Time Out Amsterdam City Guide with Pull-Out Map (Travel Guide): Travel Guide with Pull-out Map

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It’s beautiful, vibrant and bustling, but it’s also very approachable and relaxed. Because it’s small, you can visit everything on foot and by bike, and there’s always something going on or somewhere to explore.’ It comes into its own in summer There’s not much in the way of nightlife here, but for sundowners with the best view, Strandpaviljoen ‘t Badhuys – the island’s only beach bar – is the place to head. Grab a table on the terrace just a few feet from the golden sands.

Once you’ve had your fill of the Netherlands’ most famous painter, go for an afternoon stroll around the sprawling, leafy Vondelpark . Done? Then it’s time to head to the romantic Jordaan for dinner. If you’re after a pre-meal tipple, Bar Mimi and Cafe L'Affiche are charming spots you can stop at on your way to Men Impossible . Serving a delectable plant-based ramen menu, this is one of the city’s most unique restaurants — just make sure to book ahead. Looking for somewhere that combines genteel Amsterdammer sophistication with a touch of urban chaos? Lush, leafy – yet fast-changing – Oud-West is the area for you. With the vast expanse that is Vondelpark, a smattering of hip bars and boutiques, and some first-rate restaurants, there’s no end of excellent things to see and do here. Overtoom and the bustling De Clercqstraat, in particular, are now home to a vibrant community of chefs, creatives and entrepreneurs; Oud-West as a whole has become second only to Oost for those looking to explore the city’s food and drink scene. So take a day or two, hire a bike, and soak up all this wonderful neighbourhood has to offer. Nothing is more ‘De Pijp’ than just chilling out, and the small but perfectly formed Sarphatipark is the perfect place to do it. Grab some food and coffee to go – try Scandinavian Embassy , CT Coffee & Coconuts or Little Collins – and bag a spot in this tranquil inner-city haven; on a nice day, there is nothing finer. And while you’re here, wander around some of the cute little boutiques on the surrounding streets. Ignore the glitz of the trashy attractions around Dam Square and head instead to Oude Kerk , not just Amsterdam’s oldest church but the oldest building. Founded around 1213, it stands in De Wallen, in the heart of the Red Light District. Marvel at the wooden roof (the largest in Europe) and the beautiful stained-glass windows. Refuel with some Korean street food at The Bab Oud West . When you’re done, head to Lab111 . This cinema shows a revolving mix of classic, contemporary, and cult movies — plus its bar is an excellent place to sit with a drink and discuss what you’ve seen, both on the screen and in the city.Stamppot is the closest thing the Dutch have to a national dish, and Moeders , a quirky restaurant adorned with photos of customers’ actual mothers, is the place to try it. The combination of mashed potato, cabbage, bacon and sausage makes for quite a plateful, and while there’s plenty of other hearty, traditional grub on offer here, all portions are huge so make sure you bring an appetite. If time is of the essence, book a Tuk Tuk Safari , a guided tour of the whole island in an electric tuk-tuk. Lasting 90 minutes and complete with witty, informative drivers, the tour takes in Vlieland’s wildlife in all its epic diversity (plus some breathtaking views). Expect seals, birds of prey and the most dramatic cloud formations imaginable. Originally built in the 17th century to house immigrants and the working class, this area has since been transformed into the city’s most expensive neighbourhood. Jordaan brims with elegant townhouses and spacious apartments and is dotted with art galleries, expensive boutiques and classy restaurants. But it’s not all extravagance and luxury; there are plenty of charming little stores and restaurants attracting younger crowds who live a little further west. If a sedate pace and upscale lifestyle are what you crave, this is the place to be. ADE – Amsterdam Dance Event – is one of the biggest EDM festivals in the world, with many artists playing all over the city. In August, we celebrate love with hundreds of thousands of people during Pride – we are incredibly proud as Amsterdammers to celebrate Pride together as one. And November brings Museumnacht– museum night – when almost every museum in Amsterdam opens long into the night. Imagine seeing a Frans Hals painting while dancing!’ Interview by Derek Robertson.

If I’m with friends or family, I often visit Café de Ceuvel in Noord. On a warm summer day, we bring our swimsuits and take a dive. One thing the Dutch are famous for is apple pie, and you’ll find the best at a café called Waargenoegen in Noord’s Neef Louis vintage design store.’ ... and there’s always loads of art to see Billed as an ‘unconventional hotel’, the Lloyd is out of the ordinary. This historic building has served as a shelter for Jewish refugees, a prison and a juvenile detention centre – and is now a 117-room boutique hotel where no two rooms are alike. From budget twins to suites with beds that sleep seven, this is a unique place that’s the perfect base for the well-travelled and style-conscious. The Lloyd is currently undergoing a big renovation with a view to reopening in 2023, so watch this space. In the cosy confines of Zuiver , there’s only one option: a five-course ‘surprise’ menu that changes daily and showcases the very best local and seasonal produce. The food is consistently excellent, and it’s worth shelling out for the accompanying wine pairings. There’s no quirkier gift or souvenir than a pair of traditional wooden shoes, and at Kooijman , you can witness the whole process ‘from log to clog’, using 80-year-old machinery and deft hand-crafting skills.Housed in a former diamond factory, the 90-room Sir Albert oozes understated cool. ‘Modern aristocratic’ is the vibe, with light, airy rooms filled with quirky art and a handy goodie box stuffed with travel essentials. Try to get Deluxe Room 19 – it has huge windows overlooking the street – and pop into the ground-floor restaurant Izakaya for some of the city’s best sushi. And they’re more than that, too – these joints are social hubs, creative spaces, and they often have great food menus for your munchies too. One thing to note, though, is that a few of Amsterdam's coffeeshops are really famous, and it's to their own detriment... These spots are now inescapable tourist traps, and we wouldn't recommend them (you won't find Smokey and Bulldog the First on here, for example).But if you want to visit a proper good one? Read on, friends. These are the best coffeeshops in Amsterdam.

The best way to take in the magnificent Old Town – particularly Oudegracht – is from the water, and you needn’t restrict yourself to traditional canal tours (although they are great). Kayaks, pedalos and even gondolas are available to rent at various spots around the city centre. Many places in Amsterdam claim to be big on sustainability, but The Tire Station (a 112-room eco-designer hotel) really does practise what it preaches. Energy from renewable sources, an eco-garden on the roof with beehives, and tables made from recycled yoghurt pots: their credentials are impeccable. And none of this impinges on style or comfort (the rooms are hip and funky) – making this a great base to explore West and beyond. Ah, Amsterdam. Our love affair with this city never ends, from its innovative food scene to its most well-known attractions. Perhaps most famous for its art galleries and museums, from the Van Gogh Museum to the Anne Frank House, Amsterdam stands proudly as one of the most culturally significant cities in Europe, but, of course, it’s got a poppin’ nightlife scene too. It’s also one of Europe’s most popular cities for a weekend break – which is no surprise, given the staggering amount of restaurants , bars and things to do here. And while the Dutch capital is known to many visitors as either ‘the Venice of the North’ or ‘the City of Sin,’ the reality is altogether different. Take a step away from the traditional tourist beat and you’ll discover a place that exudes both a stylish modernity and a sense of cosiness the locals call gezellig.

Hit up STRAAT Museum , a gallery brimming with gargantuan pieces of graffiti and street art. Once you’ve finished, head to Pllek for lunch on a faux-beach with a view of the river.

The Netherlands’s second-biggest city has a distinctive, ultra-modern feel, born out of the huge rebuilding projects undertaken after World War II. Some of the 20th century’s most renowned architects have worked here, and the city’s warm, diverse character is shared by the enthusiastic, can-do locals. An important part of Dutch history is to be found in the Jewish Cultural Quarter. Next year the National Holocaust Museum will open in the area, while the Portuguese synagogue and the Jewish Museum are worth visiting to learn about Amsterdam’s Jewish heritage.

Housed in a 17th-century mansion that used to be an eye hospital, the 36 rooms of the Eye Hotel are stylish yet homely and come in a variety of sizes to suit all budgets. Details such as walk-in showers and Nespresso machines make it a comfortable base for a day or two of exploring. For a taste of culture, head to Foam , Amsterdam’s leading photography museum. This gallery sits in a modernised canal house and displays an ever-changing set of intriguing exhibitions. Arriving in the early afternoon, the first thing on the agenda is hitting some cultural highlights. It seems fitting that the Tropenmuseum , a huge ethnographic museum, should be located in multicultural Oost. The Tropen – housed in one of the city’s most beautiful and impressive buildings – has eight permanent exhibitions and hosts a multitude of smaller, temporary displays of visual and contemporary art.