Last Minutes Amsterdam

While the restoration of the main building is going on the gardens remain open to the public, free of charge, as does one wing displaying the highlights of the Rijksmuseum (with a normal entrance fee).

Our Lord in the Attic is one of the most remarkable museums in Amsterdam. In the attic of this characteristic 17th century canal house you will find a hidden church, built during the Reformation, when Catholics were forbidden to hold public services.

The house where Rembrandt worked and lived was restored to its original condition. The collection of the Museum consists of drawings and etchings by Rembrandt and his pupils and followers.

Do like the Dutch do and get yourself a bike for your stay in Amsterdam. Fast, easy and environmentally friendly. Ask for a tour map to explore the countryside around Amsterdam, e.g. taking the ferry to the other side behind Central Station and bike along Nieuwendammerdijk en Schellingwouderdijk.

A small and friendly canal touring company called Boathouse offers a variety of canal tours, dinner cruises and very interesting walking tours, showing you hidden treasures like the 'hofjes' (courtyards) that even many Amsterdammers haven't seen.

English language comedy show. Great night out. Being Americans that have lived in Amsterdam for over 17 years they know the city inside out. So throw away your guide book and forget everything you thought you knew. Here's the Real Amsterdam!

For performances by The Dutch Opera, The National Ballet and the Nederlands Dans Theater.

Unlimited travel within Amsterdam on public transport: Tram, Metro and Bus. You can purchase the pass at GVB outside Central Station.

Art Deco movie theater with acres of murals, silk wall-hangings and tropical wood inlay, furniture designed for ocean liners, hand-knotted carpeting. Regular live broadcasts of Opera from the Met in New York or the Bolshoi Ballet from Moskou.

Get yourself a picnic basket at Café Vertigo in the Vondelpark and enjoy! You can order your basket online.

Concert hall for contemporary and classical music located on the waterfront a couple of minutes from Central Station.

The Begijnhof is a hidden courtyard of cottages just off the very busy Kalverstraat. Originally built in the 14th-century for a group of pious, charitable women (the Beguines). You will find one of the two remaining wooden houses in Amsterdam right here.

Het Grachtenhuis is a new museum located in one of the most beautiful canal houses. Het Grachtenhuis introduces you to one of the best city development projects ever: the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam. Buy tickets online! Visitor numbers are limited.

Het Schip Museum is located in what is considered one of the great examples of Amsterdam School architecture (1910-1930). The museum is an eye-opener for everyone who wants to learn more about architecture and the city of Amsterdam.

Habibi Ana (sweetheart) is the only Arab gay bar in the world... Small bar in Arabian style, with exotic music and exotic guys. Caters to gay, bisexual, and transsexual men and women of Arab descent. And their admirers of course.

De Prik is a popular gay hangout for the young and slightly older. Famous for their cocktails. Voted best gay bar by Time Out Magazine a couple of years in a row.

Popular gay cafe for the Bold and the Bearded (or the ones with Wigs and Tights). Very popular place. For late afternoons on the terrace outside, for drinks after work or as a late night hangout.

An old 'brown' cafe as they should be: great atmosphere, excellent choice of beers and snacks. Other great benefits are the 'no music' policy and the terrace on the canal.

Cafe/restaurant with grand view of the harbor just opposite the passenger terminal where the big cruise ships dock. Take the ferry to IJ plein and walk a couple of minutes to Wilhelmina Dok.

Theehuis or Tea House in a modernist pavilion out of concrete and steel from the 1930's, set beautifully in the Vondelpark. Great for a relaxed afternoon.

Neighborhood cafe for writers, journalists, musicians, bohemians, your name it. Just behind the Concertgebouw, and popular for after concert drinks.

Restaurant, bar and club on the Westergasfabriek, a former coal processing plant, now a park with creative businesses, clubs and bars. Thursday - Sunday late night dancing when the tables are pushed aside.

Restaurant, bar and club Panama between Central Station and the Eastern Docklands.

The campest tea room in town, with the sweetest decor ever. Complete mish mash of furniture in glowing pink. A local gem. Stop by when you go to the museums or the Heineken Experience. It's close.

Biological, sustainable, organic. Whatever.... this is the mouthwatering supermarket of Amsterdam, whether you are into all the responsible food stuff, or not. Great selection of everything tasty. There is one near Rembrandtplein, one near Leidseplein.

Old fashioned tea and coffee shop, since 1828. Worth a visit to buy something special and to taste the atmosphere of times gone by. You can have high tea in the little courtyard adjacent to the shop.

One of Europe's most famous cigar houses: the House of Hajenius. Opened in 1915 and still going strong. The building is one of the finest on the Rokin, with a splendid Art-Deco interior, highly-decorated ornaments, fine Italian marble and colossal chandeliers.

Yes, that's right: a shop dedicated entirely to condoms. Available in all shapes and sizes, and tastes.

Very special taxi services: with bikes! Order it in advance for a special occasion or haul one in the street. You'll find plenty around, particularly in summer.

Tour the city in a horse and carriage. Order them in advance, or check whether they are available at Dam Square.

Canal biking is the ultimate way to enjoy the canals, even though it does require quite a bit of physical exercise. But then: you are completely undisturbed by the traffic and have a different perspective of the city. Pick one up at e.g. Leidseplein.

Café DEK5 is located on Nemo Museum’s top floor and offers a stunning view of Amsterdam and the historic harbor. For drinks and sandwiches.

During this walking tour you will visit locations that played a role in World War II. And it will take you to places, you might otherwise never see and learn there's lots more than the Anne Frank story. Highly acclaimed tour.

Family run flower shop in the heart of the Red Light District. It shows it is a normal neighborhood, too, where the locals live, work and shop.

For more than 400 years, Amsterdam has been known as the City of Diamonds. In fact, the brilliant cut, which originated in Amsterdam, is also known as the ‘Amsterdam cut’. Join one of the free guided tours held seven days a week at Gassan Diamonds.

Asian department store that brings you flavors of the orient. Six floors with food, kitchen supplies, porcelain, furniture, books, music and decoration materials. In the China Town of Amsterdam.

Liqueur distillery, store and cafe for old fashioned Dutch drinks. Offers guided tours as well as liqueur tastings.

Check out five hundred years of history of the lady bag in a beautiful characteristic canal house, dating back to 1664. Started with the private collection of Mrs Hendrikje Ivo, who collected bags for more than 35 years.

Museum dedicated to the role of the cat (yes: the cat) in art and culture through the centuries. Located in a grand canal house in the 'Golden bend' of the Herengracht, the most prestigious part of the historic canal ring.

Grand cafe and restaurant in the up and coming Staatsliedenbuurt. In a former water pumping plant, built in 1897.

Enjoy an English High Tea at the Grand Hotel Amrâth, the monumental former 'Scheepvaarthuis' in spectacular art nouveau of the 1920's.

Grand 17th century canal house is the residence of the Van Loon family. The house is open to the public six days of the week.

The concerts during lunchtime at the Westerkerk are free, however, donations are appreciated. There are organ concerts and small ensembles performing here on varying days of the week.

Formerly the April, the most popular gay bar in Amsterdam for decades. Reopened as Ludwig II after bankruptcy of the bar tycoon Kooistra in 2010.

The Amsterdam Zoo: founded in 1838. Just east of the canal area in a large park with lush gardens, historical buildings and lots of animals of course.

Foam also exhibits emerging young photographers in smaller short-term shows along exhibitions of established and famous ones. It is also a creative hub where photographers meet and participate in forums and symposiums.

Getting hot? Check out the coolest bar in town: the Xtracold Ice Bar: enjoy a cocktail in a bar all made out of ice, at a temperature of -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit).

A spectacular cruise through the canals of Amsterdam with an amphibious bus! The bus starts at Schiphol Airport and then splashes into the water near the Nemo museum.

GPS navigation for your walking and biking tours through Amsterdam, loaded with nice bars, coffee shops, restaurants, monuments, shops, museums, etc.

In this exhibition the DNA of Amsterdam is unraveled: the free thinkers, the innovations, the entrepreneurship. Find out what Amsterdam is made up of, starting as early as 1275.

Close to the Anne Frank House and the Wester Church you find the houseboat museum, which gives you a an excellent insight on how people live on the housboats along the canals.

Make your canal cruise extra special by doing a dinner cruise. There are options from simple Pizza Cruises to a romantic Candle Light Cruise.

Private tours to get the most out of your Amsterdam stay: for you personally. Tailor made walks through the historic city, tours to the tulips, the historic Volendam or even Bruges and Ghent, it is up to you.