Amsterdam – Seeing the Sites

I decided to head to Amsterdam two days before the start of the Netherlands Waterways Cruise, as I’ve never been to Amsterdam and wanted time to see sites I knew I couldn’t fit into the time we’d be there at the end of the cruise.  I purchased a guide book to get information on costs, opening/closing times, addresses, and how to “getting around” on your own.

Sites visited:

  • DAM Square – easily walkable from Centraal Station.
  • Nieuwe Kerk – Outside view only.  It was closed during my visit.
  • Palais Royal – €7.50 – opens at noon and well worth the time and cost.  It is a breathtaking palace (city hall really) that is opulent beyond belief.  Definitely for those who enjoy history, architecture, art, or those who enjoy seeing richly designed buildings.
  • Beginhof – free – amazing, enclosed courtyard in the midst of a busy city.   It is a beautiful and tranquil area.
  • Canal Boat Cruise – €13 – after hearing how others handled taking a cruise on their first morning in Amsterdam, I was leary to try it the day I arrived; however, it was a very nice and relaxing experience.  I am so glad I went before the Netherlands Waterway Cruise.  It was a great way to see the beauty of Amsterdam from the canals.
  • Rijksmuseum – €13 – be prepared to wait in line.  They only let in a minimum amount of people at one time since most of the museum is closed for renovations.  The wait was worth it to see the masterpieces.
  • I AMSTERDAM sign – free – located near the Rijksmuseum.  This is a fun photo-op.
  • Van Gogh Museum – €14…double the line that the Rijksmuseum had, though it was a mere 20-30 minute wait.  If you purchase a ticket the day before, you can skip the general admission line and use the fast lane to gain entrance.  Be prepared for lots of people inside the building if you wait until the afternoon.  I originally did not include this museum when planning my Amsterdam trip, but added it “on the fly” while out walking around.  I must say that I am so glad I did.  For me, it was one of the main highlights of my trip and a museum I would definitely visit again.
  • Anne Frank Huis – €8.50…quite moving.  I am so glad I took the time to visit.  I highly recommend reading the Diary of Anne Frank before visiting, even if you read it when you were younger or saw the screen adaptation.  It brings the story of her life out and gives such rich detail, which will only enhance what you’ll see here.  To me, this was a not-to-miss site and worth the wait in line.  I took my guidebooks advice and arrived after 4:30 p.m. and had to wait about a half-hour.  One warning, the steps inside get quite steep (think climbing a ladder) so those that have mobility issues would have problems with the stairs.

Transportation:

  • Amsterdam’s Centraal Station – I stayed close to Schiphol Airport during my two-night Amsterdam pre-cruise stay.  To get to the station I purchased a roundtrip 2nd class ticket at Schiphol Airport (€7.80).  If you don’t have change for the train kiosk tickets and only paper money (be sure the kiosk accepts coins as a few don’t), get in line at the train windows.  While the kiosk accepts credit cards and debit cards, the system didn’t recognize either of my cards.  A very nice British man behind me on holiday, mentioned that he’d never been able to use the kiosk with his cc’s for the very same reason.  The reason is that these kiosks rely on embedded microprocessor chips in the cards vs. the magnetic-strip technology that our cards use in the US.  I didn’t have any other problems using my credit cards during the trip.
  • Getting around while in Amsterdam – the first day I walked…and walked…and walked.  It was quite nice after being cooped up on the plane.  I used the sign posts and my guidebook to find my way around with little problems.  The second day I decided to try the TRAM system and it worked out splendidly.  If I would have known how easy it was to use the trams, I would have used it the first day as well.  Since the cost for a one hour ticket is €2.60 and there isn’t any way to use the ticket for more than one destination, purchase a 24-hour pass for €7 if you are visiting two or more destinations.  If you purchase a 48-hour pass, you will save more as the cost is €11.50.  There is a GVP kiosk outside Centraal Station, but if you can’t find it don’t worry as the trams sell tickets (including day passes) as well.

My time in Amsterdam Slideshow

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