorded guide tapes - they're rarely as good as those with live guides. Apart from that, there's little to choose between, as almost all the companies do very similar tours. One novel option is to hire a motor boat or pedalo and explore the city's waterways on your own. Rates vary considerably; ID is required to hire motor boats. For a self-directed tour, rent a pedalo from Canal Bike, which offers good hourly, daily and weekly rates from its convenient location near the Rijksmuseum. Click the voucher icon for details on discounted rates. Address: Weteringschans 26. Open: daily 10h00-18h00. Tel: +31 (0)20-626-5574.

Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam

The Amsterdam version of this famous concept brings a Dutch twist to the remarkably lifelike casts of celebrities and historical figures. The fourth floor, entitled the Dutch Golden Age, is populated with cultural and military heroes from Dutch history, while the Grand Hall on the third floor widens the lens to focus on world leaders, religious figures and royalty. The remaining two floors are given over to music and sport, both of which have benefited from a mid-2002 EUR4 million refurbishment. Address: Dam Square. Open: daily 10h00-18h30. Admission: EUR17.75, adults; EUR12.75, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-522-1010.

Walking and Bike Tours

Amsterdam is the perfect size for walking and bike tours, and there are more operators than we have space to mention. Check any of the tourist information offices for current brochures - many of the companies leave their literature in hotels and at major attractions. As a rough guide, expect to pay EUR10 per day for a bike rental. For bike hire contact: MacBike, Mr Visserplein 2, and Weteringschans 2. Tel: +31 (0)20-620-0985 Rent-a-Bike, Damstraat 20-22. Tel: +31 (0)20-625-5029.

Amsterdam Historical Museum

Housed in an old civic orphanage is the Historical Museum, which chronicles the development of Amsterdam from the Middle Ages to modern times. Although the subject sounds dry you won't regret spending an hour or two in the museum. The exhibitions detail Amsterdam's fascinating growth from small market town to international city of excellence and puts the unique culture into context. Address: Amsterdams Historisch Museum. Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 357/Kalverstraat 92. Open: Mon-Fri 10h00-17h00; Sat-Sun 11h00-17h00. Admission: EUR6, adults; EUR3, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-523-1822.

Alternative Museums and The Holland Experience

Amsterdam has hundreds of other museums catering to just about everybody and featuring just about everything you can think of. There is a Children's Museum, Anti-War Museum, Sex Museum, Cannabis Museum, Jewish Museum, Bible Museum... the list goes on. Many of these are very small, and some only warrant a half-hour visit but each can be fascinating nevertheless. The best way to discover these little repositories of eccentrica is simply to bump into them while exploring the town. If you're looking to kick-start your Amsterdam adventure then head for the Holland Experience 3D Movie Theatre. This interactive film takes you on an exhilarating 30-minute ride through the countryside of the Netherlands in full 3D, without you having to leave your seat. Address: Waterlooplein 17. Open: daily 10h00-18h00. Admission: EUR8.50, adults; EUR7.25, children; EUR26.50, family pass. Tel: +31 (0)20-422-2233.

NEMO - Science Centre

This magnificent building, built to resemble a boat run aground, houses a massive hands-on science and technology centre, which should keep older children amused for a good couple of hours. Hundreds of hi-tech workstations let people interact with exhibits through games and experiments and mean the museum is constantly changing with each visitor's input. Look to see if there are any temporary exhibitions on when you go, as these can be very impressive and well worth a visit in themselves. Address: Oosterdok 2. Open: Tue-Sun 10h00-17h00. Admission: EUR11, adults; EUR8.50, children. Tel: +31 (0)20-531-3233.