If you have decided that you’re going to holiday to Amsterdam, then you’re going to need to make sure that you are up to date on everything that there is to know. Amsterdam is not massive in comparison to some of the other cities that might be on your travel list, but it’s certainly one that is full of culture, and it’s a popular destination for younger people as well. There’s so much to do here that it’s absolutely worth the time it takes to get there. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at everything that you need to know about going on holiday to Amsterdam, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.
Schiphol Is The Airport You Want
The first thing that we want to say is something that ends up confusing a lot of people. When you are booking your flight to Amsterdam, the airport that you are looking for is Schiphol. Some companies will put this as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, where others just list it as Schiphol airport. It can be quite confusing, but Amsterdam only has one airport, so this is the place that you want to be going.
Schiphol Airport is the informal name for the airport because of its location, but it has been known to cause some confusion in the past. You do need to be aware before you get here that it is a big airport, as it is also a hub for people catching connections to other places. Make sure that you are sticking with your travel companions when attempting to navigate your way out of this airport.
If You Forget Something In Your Bag
Packing your bag for a vacation can be a tricky task as there are so many things that you are going to need. You need things like adapters, you need clothes, you need shoes, you need sanitary y items and so much more, all of which needs to fit in your suitcase. Of course, what you need is going to depend on how long you are staying for, but it’s also worth noting that the majority of things that you could need can be purchased in Amsterdam itself. For example, if you forgot to bring an adapter for your plugs, there should be some in the airport, or there are stores that will sell these to you.
It doesn’t have to be a mad panic because you have forgotten something, unless it’s something essential like your passport because that’s going to be an issue. But, the main point is that if you have forgotten something basic, you should be able to get yourself a replacement while you are in The Netherlands.
Visit A Coffee Shop, But Be Prepared
Coffee shops in Amsterdam are incredible places. You can go there to chill out, to have a catch up with some friends, to just take a break from all of your tourist activities and so much more. They are relaxing, and have a calm atmosphere about them that people absolutely love. You just need to be vigilant in Amsterdam coffee shops because they also sell other products such as edibles. These are pretty clearly marked as this is legal in The Netherlands, but if you don’t speak Dutch then you might not realize it at first. If you’re ever unsure, you can always ask the person behind the counter.
You will often find that the edibles come in the form of space cakes, brownies and gummies. Just keep your eye out if you are not interested in feeling the effects of THC, and make sure that you are getting something that is THC free.
Take A Canal Ride
Of course, one of the things that you should do while you are here is set out on the canal. It’s a wonderful way to spend a little of your time, as you get to see some awesome sights, and a lot of Amsterdam while you are cruising along the water. This can be a romantic trip with the one that you love, or it can just be a nice way to relax towards the end of a long day. You might have seen this depicted in some movies that have hit the big screen such as The Fault In Our Stars, where Gus and Hazel take a beautiful boat trip later in the movie. If you’ve seen this movie and you’ve always wanted to do it, now could be your chance.
Book these tours and rides in advance to avoid any kind of disappointment, as it’s certainly not something to be missed.
Visit All Of The Wonderful Museums
Amsterdam has so many incredible museums and historical places for you to visit. If you are interested in the culture and this kind of thing, then you should definitely be booking tickets to the places that you are most interested in. One of the most famous museums in Amsterdam is the Rijksmuseum. This is the national museum of the Netherlands, and contains over 800 years of Dutch history, dedicated to arts and history alike. It truly is a special place, and will give you more of an insight to Dutch life and culture over the last 800 years than anywhere else. Inside, you will find pieces by incredible artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. There are also smaller museums dedicated to some of the specific painters, if you are interested in learning more about them individually.
Further than this there is the Anne Frank House, which is a popular tourist attraction. You can step inside the place where the Frank family hid from the Nazis during the second world war, read entries from Anne’s journal, and learn all about what it was like to hide in the annex.
In The Night Time
A lot of you are going to be interested in the night time activities that go on in Amsterdam, and you are not going to be disappointed. To make sure that you know your way around, you can look into an Amsterdam red light district tour, where someone will take you around, showing you everything that you need to see. There are various bars and establishments here, in the oldest part of Amsterdam.
If you’re looking for a good time then you are sure to find it here, or even if you just find yourself curious and want to know if it lives up to everything that you have heard, it’s worth visiting. Just remember to be safe when you are visiting areas like this, don’t wander off on your own without someone that you know, and try to make sure that you don’t get lost.
Most Dutch People Can Speak English, But…
One of the most important things that you should know is that most Dutch people can speak English. Even if it’s only a small amount, enough to have a basic conversation with you, most of them can. This is because it is taught in Dutch schools, even more so now than it used to be. However, you should never assume that someone can speak English, as not everyone can and there will be times where you come across someone who isn’t able to. As you are heading to the new country, you should be making an effort to learn at least some of the basic phrases that you are going to need. Please and thank you are the most basic ones that you should learn with the former being ‘asseblief’ (ash-uh-bleef) and the former being ‘dank je wel’ (dunk-yuh-vel).
If you ever find yourself completely stuck, you are in a store or somewhere, you need help but the person is talking to you in Dutch, say this magic phrase and they will either speak English or find someone for you who does: ‘Ik versta het niet, praten Engles?’ which translates to ‘I don’t understand, can you speak English?’
Try Out Their Cuisine
The final thing that we’re going to say is that you should make sure you try out some of the things that they are famous for food-wise while you are there. The Dutch are renowned for their potatoes, and the frites or fries, are certainly something that you should try. One of the common ones which might sound a little weird to us, but is a huge hit over there is frites/patat met pindasaus which is fries with peanut sauce. Everything is worth a try once, right?
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see everything that you are going to need to know about having your holiday in Amsterdam. It’s certainly somewhere in the world that everyone should visit at least once, even if it’s just to tick it off your travel list. We will say though that everyone who ventures to Amsterdam seems to love it, and we’re sure that you’re not going to be any different. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you are able to make the best of everything and anything that you can do or see here.