I have been to Amsterdam FIVE times in the last nine years. It’s not what you think … Well, it is a little. I do love to dabble in extra curricular activities. But mostly, I love the energy of the city, the canals, and the incredibly fun Dutch people.

Excluding my first awkward night there, I’ve only had great times visiting Amsterdam.

The Netherlands is the cleanest and most organized country I’ve ever been to. It’s a progressive as well, working to solve its problems instead of shaming its people. For example, there are legal testing sites for illegal drugs to keep consumers safe.

Minimum wage is based on your age – a genius concept. Their urban planning is intuitive and efficient: you can tap to pay at all public transportation, city streets are curved for smoother rides, and bike lanes are easy to navigate.

If that doesn’t sell you, here is a full list of great activities to do on your next visit to Amsterdam.

Biking

This is THE place to ride around if you were ever going to try. Amsterdam city streets are made for biking since its the biggest form of transportation. Everyone bikes. I have seen kids, elderly people, and women with their very young babies bouncing inside front baskets casually riding around.

It’s also super easy to rent a bike in Amsterdam. Your hotel or hostel will probably have rentals. If not, just ask and they will direct you to a local spot. If you’re scared of the main roads, head outside the city center and/or into a park for a relaxing ride.

Boats

Doing a boat tour is a MUST as you get to see the city from a completely new perspective. They usually discuss the city’s history, the building of the canals, and why most houses are slightly crooked (see above image).

Some of the tours come with unlimited drinks. Heinenkein offers one in which you can also tour their brewery.

Museums

I have never been to a museum here. Don’t judge me. I’ve been busy…

I’ve heard these are good: Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt House, Anne Frank house, and Van Gogh Museum. FYI they only release tickets for the Van Gogh museums at 5PM the night before and they sell out FAST.

A lil Foodhallen feast

Foodhallen

This market is full of yummy fast food bites. My friend and I split snacks and beer from six different vendors and spent $50 total.

Noord

Ferries run from Centraal Station across the water constantly throughout the day. It’s super easy to catch one. That side of the city is completely different as its full of new, modern buildings and cool, repurposed warehouses.

Parks

As I said, the Dutch are phenomenal urban planners. If you walk twenty minutes in any direction, you will inevitable bump into a lush green park, if not sooner. It’s a nice way to spend an afternoon or couple of hours on the way to something else.

Extra Curriculars

Magic truffle Smart Shops are all over the city. The guys at the counter are always FULL of information. Don’t be shy. Ask and they will help you find the perfect items.

Remember: coffeeshops and coffeehouses sell weed. Cafes sell coffee.

Spring Tulips

Although Tulips are originally from Turkey, the Dutch have really taken the art of growing them to another level. Every spring, for a narrow window in time, millions of tulips sprout all over the country.

You can plan a trip to a flower garden and take pretty pictures in a sundress. Or, if you’re like me, you can micro dose and spend the afternoon weeping tears of joy instead. Either way, gorgeous views.

I went to Keukenhof Flower Park which was built for tourists. It’s actually frowned upon to go into the Tulip fields people often accidentally kill the flowers on the edges.

King’s Day April 27th

Every year on April 27th the entire nation of the Netherlands celebrates the King’s birthday. Yes, they have a King. No, he doesn’t have any real power. But that doesn’t take away from how fun and exciting the day is.

My friend and I walked around for hours jumping up and down with drunk, fist bumping Dutchmen crowded at every major intersection. If you love to drink ALL day and listen to blaring techno music beneath the sun you will love this holiday.

Day Trips

The Netherlands is a very small country with trains leading into every big city. I recommend taking at least one day trip and possibly staying overnight somewhere else. I recommend each of the following:

Rotterdam is a modern city with incredible waterfront views and restaurants.

Kinderdijk is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with the famous Dutch windmills.

Bruges, Belgium is a gorgeous thousand year old city similarly filled with canals and antique homes. It’s technically another country but easily accessible by train.