(includes Hague & Scheveningen)
BAKERIES, COFFEE, ICE CREAM, JUICE & TEA
●De Bakkerswinkel – 69 Warmoesstraat (Centrum); 011-31-020-489-8000; debakkerswinkel.com/amsterdam-centrum; bakery chain with homey atmosphere; try scones with clotted cream.
●Beurs van Berlage Grand Cafe – 1-3 Beursplein (Centrum, De Wallen); 011-31-020-530-4146; beursvanberlage.com/beurs-van-berlage-grand-cafe; café in landmark building; good place to pop in for beer or coffee; enjoy stunning 1903 murals by Jan Toorop representing past, present & future; on nice days tables spill out into adjoining plaza & fill with locals.
●Café de Pels – 25 Huidenstraat (Centrum, 9 Streets area); 011-31-020-622-9037; cafedepels.nl; appealingly shabby traditional brown café is also Sunday morning breakfast fave, with plenty of international newspapers to pore over as you sip your koffie verkeerd (milky coffee).
●Gartine – 7 Taksteeg (Centrum); 011-31-020-320-4132; gartine.nl; cozy, antique-filled cafe for breakfast, lunch & tea made with pickings from on-site kitchen garden.
●Grand Café Brinkmann – 13 Grote Markt (Haarlem); 011-31-023-532-3111; grandcafebrinkmann.nl; sprawling brasserie, since 1879, with outdoor seating on Grote Markt; open for late night.
●IJ Kantine – 15-17 Mt. Ondinaweg (Noord); 011-31-020-633-7162; ijkantine.nl/en/home-2; modern brasserie dishes in glass-fronted contemporary restaurant & terrace overlooking port.
●Noorderlicht – 102 NDSM-Plein (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-020-492-2770; noorderlichtcafe.nl; sort of transparent hangar, where café shelters arty crowd; in summer, everyone sits outside.
BARS & NIGHTCLUBS
●Bierproeflokaal In de Wildeman – 3 Kolksteeg (Centrum, on Dam Square); 011-31-020-638-2348; indewildeman.nl/index.php?lang=en; tucked away in medieval alley; wood-paneled bier-proeflokaal (beer-tasting house) dating from 1690; tiled floor & bottle-jar rows behind counters remain from earlier days, when was distillery; serves 17 draft & 200 bottled beers from around world.
●Cafe Hoppe – 18 Spuistraat (Centrum); 011-31-020-420-4420; cafehoppe.com; “must visit“ place; among best known traditional brown bar; established in 1670, originally as jenever distillery, has been gathering space for city’s intellectuals for centuries; like 18th Century coffee shops of London, people have flocked to discuss politics, art & world affairs; locals prefer smaller bar area, with antique stained glass windows & saw dust strewn floor; rest of bar is more laid-back & casual, attracting younger crowd; covered terrace; try aged jenever; good range of beers & other spirits, wine & typical Dutch bar snacks including herring and the ubiquitious bitterballen.
●Café de Pels – 25 Huidenstraat (Centrum, 9 Streets area); 011-31-020-622-9037; cafedepels.nl; young, intellectual crowd; serves cheese & pate.
●Door 74 – 74 Reguliersdwarsstraat (Centrum); 011-31-63-404-5122; door-74.com; 35 “depraved” cocktails, made from jenever, mescal, honey-ginger & agave; speakeasy; to obtain address; text phone number for reservation.
●Melkweg – 234a Lijnbaansgracht (Centrum); 011-31-020-531-8181; melkweg.nl; mainstream jazz.
●Nel Amstelveld – 12 Amstelveld (Centrum); 011-31-020-626-1199; nelamstelveld.nl; once beautiful wooden church, now among Kerkstraat’s best venues for drink & live music; huge terrace when weather cooperates, but unique interior no less charming on rainy day; on Monday nights, live jazz from 9:00 pm.
●Sky Lounge – 4 Oosterdokstraat (Centrum, at Upshot-Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station); 011-31-020-530-0800; skyloungeamsterdam.com/en; forget that this is Hilton; actually, fun, happening place.
●T’Arendsnest – 90 Herengracht (Centrum); 011-31-020-421-2057; arendsnest.nl; copper pipes & wood-panelled walls adorn this cozy bar serving over 100 beers from Dutch breweries.
●Wijncafé Worst – 171 Barentszstraat (Centrum); 011-31-020-625-6167; deworst.nl; charcuterie bar; great pates; bar seems like kitchen island in cool country house.
HOTELS
●Ambassade – 341 Herengracht (Centrum); 011-31-020-555-0222; ambassade-hotel.nl; wonderful 59-room hotel where writers often stay; set in row of 10 attached 17th Century townhouses, 10 minutes on foot from Anne Frank House & 1.3 km from Rijksmuseum; upscale rooms feature contemporary and/or opulent decor; free Wi-Fi, flat-screens & sitting areas; suites add separate living areas, balconies &/or canal views; apartment adds kitchen & French windows; hot breakfast (fee) is served in bright dining room overlooking canal; library with bar & 18th Century furniture; airy French restaurant.
●Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht – 587 Prinsengracht (Centrum); 011-31-020-523-1234; amsterdamprinsengracht.andaz.hyatt.com; designed bottom to top by Marcel Wanders; impressive video art collection in hallways & lobby; spacious rooms.
●Canal House Hotel – 148 Keizergracht; 011-31-020-622-5182; canalhouse.nl/en-us; overlooks Keizersgracht canal, boutique hotel set in 17th Century merchants’ house; 2.6 km from Rijksmuseum; plush rooms feature unique artwork & open-plan bathrooms, plus original features such as timber beams & fireplaces; free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs & DVD players, as well as iPod docks & tea-coffeemaking facilities; upgraded quarters offer sofas & canal or garden views; 1 room has free-standing tub; complimentary breakfast buffet served in elegant lounge; hip bar & furnished garden terrace.
●citizenM – 30 Prinses Irenestraat (Zuid, WTC); 011-31-020-811-7090; citizenm.com/destinations/amsterdam/amsterdam-hotel; 6-minute walk from Amsterdam Zuid train station; glass-sided, tech-savvy hotel; ultra-modern, soundproof rooms come with free WiFi & movies, flat-screen TVs, unique wall-to-wall beds with plush bedding & sleek bathrooms with podlike showers, plus international power outlets & tablets for controlling window blinds & temperature; amenities include hip 24-hour cafe/bar serving casual meals & contemporary lobby living room with lounge seating, workspaces, & iMacs for guest use.
●citizenM – 2 Jan Plezierweg (Schiphol); 011-31-020-811-7080; citizenm.com/destinations/amsterdam/schiphol-airport-hotel; 5 minute walk from airport; 230 rooms; very nice; king-size beds, good showers, high-speed internet.
●Conservatorium Hotel – 27 Van Baerlestraat (Zuid, in Museumkwartier); 011-31-020-570-0000; conservatoriumhotel.com; interior by Piero Lissoni; set in former music conservatory with Neo-Gothic facade; luxe modern hotel is 3-minute walk from Van Gogh Museum; upscale rooms offer city views, free Wi-Fi & Nespresso machines; some add rainfall showers or loft bedrooms with glass railings; upgraded rooms blend stone & stained-glass details with sleek decor & free-standing tubs; suites range from cozy to posh, with distinctive touches like exposed wood beams & floor-to-ceiling windows; room service available 24/7; striking glass atrium, 2 upscale restaurants & hip bar; luxe spa with indoor pool, hammam & fitness center.
●Dylan Amsterdam – 384 Keizersgracht (Centrum, Negen Straatjes); 011-31-020-530-2010; dylanamsterdam.com; 5-star, luxe, small (40 rooms) hotel with superb courtyard; overlooks Keizersgracht canal, 1.3 km from Rijksmuseum & 2.7 km from Vondelpark; sophisticated hotel with exterior of 17th Century stone facade & interior that includes soaring ceilings, wood beams; upscale rooms feature free Wi-Fi, Bose sound systems & flat-screen TVs, plus minifridges & designer toiletries, courtyard views; some have regal canopy beds, lofts or cathedral ceilings; posh suites add espresso machines; some have rainfall showerheads; room service 24/7; 19th Century ovens in Michelin-starred restaurant, Vinkeles; catered boat tours.
●Hotel De L’Europe – 2-14 Nieuwe Dolenstraat (Centrum, De Wallen); 011-31-020-531-1777; deleurope.com; expensive; 19th Century building overlooking Amstel River; 15-minute walk from Rijksmuseum & 1.6 km from upscale shopping on P.C. Hooftstraat; suite wing inspired by Rijksmuseum Dutch masters; sophisticated, colorful rooms & suites feature sitting areas, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks & iPads, along with free Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines & minibars; some have balconies & water or city views; suites add separate living/dining areas, while upgraded quarters offer Bose sound systems &/or riverside terraces; acclaimed restaurant, brasserie & piano bar, plus chic lounge & terrace; gym, indoor pool & spa.
●Grand Hotel Amrath – 108 Prins Hendrikkade (Centrum); 011-31-020-552-0000; amrathamsterdam.com/en/default.html; set in former shipping house overlooking canal, this century-old, art nouveau-style hotel is 3.1 km from Rijksmuseum & 2.1 km from Anne Frank House; sophisticated rooms & suites have high ceilings & antiques (no air-conditioning) provide free Wi-Fi & minibars, as well as flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines & desks; upgraded rooms have 4 poster beds; some suites have 2 living areas or roof terraces or in-room whirlpool tubs; room service; stylish French restaurant, cozy bar & meeting space, plus chic spa with heated indoor pool, fitness room, sauna & hot tub.
●Hotel des Indes – 54-56 Lange Voorhout (Hague); 011-31-070-361-2345; hoteldesindesthehague.com; in 1858-built property; posh hotel featuring grand lobby with chandeliers; minute walk from Escher Museum & 14 minutes from Den Haag Centraal train station; sophisticated rooms come with Wi-Fi access (fee), flat-screen TVs & Nespresso machines, as well as minibars; upgraded rooms add sitting areas, while some suites feature living rooms & roof terraces; room service 24/7; palatial restaurant serving French/Italian cuisine, plus opulent cocktail bar & plush cigar lounge; spa with steam room & sauna, along with indoor plunge pool & exercise room.
●Kurhaus Hotel – 30 Gevers Deynootplein (Scheveningen, Hague); 011-31-070-416-2636; amrathkurhaus.com; on ocean in this coastal suburb; palatial seafront hotel is 3.2 km from art deco Gemeentemuseum Den Haag & 4.7 km from Mauritshuis art museum; streamlined rooms offer free Wi-Fi & minibars, as well as flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines & tea making facilities; all have front square or sea views; upgraded rooms come with balconies & hardwood floors; suites add sitting rooms & DVD players & include free breakfast buffet; some have dining tables, private balconies & sea views; fitness center.
●Hotel Pulitzer – 315-331 Prinsengracht (Centrum, Negen Straatjes); 011-31-020-523-5235; pulitzeramsterdam.com; set in 25 restored 17th-18th Century canal houses; 1.6 km from Rijksmuseum; posh, individually decorated rooms & suites offer sitting areas, free Wi-Fi & flat-screen TVs, as well as minibars & tea-coffeemakers; some provide canal views & balconies or terraces; suites add separate living areas & some include antique furnishings, original artwork &/or music instruments; amenities include upscale restaurant, bar & gym, plus garden & terrace; classic 1920s-style salon boat.
RESTAURANTS
●Aan de Amstel – 42A Weesperzijde (Amstel); 011-31-020-608-0077; aan-de-amstel.nl; cozy.
●Restaurant As – 19 Prinses Irenestraat (Beatrixpark); 011-31-020-644-0100; platform21.com; set lunch at communal tables in formal chapel; outstanding food with fresh ingredients; livestock roams out back.
●Beurs van Berlage Grand Cafe – 1-3 Beursplein (Centrum, De Wallen); 011-31-020-530-4146; beursvanberlage.com/beurs-van-berlage-grand-cafe; café in landmark building; good place to pop in for beer or coffee; enjoy stunning 1903 murals by Jan Toorop representing past, present & future; on nice days tables spill out into adjoining plaza & fill with locals.
●Blauw – 158-160 Amstelveenseweg; 011-31-020-675-5000; restaurantblauw.nl; near Vondelpark; Indonesian; worth trip.
●Bridges – 197 Oudezijds Voorburgwal (at Sofitel Amsterdam); 011-31-020-555-3560; bridgesrestaurant.nl; chef from Paris’ Michelin-starred restaurants; Indonesian-influenced; expensive.
●Burgermeester – 48 Albert Cuypstraat; 011-31-020-670-9339; burgermeester.eu; high-end burger chain; always specialty of month, as well as basic burger; no fries.
●Burgermeester – 130 Elandsgracht; 011-31-900-287-4377; burgermeester.eu; high-end burger chain; always specialty of month, as well as basic burger; no fries.
●Burgermeester – 37 Plantage Kerklaan; 011-31-900-287-4377; burgermeester.eu; high-end burger chain; always specialty of month, as well as basic burger; no fries.
●Café Modern – 2 Meidoornweg (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-020-494-0684; modernamsterdam.nl; bright, mid-century design.
●Culinaire Werkplaats – 10 Fannius Scholtenstraat; 011-31-065-464-6576; deculinairewerkplaats.nl; part atelier and part restaurant; focus on seasonal fruits, grains and vegetables; guests pay what they think is fair.
●Firma Pekelhaaring – 127-129 Van Woustraat; 011-31-020-679-0460; pekelhaaring.nl; Italian; servers speak excellent English; make sure to try fried saffron risotto balls.
●Gebr. Hartering – 10hs Peperstraat (Center); 011-31-020-421-0699; gebrhartering.nl; soft lighting and impeccable service; only seems stuffy; fine dining.
●George W.P.A. – 70 Willemsparkweg; 011-31-020-470-2530; georgewpa.nl; trendy brasserie; try grilled lobster and rare tuna-topped pizza.
●Grand Café Brinkmann – 41 Brinkmann-passage (Haarlem); 011-31-023-532-3111; grandcafebrinkmann.nl; sprawling brasserie with outdoor seating on Grote Markt; open for late night.
●Greetje – 232-5 Peperstraat; 011-31-020-779-7450; restaurantgreetje.nl; honest, thoroughly Dutch food; in old canal house; book well in advance for table with view.
●De Haerlemsche Vlaamse – 3 Spekstraat (Haarlem, town center); 011-31-023-532-5991; dehaerlemschevlaamse.nl; tiny, storefront; buy paper cone of pommes frites.
●Hotel de Goudfazant – 10 Aambeeldstraat (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-020-636-5170; hoteldegoudfazant.nl; sweeping industrial space with enormous modern chandelier and raw concrete surfaces; try roasted chicken and oyster ceviche.
●Kam Yin – 6 Warmoesstraat; 011-31-020-625-3115; Chinese-Surinamese cuisine.
●Restaurant de Kas – 3 Kamerlingh Onneslaan; 011-31-020-462-4562; restaurantdekas.nl; in former municipal nursery building; stunning restaurant; fresh herbs and vegetables.
●Kurzaal Restaurant – 30 Gevers Deynootplein (Scheveningen, at Kurhaus Hotel); 011-31-070-416-2636; kurhaus.nl; on ocean in this coastal suburb; take short tram ride from city.
●Restaurant Vinkeles – 384 Keizersgracht (at Dylan Hotel); 011-31-020-530-2010; dylanamsterdam.com; Michelin starred.
●Restaurant Lastage – 29 Geldersekade; 011-31-020-737-0811; restaurantlastage.nl; in Red Light District but very respectable; elegant twist on Dutch cuisine.
●Lido Bloemendaal – Bloemendaal aan Zee (Haarlem); 011-31-023-573-2172; lidobloemendaal.nl; beachside food (cocktails, pasta, salad, and seafood).
●Little Collins – 19/F Eerste Sweelinckstraat (Zuid); 011-31-020-673-2293; littlecollins.nl; best brunches; good coffee and crispy-chewy crepes; Bloody Marys.
●Nam Kee – 111-113 Zeedijk; 011-31-020-624-3470; namkee.net; Chinese; excellent Peking duck and giant steamed oysters in black bean sauce.
●Nel Amstelveld – 12 Amstelveld (Centrum); 011-31-020-626-1199; nelamstelveld.nl; once beautiful wooden church, now among Kerkstraat’s best venues for drink, meal and/or live music; huge terrace is must when weather cooperates, but unique interior no less charming on rainy day; order burger, steak, seafood or vegetarian dish.
●Noorderlicht – 33 T.T. Neveritaeg (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-020-492-2770; noorderlicht.nl; sort of transparent hangar, where café shelters arty crowd; in summer, everyone sits outside.
●Il Pecorino – 2 Van der Pekstraat (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-020-737-1511; ilpecorino.nl; Italian bistro.
●Pllek – 59 Tt. Neveritaweg (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-64-938-6338; pilek.nl; vegan-focused café made from repurposed boats, sand, and shipping containers.
●Pyongyang – 1 Ouwerdingenpad; 011-31-020-410-8080; pyongyangrestaurant.com; outrageously themed with good (not great) food; this is North Korean food; try Pyongyang Cold Noodles, served in chilled copper bowl, or Steamed Beef and Insam (spoon-size tender beef pieces with onion and roasted chestnuts in sweet but not cloying sauce).
●Stempels – 9 Klokhuisplein (Haarlem); 011-31-023-512-3910; stempelsinhaarlem.nl; hip, hotel-restaurant-brasserie-lounge complex.
●Tasca Bellotta – 22 Herenstraat; 011-31-020-420-2946; tascabellota.com; high-end tapas.
●Toko MC – 5 Polonceaukade; 011-31-020-475-0425; tokomc.nl; funky restaurant and music venue.
●Trouw – 127 Wibautstraat; 011-31-020-463-7788; trouwamsterdam.nl; temporary club and restaurant in former newspaper printing warehouse; on summer evenings, terrace packed with late-night revelers.
●Vinkeles – 384 Keizersgracht (at Dylan Amsterdam); 011-31-020-530-2010; dylanamsterdam.com; Michelin-starred restaurant.
●Wilde Zwijnen – 23 Javaplein; 011-31-020-463-3043; wildezwijnen.com; seasonal and wild products; good starting point for exploring this mixed immigrant neighborhood in gentrification process.
●Worst – 171 Barentszstraat; 011-31-020-625-6167; deworst.nl/?lang=en; charcuterie bar; great pates; bar seems like kitchen island in cool country house.
SERVICES
●Bike City – 68-70 Bloemgracht (Jordaan); 011-31-020-626-3721; bikecity.nl; bicycle rentals.
●Orangebike – 233 Singel (near Dam Square); 011-31-020-528-9990; orangebike.nl; bike rentals.
●Starbikes – 127 De Ruyterkade; 011-31-020-620-3215; starbikesrental.com; located just east of Centraal Station; rents “granny bikes”; provides routes and tips.
●VIP Water-Taxi – 8 Stationsplein; 011-31-020-535-6363; water-taxi.nl; call ahead for reservations; expensive.
SHOPPING
●Albert Cuypmarkt – on Albert Cuypstraat; market began trading in 1904, now over 300 stalls line both sides street in de Pijp neighborhood; stalls sell everything from bedding, cheese, clothes, cosmetics, fish, fruit, spices, and vegetables; prices among cheapest in Amsterdam; very crowded especially on sunny day and Saturdays.
●Antiekmarkt de Looier – 11 Elandsgracht or 185-187 Lijnbaansgracht; 011-31-020-420-6988; looier.com; multidealer center, almost full block long; offers everything from 19th Century toys to massive vintage furniture.
●Atelier Tempel – 20 Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat; 011-31-020-470-0106; ateliertempel.nl/pottery; by appointment; cutting edge ceramics.
●Capsicum Natuurstoffen – 1 Oude Hoogstraat; 011-31-020-623-1016; capsicumtextiles.com; ikat coverlats and kimonos.
●Curious Orange – 40 Van der Pekstraat (NDSM Wharf); 011-31-065-310-3738; facebook.com/CuriousOrangeAmsterdam?filter=1; vintage shop.
●Dappermarkt – Dapperstraat (Amsterdam-east); 1 of busiest markets; started in 1910; products from Antilles, Morocco, Surinam, and Turkey, giving market and neighbourhood strong multicultural feel.
●Dekker Antiques – 9 Spiegelgracht; 011-31-020-623-8992; dekkerantiquars.com; exquisite vintage jewelry, from Victorian brooches to Art Deco diamond rings.
●Destination Shop – 46 Weteringstraat; 011-31-619-020-0480; destinationshop.nl; on lovely side street in canal belt; knick-knacks and clothing.
●Laura Dols – 7 Wolvenstraat; 011-31-020-624-9066; lauradols.nl; vintage party dresses.
●Droog – 7b Staalstraat; 011-31-020-523-5059; droog.com; legendary Dutch design from Sticky Lamp to Soft Washbowl.
●Episode – 1 Waterlooplein; 011-31-020-320-3000; episode.eu; ‘70s-‘90s hipster gear.
●Fates – 19 Herenstraat; 011-31-020-624-0500; fates.nl; airy boutique specializing in fair trade products.
●Friday Next – 31 Overtoom; 011-31-020-612-3292; fridaynext.com; sprawling concept store built around owners’ interior design atelier.
●Frozen Fountain – 645 Prinsengracht; 011-31-020-622-9375; frozenfountain.nl; 3 parts design shop and one part art gallery; cutting-edge home furnishings, in 2 floor, 6K' square shop.
●Hester Van Eeghen – 1 & 37 Hartenstraat; 011-31-020-626-9212; hveus.com; bespoke bags and shoes; leather goods.
●I Love Vintage – 18 Herenstraat; 011-31-040-269-3032; ilovevintage.nl; faux leather purses, in particular, from 1980s.
●Kaashuis Tromp – 11 Barteljorisstraat (Haarlem); 011-31-023-532-0070; kaashuistromp.nl; Haarlem cheese shop.
●Keramiek van Campen – 38 Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat; 011-31-62-913-0883; keramiekvancampen.nl; modern ceramics.
●Eduard Kramer Antique Tiles – 807 Prinsengracht; 011-31-020-626-1116; antique-tileshop.nl; huge antique Delft tile selection; perfect portable souvenir.
●Marqt – 21-25 Overtoom; 011-31-020-422-6311; marqt.com; organic supermarket with products from local, small producers.
●Restored – 39 Haarlemmerdijk; 011-31-020-337-6473; restored.nl; DIY design objects.
●Store Without a Home – 1 Cabotstraat; 011-31-065-474-3062; storewithoutahome.com; eccentric project by interior designer, Janwilliem Sanderse; half gallery-half design shop; everything from ceramic “potato-shaped” lamps, crocheted stools, to “outsider art”; call ahead to make sure it’s at address above or some other address (as it tends to “rove”).
●Tropical Museum – 2 Linnaeusstraat; 011-31-020-568-8200; tropenmuseum.nl; architecture alone makes visit worthwhile.
●United Nude – 125 Spuistraat; 011-31-020-330-9796; unitednude.com; shoes.
SIGHTS & SITES
●Amsterdam Canal Museum – 386 Herengracht (Dam Square); 011-31-020-421-1656; hetgrachtenhuis.nl; located in beautiful canal houses; provides insight re 17th Century Amsterdam canals; UNESCO World Heritage site.
●Beatrixpark – 35 Willem Pijperstraat; 011-31-020-662-0227; vriendenbeatrixpark.nl; 1 of Amsterdam’s nicest parks; created in 1936-1938 following Jakoba (Ko) Mulder (leading Dutch landscape architect) design; originally romantic park, after WWII redesigned into more modern functionalism style; green space behind RAI congress center; clean and quiet; small pavilions standing in park are leftovers from 1972 Floriade exhibition; small lake with black swans.
●Begjinhof – Gedempte Begijnensloot (main entrance); 011-31-020-622-1918; begijnhofamsterdam.nl; enclosed former convent dating from early 14th Century; surreal oasis of peace, with tiny houses and postage-stamp gardens around well-kept courtyard; Beguines were Catholic unmarried or widowed women’s order who cared for elderly and lived religious life without taking monastic vows; last true Beguines died in 1970s; contained within hof (courtyard) is Begijnhof Kapel, “clandestine” chapel where Beguines forced to worship after Calvinists took away their Gothic church; go through dogleg entrance to find marble columns, wooden pews, paintings, and stained-glass windows; other church is known as Engelse Kerk (English Church), built around 1392, which eventually rented out to local English and Scottish Presbyterian refugee community (Pilgrim Fathers worshipped here); still serves as city’s Presbyterian church; also note house at #34, dating from around 1465, making it Holland’s oldest preserved wooden house; there’s another entrance to Begijnhof near this structure (look for wooden door on Spui’s north side, east of American Book Center).
●Beurs van Berlage – 243 Damrak (Centrum, De Wallen); 011-31-020-530-4141; beursvanberlage.com; designed as commodity exchange by architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage & constructed between 1896-1903; influenced many modernist architects, in particular functionalists & Amsterdam School; now used as event venue; red brick, with iron & glass roof & stone piers, lintels & corbels; entrance is under 130' high clock tower, while inside lie 3 large multi-story halls formerly used as trading floors, with offices & communal facilities grouped around them; has café located on Beursplein side & tower is also open to public.
●Bloemendaal aan Zee – Haarlem; take #81 bus; sweeping sandy beach along North Sea, with rolling dune nature reserve and sleek, beachfront restaurants.
●Corrie ten Boom Museum – 19 Barteljorisstraat (Haarlem); 011-31-023-531-0823; corrietenboom.com; former safe haven for Jews during Holocaust.
●Anne Frank House – 267 Prinsengracht; 011-31-020-556-7105; annefrank.org; long lines so get there early.
●Gemeentemuseum Den Haag – .
●Hague – ns.nl; 50 minutes from Amsterdam; Dutch parliament’s home.
●De Hallen Haarlem – 16 Grote Markt (Haarlem); 011-31-023-511-5775; dehallenhaarlem.nl; stark, modern space featuring edgy contemporary works.
●Escher Museum – .
●Eye Film Institute – 3 Vondelpark; 011-31-020-589-1400; eyefilm.nl; soon to move to spaceship-like building.
●Frans Halsmuseum – 62 Groot Heiligland (Haarlem); 011-31-023-511-5775; franshalsmuseum.nl; small but dramatic museum; treasures from 16th-17th Century CE; peaceful, leafy courtyard.
●Grote Markt – Haarlem (town center); stunning main square; hemmed by beautiful brick gabled buildings.
●De Nieuwe Kerk – Dam Square; 011-31-020-638-6909; nieuwekerk.nl; art museum in restored church.
●Noorderparkkamer – 1 Floraparkweg (NDSM Whart); 011-31-020-737-0457; noorderparkkamer.nl; wooden pavilion in park; bordered by cafe and stage.
●Park Frandendael – 72 Middenweg; 011-31-020-423-3930; park-frankendael.nl; Frankendael Park contains 2 historic gardens, both carefully restored and opened in summer 2004; Landscape and Style gardens; Style Garden located directly behind land house, created in Regency style around 1730; Landscape Garden adjoining estate presents diverse Dutch landscapes, from different provinces; rest of park also differs in character with part in English free-style, with small ruin on island.
●P.C. Hooftstraat – designer shop avenue.
●Keukenhof Gardens – 166a Stationsweg (Lisse); 011-31-25-246-5555; keukenhof.nl; name means “Kitchen garden,” also known as Garden of Europe; world’s largest flower garden, with approximately 7M flower bulbs planted annually over 32 hectares; open annually from last week in March to mid-May; best time to view tulips around mid-April.
●Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery – Plein 29; 011-31-703-023-456; mauritshuis.nl/en/explore/the-collection.
●Pathé Tuschinski – 26-34 Reguliersbreestraat (Rembrandtplein); 011-31-020-626-2633; pathe.nl/bioscoop/tuschinski; originally commissioned by Abraham Icek Tuschinski in 1921; exterior and interior are spectacular style mix, as designed by Hijman Louis de Jong; Jugendstil, Amsterdam School, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Asian influences; considered among world’s most beautiful cinemas.
●Rijksmuseum – 21 Hobbemastraat; 011-31-020-674-7000; rijksmuseum.nl.
●Rijksmuseum Research Library – 1 Museumstraat; 011-31-020-674-7267; rijksmuseum.nl; among world’s most important art libraries, collecting continuously since 1885 (when built); impressive collection of important works on Dutch art, prints, and drawings; recently renovated, turning library into stately, 19th Century reading room; insider tip: see Vermeer’s Milkmaid and Rembrandt’s Night Watch (in Rijksmuseum) & then visit library-reading room.
●St. Bavo Church – Grote Markt (Haarlem); 011-31-023-553-2040; bavo.nl; gothic church whose spire juts 250 feet high; giant pipe organ once played by Mozart; Frans Hals buried here.
●Stedelijk Museum – 13 Paulus Potterstraat; 011-31-020-670-1829; stedelijk.nl; classic modern art, contemporary art, and design.
●Teylers Museum – 16 Spaarne (Haarlem); 011-31-023-516-0960; teylersmuseum.nl; Netherlands’ oldest museum; ranges from fossils, skeletons, tusks, crystals, and antiques to mad scientist inventions and salon-style paintings.
●Van Gogh Museum – 7 Paulus Potterstraat; 011-31-020-570-5200; vangoghmuseum.nl; buy tickets in advance on website and avoid line.
●Volendam & Marken – fishing villages outside city; picturesque wooden houses.
●Vondelpark – Stadhouderskade (Museum Quarter); 011-31-020-678-1678; zuid.amsterdam.nl/wonen_en/natuur_en_milieu/parken_in_zuid/vondelpark; public, urban, 47 hectares (120 acres) park; opened in 1865 and originally named Nieuwe Park, later renamed Vondelpark, after 17th Century author, Joost van den Vondel; in park are film museum, open-air theater, playground, and several horeca facilities.
●Westergasfabriek – 27 Polonceaukade; 011-31-020-586-0710; westergasfabriek.nl; former factory complex full of artists’ studios and cultural venues; now includes city park.
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