What to See in Amsterdam and What to Skip for 1st Time Visitors

Amsterdam is one of the most visited cities in Europe. According to Euromonitor’s Top 10 City Destinations, Amsterdam was Europe’s third most visited city in 2022. With its canals and bridges, rich maritime history, townhomes, and ease of movement around the city, Amsterdam has captivated visitors for centuries (Peter the Great was famously impressed with the city and applied many of the ideas he saw to his capital, St. Petersburg). It continues to attract visitors in large numbers today. Here are some of our recommendations for first time visitors on what to do and what you may want to see in Amsterdam and and what a 1st time visitor should skip.

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Museums Worth Visiting in Amsterdam

As the seat of the former Dutch Empire, Amsterdam has seen a lot. It used to be one of the most important trading centers in Europe and the world. Over time, the influence of the Netherlands has changed, and people visit the Netherlands for more than to learn about the past and contemplate art. Even when there is much more to see and enjoy in Amsterdam, visiting the museums showcasing some of the Netherlands’ storied history and best art examples is a must during your time in the capital. Here is our selection of three museums not to miss: 

Van Gogh Museum

You can see some of Van Gogh’s most famous pieces in other museums worldwide; this museum organizes his work as a retrospective in chronological order. As you move up the stairs into the different rooms, you see a different stage of inspiration Van Gogh went through to create his most famous paintings and define impressionism for generations of artists to come. 

The museum celebrated its 50th anniversary with special exhibits and activities to mark the occasion. You can access the museum quite easily through Amsterdam’s public transportation system. 

Hours	9:00 – 18:00 (There are variations for certain days/weeks – More detailed information
Cost	€22 (Free for those under 18 years of age)
Tickets	Van Gogh Museum Tickets

Amsterdam Maritime Museum

The Netherlands controlled global trade for centuries. Thanks to this, it had multiple colonies worldwide, including Indonesia (formerly the Dutch East Indies), Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire (the Dutch West Indies), and other trading ports. The Dutch dominated the spice trade and mobilized enslaved people across continents and other luxury goods. This museum explains how the advanced technology of the Dutch applied to navigation and includes a collection of artifacts showcasing Dutch maritime history, which started in the 15th century. Out on the harbor, you can step into a replica of one of the boats used in the Dutch trading expeditions. 

One notable thing to notice about the exhibits in this museum is the acknowledgment of the wrongs of the past and the explanations included in some of the presentations and artifacts explaining the use of racist language or how some of the visuals perpetuate negative stereotypes. It’s something we had never seen in a museum before. We hope to see more of those corrections and reckoning with the wrongs of the past at other museums in the future. 

The Maritime Museum is on the Amsterdam Harbor, and most areas are open most of the year. We recommend combining your visit with another activity like a canal cruise, where you can take in Amsterdam’s iconic architecture.

Hours	Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00; Sunday: 11:00 – 17:00
Cost	€17.50 per adult
Tickets	Amsterdam Maritime Museum Tickets

Jewish Museum

The Jewish Museum is in the Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam. The museum is attached to other cultural institutions, which include the Portuguese Synagogue, the Hollandsche Schouwburg, and the National Holocaust Museum. Your ticket to the Jewish museum gives you access to the other buildings. We only visited the Jewish Museum, which is quite extensive and chronicles the history of the Jewish inhabitants of Amsterdam, including, but not limited to, their influence on the city’s economic activity and the suffering they experienced during the Second World War. 

The permanent collections are split into three: a religious collection, which includes texts and artifacts used in Jewish religious services, Jewish life between 1600 and 1900, and Jewish life after 1900. You can get a self-paced audio guide to make the most of each exhibit. We suggest pairing this museum with the Maritime Museum, which is within walking distance. Then again, so are most things in the central cluster of Amsterdam – walk, get a bike, or use public transport. It’s the most efficient way to see the city. 

Hours	Daily 10:00 – 17:00
Cost	€20.00 per adult
Tickets	Jewish Museum Tickets and/or Holocaust Museum Tickets

Other Museums to See in Amsterdam

The museums in this section are considered must-sees in Amsterdam, yet we didn’t get to see them our last time out. The Rijksmuseum didn’t hold enough interest for us at the time after very intense “museum-ing” at the Louvre only six months prior, and Rembrandt House was closed for renovations. Anne Frank Museum was all booked up when we were in Amsterdam, so although we wanted to visit, we struck out—more on booking tickets for that one below. 

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Rijksmuseum

Often called “the Museum of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh,” the Rijkmuseum is the most important art museum in the Netherlands. The most famous painting displayed at the museum is Rembrandt’s The Night Watch; the museum even creates activities for visitors around the themes of the painting. Those who are short on time or who don’t want to wander around the museum to find “the hits” can see the Best of the Rijksmuseum in a one-hour guided tour for only 5 EUR.

The museum also dedicates time to exploring the intersection of art and literature and using art to illustrate the history of the Netherlands. A museum like this is a great opportunity to try a guided tour, especially if you are new to art and want to elevate your appreciation for it. As with other experiences in Amsterdam, you can also combine your museum tickets with other attractions or make it an indoor/outdoor day by getting museum tickets with a bike or walking tour, for example.

Hours	Daily: 9:00 – 17:00
Cost	€17.50 per adult
Tickets	Rijksmuseum Tickets

Rembrandt House

Rembrandt Museum, sometimes called Rembrandt House as it was the artist’s house, is open again after a renovation. It’s a little bit removed from the other museums, but given the size of the city, it’s not far from the rest of the main sights. This museum offers an opportunity for deep exploration into Rembrandt’s life and works. While some of his better-known works are in museums worldwide, most of his sketches are displayed here. The museum also demonstrates Rembrandt’s painting techniques and how he created paints. The renovations include a new multimedia tour to make the spaces in Rembrandt’s house more interactive to give people a sense of what life was like for this renowned 17th-century painter. 

Hours	Daily 10:00 – 18:00
Cost	€19.50 per adult
Tickets	Rembrandt House Tickets

Anne Frank Museum – A MUST See in Amsterdam

The Anne Frank Museum is the house where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding during the Second World War. The museum holds Anne’s original diary and some of the rewrites she completed in hiding. At the request of Anne’s father, the Secret Annex remains empty in the condition it was during the family’s time there. You can see objects and Anne’s writings exhibited throughout the museum, but an essential element of this space is walking through the Secret Annex. 

We highly recommend reading (or rereading) the Diary before visiting the museum. It can provide context for what you will see and learn about this incredibly optimistic and eloquent young woman who represented the best of the human spirit at a particularly dark time. 

There are some things to keep in mind when you plan your visit: 

1. The only place to get tickets is through the Anne Frank Museum website. You may come across other sites, but you should buy via their actual site. You can get tickets as far as six weeks in advance. You do need to choose a time slot; due to the size of the space, it’s not a museum made for lingering. 
2. Photography is not allowed inside the museum. 
3. You can schedule an introductory program with your ticket, which takes place 30 minutes before your scheduled museum time. The introductory program teaches visitors more about Anne Frank’s life in the context of the Second World War. 
4. We also recommend checking out other related experiences, including tours of the neighborhood where Anne lived and more insight into the lives of those living in the Netherlands during the Second World War.
5. Refer back to #1 – Book in advance! It sells out very quickly!

Hours	Daily 9:00 – 22:00 (with certain exceptions)
Cost	€17 per adult
Tickets	Anne Frank House Tickets

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What You Might (or Might Not) Want to Skip

Amsterdam has plenty to do! It is chock full of museums, but there are still some sights and places you may (or may not) want to avoid!

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The Red Light District

It’s easy to dismiss the Red Light District as a loud, maybe “not for you” tourist trap. But this part of Amsterdam has more than sex workers on window displays. Some of the exciting things we ran into include: 

• The only sports bar we could find showing the Grand Prix that was on during our weekend in town,
• A hilariously corny museum about adult things
• Fresh-made stroopwafel (highly recommend; go a bit crazy on the toppings; it makes it much better!)
• If you like spicy things, you can find what you’re looking for! 

Overall, though, the Red Light District is full of crowds, especially bachelor and bachelorette parties, all of whom are probably under the influence of something. While this is a fascinating area to walk through, it’s also entirely skippable if you really want to explore the true Amsterdam.

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Amsterdam Tulip Museum

This little museum is “conveniently” located right near the Anne Frank House. The museum goes over the history of the tulip, both in and out of the Netherlands, wild tulips and more. It takes about 30 minutes or so to go through the entire museum. While the cost of €5 isn’t high, we didn’t feel it was really worth it. It does, however, have a nice shop prior to entering if you’re interested in tulip-themed gifts or to purchase actual tulips or tulip bulbs.

Heineken Experience

Heineken has been around since 1592 so learning about this beer is definitely cool! That said, there’s so much to see and do in Amsterdam that we recommend you skip this if it’s your first time in the city. Unless, of course you really, really love Heinken!

However, there are plenty of other beers available in Amsterdam and we think this is an experience you save for the next time around! If you do want to go, however, tickets are €23 and it’s open from 10:30 – 19:30.

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Other Things to Keep in Mind and See in Amsterdam

• Cafes (actual places that sell coffee) and coffee shops (sell cannabis-based products and weed itself) are not the same things, but just because you go to a coffee shop doesn’t mean you have to buy cannabis products; they serve “normal” things, too. 
• There genuinely are bikes EVERYWHERE. Be mindful of where you’re walking; it’s likely a bike lane.
  • Even more so, go on a bike tour! These can take you through the city or the countryside and are very lovely! 
• Enjoy the outdoors! Sit outside at the cafes, walk through the bridges, or take a boat ride in the canals. The weather in mid to late June is just lovely; very comfortable for walking outside.
• Foodhallen – This is a huge indoor space with stalls/trucks where you can get a variety of foods from around the world. If you want to grab a bite to eat, we recommend Foodhallen!

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Final thoughts

Amsterdam is lovely. It’s popular with different crowds, but it’s possible to enjoy the city no matter how crowded. It’s not the only city in the Netherlands worth spending time on, but there’s a reason why it’s the capital, and it holds incredible charm. If you can go, go, preferably in the spring or summer. 

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