Amsterdam, 2025
I went to Amsterdam on May 1, 2025, after a cruise from Rome to Venice. Keukenhof tulip gardens is only open from mid-March to mid-May, so I had to go at this time of the year. I took the train from the airport to Amsterdam Centraal station. I had booked a hotel close to the station, so I was able to walk to the hotel.
The next day, I walked behind the station and took the free ferry to the north side. I walked along the side of the station, along Cuyperspassage. This passage has beautiful blue tiles with different painted images. I had purchased ‘This is Holland’ combination bus + Keukenhof entry tickets online. From the ferry landing, there were signs pointing to where ticket holders needed to check in, inside the ‘This is Holland’ building. The bus ride took about 45 minutes. I had booked the 8:30 bus and they advise arriving 15-20 minutes early, for the check in. They give you 2 bus tickets for the ride out and back, Keukenhof entry tickets and a map of Keukenhof. There is so much to see in Keukenhof. I stayed there till about 3:30, then took the next bus back. You can take any bus back, but the buses may get crowded after 4:00 and the last bus is at 6:30. It wasn’t clear what would happen if there were too many people and you miss the last bus back, but I didn’t want to risk it.
The next day, I bought a 2 day GVB pass that covers all trains, trams and metro in Amsterdam, from the GVB building right outside and to the left of Centraal Station. The pass has to be tapped on entry and exit. I walked to Dam Square, along Damrak Avenue. Along the way, I saw the Basilica of St Nicholas to the left. A little further on, there is a bridge, called Oudeburgsteeg, that gives you a great view of the station. On the left, are the Damrak houses, a row of pretty houses along the canal. A little further on the left, is the Beurs van Berlage, the historic stock exchange. Across from this is the Beurspassage, a beautiful covered gallery that leads to Nieuwendijk, a pedestrian only street that runs parallel to Damrak. Continue on along Damrak Avenue, and you come to Dam Square. This square has the National Monument, an obelisk, on the left. Straight ahead is the Koninglijk, the Royal Palace. I bought tickets to go inside. On the right is the Nieuwe Kerk, New Church. I then walked to Oude Kerk, Old Church. I paid to go inside, but I was not impressed. I then walked to Chinatown, where I saw the He Hua Buddhist Temple. I then went on to Nieuwmarkt Square and the De Waag, a castle like building that was once the city gate, and is now a restaurant. I took the metro towards Station Zuid and got off at De Pijp. The Albert Cuyp market is right outside the metro. It has a lot of street food and souvenirs. I took the metro back to Centraal. I had planned to see the ‘Our Lord in the Attic’ church, but decided to skip it. At night, I took tram #17 from outside Centraal Station, towards Osdorp Dijkgraafplein, and got off at Kinkerstraat. Get off the tram, walk straight, turn left, first right, and Foodhallen is on the left. This is a covered hall with a lot of different types of food stalls.
The next day, I walked to Centraal Station, and followed signs to the buses, on the upper level. I took bus 391 to Zaanse Schans. You just tap your credit or debit card when you enter and leave the bus. The bus takes about 40 minutes. When you get off the bus, you just walk towards the little village and the visitor center. There is a shop with a free demo of how wooden clogs are made. There are several windmills, and some of them are working models, that can be toured for a price. Tickets can be bought individually for the different windmills and museums, or the visitor center sells a combination pass that covers them all. I just went into the lumber windmill where you can see how lumber is cut. In the evening, I took tram #17 from outside Centraal, towards Osdorp Dijkgraafplein. I don’t remember which stop I got off at, but I accidentally found Bloemenmarkt, Floating Market. This is a set of boats moored on the Singel Canal, between Koningsplein and Muntplein. There are boats with flowers and bulbs on one side and shops on the other. At the end, there is an old tower with carillon bells, called Muntorren, Mint Tower. From there, I walked to De 9 Strastjes, 9 Streets. The 9 streets are 3 parallel streets between Raadhuistraat and Leidsestraat. Each street is divided into 3 by a canal that runs north to south. The canals are Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Singel. There are a lot of canal cruises that leave from Damrak Avenue and from the 9 Streets.
Tickets for Anne Frank House go on sale 6 weeks before and sell out very fast. Tickets can only be bought online. From Dam Square, keep Royal Palace to your left, and Nieuwe Kerk to your right, and walk down the street that ends at the Magna Plaza shopping mall. Cross the street towards the mall, turn left along the front of the mall, turn right around the mall, onto Raadhuistraat. Walk straight, crossing the bridges over canals Singel, Herengracht, Keizergracht. Westerkerk, West Church is on the right. Turn right along the side of the church and walk behind the church. The entrance to Anne Frank House is right there.
At night, I walked to the Red Light District. The Bulldog Café has an interesting exterior. After dark, the girls stand in windows. The windows have curtains. When the curtain is open, the girls are visible. Taking photos of the girls is not allowed.
