Discover Amsterdam

Amsterdam brings together a historic canal ring, collections of Dutch art and history, Anne Frank’s story and the offerings of ARTIS. To plan your stay, you can first consider which of these themes you want to shape your visit.

Canal Ring and City History

Amsterdam’s Canal Ring within the Singelgracht was created at the end of the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century as a project for a new port city. Its concentric canals, radial waterways and historic building lines remain fully intact. The Canal Ring is an outstanding example of hydraulics, civil engineering, urban planning, construction and architectural expertise.

The historical focus is therefore not limited to individual façades, but also includes the organization of the waterways and the layout of a city. If you are interested in urban development, the Canal Ring offers a different perspective from a collection of individual works of art: here, planning and built form are equally central.

Museums with Different Areas of Focus

The original red-and-white-checkered diary of Anne Frank is on display at the Anne Frank House. Visitors experience the house through quotations, photos, videos and original objects. The audio guide explores Anne Frank, the other people in hiding and their helpers, as well as the persecution of Jews and the Second World War. A personal testimony and a broader historical context are thus presented side by side.

The Rijksmuseum presents more than 8,000 works of Dutch art and history. Rembrandt’s painting “The Night Watch” is also housed there. The Van Gogh Museum has a narrower focus: it houses the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s artworks. When planning your museum visits, you can therefore choose between a broad range of art and history and the work of a single artist.

ARTIS: Animals, Monuments and Planetarium

At ARTIS Zoo, visitors can experience animals and plants from around the world. The grounds are also home to 26 national monuments that illustrate more than 185 years of history. Shows take place daily in the large domed building of the ARTIS Planetarium. The ARTIS grounds therefore bring together nature, historical monuments and planetarium shows to suit different interests.

This selection can help you decide what to focus on during a visit: Would you like to experience animals and plants, learn about the monuments and their history, or attend a planetarium show? The three themes are distinct, but they are all located on the same grounds.

Canal Cruises and Getting Around

The waterways are also among Amsterdam’s defining features. Canal cruise trips last at least one hour, and audio guides are available in several languages. Amsterdam’s public transport network includes metros, buses, trams, ferries and trains. When planning your trip, consider both the places you want to visit and the forms of transport you would like to use to get around.

When looking for a hotel in Amsterdam, you can start with the visits you have planned: Are you mainly interested in the city’s architectural history, a particular museum focus or ARTIS? Setting this priority gives you a clear framework for your search. Then plan your visits and routes according to your own interests, taking the public transport network into account.

For the broader travel overview: North Holland.