Amsterdam city guide | a traditional streetscape in Amsterdam, flanked by trees Amsterdam city guide | a traditional streetscape in Amsterdam, flanked by trees

Insider Guide: Amsterdam

Last updated: May 2nd, 2023

Amsterdam is a web of stately canals, wonky gabled merchant houses, waterfront bars, and pulsating warehouse clubs, alongside a world-leading collection of mighty museums and art galleries. Venture out of the centre and be rewarded with the green expanses of Vondelpark and Rembrandtpark to the west, the independent boutiques and watering holes of Amsterdam Oost, and art collectives, cutting edge restaurants and nightlife in industrial Amsterdam Noord, a short ferry ride away across the Ij waterway. Cycle around the city like a local, or make use of an immaculate public transport system.

 

Museums galore

Few cities have as much public space dedicated to museums as Amsterdam. On the Museumplein, there’s the Rijksmuseum, filled to the rafters with Dutch masters; the Stedelijk and its collection of 20th century art and design; and the Van Gogh Museum, hung with paintings and ephemera from the artist’s life. But it’s not all stately institutions: LGBTQ+ collective Sexyland World hosts pop-up installations and events at its gallery and club in Amsterdam Noord, and the famed Foam Museum, housed in a historic canal-side house, is dedicated entirely to the art of photography.

Unique hotels

Due to its compact size, you have the freedom to pick pretty much any neighbourhood you wish, safe in the knowledge that most of what you’ll want to see is no more than a 15-minute journey away. From the grand cloisters of 17th-century houses that make up The Dylan or The Pulitzer, to the renovated pump house and bridge houses of the Vondice or SWEETS, Amsterdam’s places to stay make the most of historic and contemporary design alike.

Remote working

Amsterdam has one of the highest numbers of freelance workers in the EU and it is suitably kitted out for remote workers. If you are looking for co-working facilities and a place to sleep under the same roof, consider staying at Volkshotel or Zoku, which both boast flexible workspaces, meeting rooms, and meet-ups. Or if you’d rather work elsewhere, specialty coffee roaster and remote working space Venu, or the expansive office space Fosbury & Sons, offer light-filled, contemporary surrounds to work from, and there’s a host of lively, laptop-friendly cafes across the city.

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