Susmita Ghosh in Amsterdam
Stuffed with tourists for most of the year, the best bet to travel to Amsterdam is from September to November as it gets decent weather with notable fall, unexpected rain and chilly may get at times though!
Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ capital is one of the safest, romantic and beautiful cities in Europe. With rich culture, lively nightlife, international restaurants and good transport, it proves to be one of the greatest small cities in the world.
Amsterdam is known for its artistic heritage, elegant canal system and narrow houses with gabled facades, inheritances of the city’s 17th-century Golden Age. Museums are its main tourist attractions as it has over seventy of them. Everyone knows the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, but there are many more.
Cycling is key to the city’s character, with numerous bike paths. Canal cruises are a popular way to see the city from the perspective of its canals, an elegant cityscape of 165 waterways and 1,280 bridges.
It’s friendly, calm, and open-minded attitude and the vibrant nightlife draw tourists from all over the world. Coffee shops in Holland are allowed to sell small amounts of cannabis and are strictly regulated and taxed. Besides well-known stores give way to tourist-oriented cheese shops, waffle bars and fast-food joints.
Even though the capital of Netherlands isn’t the cheapest destination in Europe, yet there are plenty of attractions that one can enjoy within budget.
While most of the major cities in the world have a ‘Red Light District,’ none are quite as famous as Amsterdam’s Red Light District. The inner-harbour of Amsterdam has slowly grown into an area of sex shops, brothels, gay bars, coffee shops, peepshows and window prostitutes.
The Narrowest House in the World is in Amsterdam. The Bridge of 15 Bridges is an unusual sight – from one bridge canal belt no less than 15 bridges are viewed.
Held in late July and early August every year, Amsterdam Gay Pride is a celebration of devotion towards equality for the gay, lesbian and transgender communities.
Besides, worth-seeing, never-to-miss list includes Floating Flower Market, Canal Belt, Civic Guard Gallery, The ‘Albert Cuypmarkt,’ the largest street market , Urban Beaches, Rijksmuseum Garden, Diamond Factory Tour, EYE Film museum, NEMO Panorama Terrace, Waterlooplein Flea Market, Church Carillon Concerts, Amsterdam Light Festival and Street Art.
Not far from Amsterdam, Amersfoort is well worth a visit and has everything to offer for a great city trip. Amersfoort is a beautiful city in the Utrecht province of the Netherlands.
With admirable historic buildings and beautiful canals, Amersfoort is also famous for its attractive city centre with landmarks like the famous Koppelpoort and the 15th century Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren. Taking pride of place in the centre of Amersfoort on the Hof market square, Sint Joriskerk is perhaps one of the strangest church designs in Europe.
Besides Dutch Cavalry Museum, Oude Haven Monnikendam, a well-developed network of Amersfoort Canals, Museum Flehite, Winkelcentrum St. Jorisplein, a fantastic place for shopping and Amersfoort Zoo – an outstanding endless list of attractions.
Best idea to conclude one’s day with beer at an oldest café in Amersfoort, for which it’s highly renowned for.