Exploring Europe, Chapter 03: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam was one of those cities that felt different from the moment I arrived.

Canals ran through the city, narrow historic houses lined the streets, and bicycles were everywhere. But what stood out just as much was its liberal culture, which can feel quite different from what we’re used to in India. And beyond the Red Light District and coffeeshops that often dominate conversations about Amsterdam, there’s a lot to explore.

This is Chapter 03 of my Exploring Europe series. I’ve previously covered Prague 🇨🇿 and Budapest 🇭🇺 in Chapters 1 and 2. You can find the link to those articles below -

Prague: Exploring Europe, Chapter 02: Prague, Czech Republic

Budapest: Exploring Europe, Chapter 01: Budapest, Hungary

I spent a few days in Amsterdam after a work trip, travelling solo, and exploring the city at my own pace.

Here’s my guide to planning a visit to Amsterdam!

Best time to visit Amsterdam 🌤️

Amsterdam is quite far north compared to cities like Paris. It is closer to the latitude of London, and the weather can be cold, windy, and rainy for much of the year.

The rain is not always a heavy downpour as you might expect. It can be a mild, continuous drizzle with strong winds, which makes navigating the city quite difficult.

I would recommend visiting from June to September. June and July are popular summer months, so expect more tourists and higher accommodation prices. September is a nice shoulder-season option, with relatively pleasant weather and somewhat fewer crowds. From October onwards, it starts getting chilly, and the wind and rain can make it feel colder than it actually is.

A quick note on Schengen visas🇪🇺

If you're travelling to Amsterdam from India, you'll need a short-stay Type C Schengen visa.

The important thing is to apply through the correct Schengen country based on your itinerary and main destination. If you're travelling to multiple countries, don't simply apply through whichever embassy has the easiest appointment or processing time!

For a detailed visa application, the exact requirements depend on your profile, itinerary, and the country you're applying through.

I've personally gone through the Schengen visa process multiple times, currently hold a 2-year multi-entry visa, and now assist travellers with their applications through Captain Visas.

I offer personalised visa assistance. If you need help with your Schengen visa, you can DM me your query or book a consultation below**:** https://www.captainvisas.com/

You can also reach out to me directly on WhatsApp:

https://tinyurl.com/6zmzbecb

Getting to Amsterdam from India ✈️

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of Europe’s major airports. From India, Air India and KLM are the airlines to check for direct flights to Amsterdam.

There are also flights through the Middle East. Qatar Airways flies via Doha, Emirates via Dubai, and Etihad via Abu Dhabi. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is another option worth checking. Depending on your departure city and dates, you can also find connections through European hubs such as Frankfurt or Zurich.

Schiphol to Amsterdam Centraal ��

Getting from the airport to the city is straightforward. The train station is directly below Schiphol Airport, and trains run frequently to Amsterdam Centraal.

The journey takes around 17 minutes on a direct train. Check the NS journey planner for the latest timings and fares.

You can buy tickets online or at the station. A one-way second-class ticket costs around €5.50 when booked online. Buying a ticket from a machine may cost more because of the single-use ticket surcharge. You can also tap in and out with a contactless bank card or phone.

Understand Amsterdam before booking your hotel 🗺️

This is probably one of the most important things to understand before you book your stay in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is built around a series of canals, with the historic city centre at its heart. Amsterdam has 165 canals covering a distance of 100+ km!

The city is relatively compact, and many of the main attractions are within walking distance of each other. But where you stay can make a difference to how much time you spend travelling around.

The Canal Belt is the area most people associate with Amsterdam. You'll find the historic canal houses, bridges, cafés, coffee shops, and plenty of tourist attractions here. It's a great area to explore on foot, and staying around here puts you close to the heart of the city.

Amsterdam Centraal is another useful landmark. The station sits at the northern edge of the historic centre, with Dam Square, Damrak and the main shopping streets a short walk away. It's also where you'll catch trains to other Dutch cities and ferries across the IJ, a large waterway north of Amsterdam's centre.

Then you have Museumplein, farther south, where you'll find the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum. The surrounding areas are quieter than the central tourist streets, but still well connected.

Amsterdam Noord lies across the IJ. Free ferries connect Noord with the area around Centraal Station, so it's easy to visit. But if you're staying there, you'll need to factor in the ferry crossing when heading into the historic centre.

Amsterdam also has neighbourhoods such as Jordaan and Oud-West, which are worth considering if you want a more residential feel while remaining close to the city centre.

For a first visit, I'd personally stay around the Canal Belt, Centraal or Jordaan. You'll be close to many of the main attractions, restaurants and cafés, and can explore a lot of Amsterdam on foot.

So, here's the final verdict!

Centraal and the Canal Belt if you want to be close to the action!

Jordaan or Oud-West if you want a slightly quieter neighbourhood while staying well connected.

Noord if you're comfortable staying across the IJ and taking the ferry into the centre.

My Stay Experience 🏨

Amsterdam is expensive, especially during summer and popular travel dates. Accommodation can take a substantial part of your budget, so book early if you can.

I stayed at Stayokay Hostel Amsterdam during my solo trip. I had some work in another part of the Netherlands and then extended my stay in Amsterdam by five days. Since the Netherlands was a last-minute plan, I hardly had any time to pre-plan or book accommodation. Hotels in the central region of Amsterdam were extremely expensive. So I decided to go with a hostel and experience the life of a solo traveller in Amsterdam!

Now, unlike the image you might have of hostels in India, hostels in this part of the world are quite different. They are clean, well equipped, and people generally mind their own business. You can have a very comfortable stay even in hostels!

But even hostels, however, can be expensive too! Depending on the dates, whether it's a weekday or weekend, and the kind of dorm you choose, you could be looking at around ₹3,000–₹6,000 per night. Amsterdam is not a cheap city for accommodation.

The Stayokay Hostel Amsterdam was about a 15-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal and right beside a canal. Depending on the dorm you are allotted, you may or may not get a canal-facing view. I was lucky to get a dorm with a huge glass window facing the canal. The view was amazing, and it was a really nice bonus to wake up to.

The hostel was extremely clean and very well equipped. It had an entire basement that served as a common room. There were plates and other facilities so you could have your own food there: a microwave to heat it, a dishwasher to put the plates away, drinking water facilities, and a vending machine where you could buy things.

You also meet people from multiple nationalities here, and a lot of them are youngsters. One thing I noticed was how common it was for people to get their own food from supermarkets and have it in the hostel.

The hostel also had lockers where you could keep your bags. Carry your own lock and key, though, because they may not provide one.

One important thing about hostels and some Airbnbs is luggage storage. If you arrive before check-in, they may not store your luggage for free. Big hotel chains are generally more accommodating with luggage storage, but don't assume every hostel or Airbnb will do the same.

Some hostels have a self-service locker system where you pay for a locker, either by the hour or for the full day, get a code, and leave your luggage there.

Overall, Stayokay was a brilliant hostel for me. The location was very good; it was close to the canal, and I could walk to a lot of the sights and places in Amsterdam. For a solo traveller looking to save on hotels, it is definitely worth considering!

First impressions of Amsterdam 🚶

When I got off at Amsterdam Centraal, I walked all the way to my hostel, which was around 15 minutes away.

The canals were the first thing that caught my attention. You keep seeing canals everywhere, with footpaths alongside them, bridges, and the classic narrow Amsterdam houses.

The city was beautiful, but I did find some streets a little difficult to navigate with a rolling trolley. The paving and stone surfaces can make dragging luggage a bit sluggish.

I also noticed some garbage here and there. Obviously, nowhere close to what you might see in India, but in Europe you do expect a little more cleanliness, so that stood out.

Amsterdam is a very touristy city. You will see people from all over the world, and while it can get crowded, it is nowhere close to the kind of crowds we are used to in India.

How to get around Amsterdam 🚋

The central canal area is very walkable. In fact, walking is one of the best ways to explore the historic centre. You can spend hours wandering through the canals, bridges, narrow streets and little shops.

But Amsterdam also has trams, buses and a metro network, which are useful when you want to go further out, say, to Museumplein, Vondelpark, Amsterdam Zuid or a friend's place in another part of the city.

Personally, I hardly used trams. I took one to visit a friend who lived near Amsterdam Zuid, quite far away from the central area. Otherwise, I mostly walked.

For public transport, you can buy single tickets or day and multi-day passes. A GVB 24-hour ticket costs €10 in 2026, while multi-day tickets are available for longer stays. These tickets cover GVB trams, buses and metro within Amsterdam.

You can buy them through the GVB app, at service counters or ticket machines. Contactless payment using your credit/debit card is also an option on public transport.

For families, walking is still the best way to explore the central canal area, but keep in mind that it involves a lot of walking. If you are travelling with children or elderly family members, plan shorter stretches and use trams for the longer distances. A day ticket can make sense if you expect to use public transport multiple times.

And of course, one of the most Dutch things you can do is rent a bicycle and explore the city on two wheels. Amsterdam has an insane number of cycles, and cycling is a normal way for locals to get to work and move around.

But be careful. The cyclists move very fast, and they are used to navigating through tourists. Stay out of the cycle lanes, look both ways before crossing, and don't suddenly stop in the middle of a bike lane to take a photo.

Currency and money 💶

Amsterdam uses the Euro!

The city is generally card-friendly, and I was able to get through most of my trip without using cash. By the time I reached Amsterdam, I had only €20 in cash, which was insanely low. I decided not to withdraw cash, and I managed to navigate the entire city without spending even a euro in cash. Eventually, I used that €20 to buy something at the airport.

That tells you how convenient card payments can be here. Still, carry a little cash as a backup, because some small shops or experiences may prefer cash.

When paying by card, choose to pay in Euros on the POS machine rather than accepting a conversion into INR. Your card issuer's conversion is generally much better than the merchant's dynamic currency conversion.

Attractions 🧲

Let's get started on how to make the most of your time in Amsterdam!

Canal cruise 🚤

The first thing I would definitely recommend in Amsterdam is a canal cruise.

I booked mine through GetYourGuide, and the operator was Lovers Canal Cruises. Their boats have orange branding, and it was a really nice, cosy cruise, and not even very expensive. I remember paying around €20, but prices and inclusions can vary depending on the type of experience you choose.

The cruise was about an hour long and started near Amsterdam Centraal. The boat took us through multiple canals, with the host explaining the history of the city along the way.

My host had amazing narration skills and had a great sense of humour. She made the entire experience entertaining, and I thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride.

A few things she explained were particularly interesting:

• Amsterdam grew into an important port and trading city, and its canals were central to moving goods and connecting the city.
• The classic canal houses were built close together, with narrow facades and steep staircases. Many have hooks at the top to help hoist furniture and goods through the windows.
• Amsterdam's canal belt is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the historic houses and bridges look especially beautiful from the water.
• Apparently, around 6,000 bicycles are pulled out of Amsterdam's canals every year! With the sheer number of cycles you see parked around the city, this is not entirely surprising. It was one of those fun facts that stuck with me.
• The city has a long history of tolerance and regulated sex work, but the modern rules and policies are more complicated than the stories you hear on a cruise.

The cruise was a great way to understand the city while also enjoying the views. If you have limited time in Amsterdam, I would put this high on the list.

The classic Amsterdam canal-and-cycle photo 📸

One of the most Amsterdam things ever is seeing cycles parked near canal railings and bridges.

There are countless spots where you can get a classic photo with a cycle, canal, and flowers in the background. One of my favourite spots was right in front of the Rijksmuseum, near the canal bridge. The view was beautiful, and I absolutely loved it.

Coffee shops and Amsterdam's liberal culture 🌿

Amsterdam is famous for its coffeeshops, but it is worth understanding what the term means here.

A Dutch coffeeshop is not your usual coffee shop. It is an establishment where cannabis can be sold under the Netherlands' tolerance policy and strict conditions.

You will find places where people can sit, have a drink or snack, and consume cannabis according to the establishment's rules. The Bulldog is one of the well-known coffeeshop brands that many visitors recognise.

This is a big part of Amsterdam's reputation for being liberal, but don't assume that cannabis use is permitted everywhere in public or that every rule is the same across the city. Be respectful of local restrictions, and avoid buying from street dealers.

For someone coming from a more conservative environment, Amsterdam can be quite a different experience. You see a culture where people are generally more open about sex and cannabis, and where the approach is more about regulation and tolerance than treating everything as taboo.

The Red Light District - De Wallen 🔴

De Wallen is Amsterdam's famous Red Light District. It is an area of narrow streets and canals where sex workers work behind illuminated windows.

The district is particularly busy in the evening, and many visitors walk through it simply out of curiosity to see how it works. You will also find bars, clubs, and adult entertainment venues in the surrounding area.

One very important thing: photography and videography of sex workers is not allowed. Do not point your phone or camera at the windows. It is disrespectful, and you can get into serious trouble.

There are also cabaret and adult shows in the RLD area, including well-known clubs such as Moulin Rouge. It's something to know about in case it interests you 😉

This is not necessarily an area I would recommend for every family. It depends on your comfort level and what you want to experience. But it is part of Amsterdam's history and culture, and it is one of the things that makes the city different from many other places in Europe and around the world.

Dam Square and the shopping streets 🛍️

Dam Square is one of the busiest places in Amsterdam. The stretch from Dam Square towards Amsterdam Centraal is very lively, with shopping, restaurants, and plenty of people walking around.

You will find shops ranging from everyday brands to luxury showrooms, along with Madame Tussauds Amsterdam, the wax museum featuring celebrities and public figures.

Even if you are not interested in shopping, it is worth walking through this area once to experience the energy of central Amsterdam.Da

The museum area: Museumplein 🎨

Amsterdam has a whole cluster of museums around Museumplein, and if you enjoy art and history, you can easily spend a day here.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is one of the most famous museums in the Netherlands. The building in itself is quite iconic! It covers Dutch art and history, with works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other major artists. The Gallery of Honour and Rembrandt's The Night Watch are among its highlights.

Tickets cost €25 for adults, and visitors aged 18 and under can enter for free. Book a timed entry slot. If you want to see the highlights, allow at least 1–2 hours.

Personally, I skipped this museum because I had already visited a lot of museums by the time I reached Amsterdam. But if this is your first trip, I would recommend going for it.

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum is right next to the Rijksmuseum. If you are fond of paintings, this is definitely worth visiting.

Tickets cost €25 for adults, and entry is free for visitors under 18. Tickets are available online with a timed entry, and they can sell out fast, so plan in advance.

One thing I want to mention up front: Van Gogh's famous painting The Starry Night is not here. It is at MoMA in New York. I went to the museum expecting to see it, but didn't find it. So I didn't have my Mona Lisa moment, but the museum is still very nice, with a large collection of Van Gogh's paintings and information about his life.

Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk Museum is also in Museumplein, next to the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. It focuses on modern and contemporary art, including design and works from the 20th century onwards.

If you are more interested in modern art than traditional paintings, this is the museum to consider.

Museumplein and the park

The museum area also has a large open green space where people sit, relax, and spend time outdoors. It is a nice place to slow down after visiting the museums. You will often see people sitting on the grass, chatting or enjoying performances.

Vondelpark 🌳

One of the best things I did in Amsterdam was visit Vondelpark. It is a huge park just outside the central area, in Amsterdam-Oud-West. There are water bodies, greenery, and plenty of space to walk around or just relax.

You see people reading books, sleeping on the grass, talking to friends, or simply enjoying the weather. It is a very serene and beautiful place.

I absolutely loved this part of Amsterdam. If you want to slow down and take a break from the busy tourist streets, don't miss Vondelpark.

Cycling and guided tours 🚲

Amsterdam is one of the best cities to explore by bicycle, and if you really want to enjoy the Dutch experience, renting a cycle is a great option.

You can also book guided cycling or walking tours if you want someone to explain the city's history and take you through neighbourhoods you might otherwise miss.

Just remember that cycling in Amsterdam is not like casually riding a bicycle in a quiet park. The cycle lanes are busy, locals ride fast, and they are used to dealing with tourists. Be careful when crossing cycle lanes, and don't stop suddenly in the middle of them.

If you prefer walking, the central area is very easy to explore on foot. You can take your time, wander through the canals, and stop wherever you want.

Amsterdam at Night 🌃

Amsterdam looks absolutely beautiful at night, especially along the canals. I remember walking around and seeing the lights from the houses and bridges reflecting on the water, with the whole city taking on a different charm. I also found it quite comfortable to walk around at night in the central areas I visited. It felt safe and lively, with plenty of people around.

Anne Frank House 🕯️

The Anne Frank House is one of the most significant places to visit in Amsterdam.

This is the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War, and where she wrote much of her famous diary. They were eventually discovered and deported by the Nazis.

The museum visit takes about an hour, and adult tickets cost €16.50. Tickets are sold online for a specific time slot and are released every Tuesday at 10 am CEST for visits six weeks later. They can sell out quickly, so book as soon as your date becomes available.

I couldn't visit because my Amsterdam plan was last-minute, but it is something I would definitely like to do on another trip.

One important thing: you will find Anne Frank-themed walking tours on platforms like GetYourGuide and Klook. These are not the same as visiting the Anne Frank House. A walking tour may take you around the neighbourhood or past the house, but it does not include entry unless the listing explicitly says so.

Oude Kerk and other museums 🖼️

Oude Kerk is Amsterdam's oldest building and a historic church in the Red Light District. Today it also hosts contemporary art exhibitions, making it quite different from the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum.

Adult entry is €14.50, and you can allow about an hour to explore the building and exhibitions.

There is also the Rembrandt House Museum, where you can explore the house in which Rembrandt, the famous Dutch painter, lived and worked. It gives you a more personal look at the artist's life and studio.

Amsterdam has plenty of other museums too, including the Canal Museum and the Erotic Museum. I would choose based on your interests rather than trying to fit every museum into one trip.

Nieuwmarkt and Chinatown 🍜

Nieuwmarkt is a lively area with restaurants, shops, and a mix of local and tourist activity. The nearby Zeedijk street has plenty of Chinese restaurants and shops, so if you are fond of Chinese food, this is a good area to explore.

It is also a nice place to walk around in the evening, especially if you are staying near the centre.

Food to try in Amsterdam 🍟

Fries at Mannekenpis

Amsterdam is famous for fries, and one place I personally loved was Mannekenpis.

It is on the busy shopping stretch between Dam Square and Amsterdam Centraal. You will see a lot of people walking around with cones of fries and sauces.

I ordered the small fries, and the portion was huge. It was so filling that it felt like I had lunch and dinner in one go. The sauces make the fries really tasty, and I never thought fries could be that good.

Do keep the portion size in mind before ordering. The smallest one was more than enough for me.

Dutch cheese ��

Dutch cheese, especially Gouda and Edam, is another thing you should try. These are two of the most famous Dutch cheeses, and you'll find plenty of cheese shops in Amsterdam where you can sample different varieties.

Cheese also varies by age. Young cheese is softer and milder, while old cheese becomes harder and has a stronger flavour. Personally, I prefer young to medium-aged cheese.

You can buy cheese to take home, and some shops offer vacuum-packed options as well. Still, check the customs and food-import rules for your destination before carrying dairy products across borders.

A day trip from Amsterdam: Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam 🌷

The day trip I took was to Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam. It was a great way to see the countryside around Amsterdam, and you can book similar tours through platforms like Viator or GetYourGuide.

The tour I took started near Amsterdam Centraal, around the area near the Mövenpick Hotel. <Booking.com> also has its headquarters in Amsterdam, so you will find its office in this part of the city.

One interesting thing about this day trip was how it was organised. The entire trip was managed by a single guy who was driving the tempo and coordinating everything.

The vehicle even had a TV screen with an animated Van Gogh narrating the journey in English and Spanish. It would say things like, “Hey, I'm Van Gogh, and you're now heading to Zaanse Schans!” He would introduce himself, explain the history of the places we were heading to, and tell us what to expect at each stop, almost like a real tour guide. It was quite a unique experience to have the entire trip managed by one person using technology like this.

Zaanse Schans

The first stop was usually Zaanse Schans, a heritage village known for its windmills, traditional houses, and old crafts.

You see windmills rotating beside beautiful houses, with lush green surroundings. It is a very picturesque place, and you can spend around an hour or two walking around and grabbing a coffee.

The area also has demonstrations of traditional crafts, including wooden clog-making.

The Netherlands is also famous for its wooden shoes, or clogs. One of the stops on our trip was a small workshop where they showed us how these shoes are made. We even got to try them on!

They were quite interesting to wear, though I can't imagine walking around in them for long. Since they're made of wood, they aren't exactly the most comfortable footwear for a full day of exploring.

Edam

Edam is the next stop and is a beautiful small Dutch town, famous for its cheese and historic streets.

Some tours take you to a cheese-making demonstration and shops where you can sample different cheeses on the way to Edam.

You will find some very innovative flavours, including garlic, pesto and beer-flavoured cheese. These can be quite expensive because they are sold as part of tourist-oriented experiences, so just be aware of that.

Edam also has cute houses, canals and a very well-maintained town centre. It is the kind of place where you can simply walk around and enjoy the surroundings.

You will also find cheese shops and local food options.

Volendam

Volendam is another picturesque fishing village near Amsterdam, known for its waterfront, traditional houses, and seafood.

It is a popular stop on countryside trips, and it's worth considering if your tour includes it. If you're a seafood lover, look out for kibbeling, a traditional Dutch snack of battered, deep-fried fish pieces, usually served with a dipping sauce. Volendam is also known for its smoked eel (gerookte paling).

Some tours also include Marken, a village known for its traditional wooden houses and waterfront setting. Depending on the itinerary, you may even get a boat ride between Marken and Volendam.

Weather and practical tips 🌧️

Amsterdam can get very windy, especially towards September and October when the weather starts to change.

Even if the rain is not heavy, the wind can make it feel much colder. Umbrellas can overturn in strong winds, so a good rain jacket is often more useful.

Also, if you are carrying a rolling suitcase, be prepared for uneven streets and cobbled areas. It can be a little difficult to drag luggage around, especially when walking from the station to your accommodation.

Other places to visit from Amsterdam 🚄

The Netherlands is a fairly small country, so Amsterdam is a good base for exploring other places too.

Rotterdam

Rotterdam is around 40 minutes from Amsterdam by train. It is known for modern architecture, its port, the Cube Houses, and the Erasmus Bridge.

I didn't visit Rotterdam because I wanted to travel slowly and enjoy Amsterdam instead of ticking off a checklist. From what I understand, it has a more modern and urban feel than Amsterdam, so it could be interesting if you enjoy architecture and city life.

The Hague

The Hague is another option, roughly 50–60 minutes away by train. It has museums such as the Mauritshuis, a historic city centre, and the beach at Scheveningen.

If you want to combine a city visit with some time by the sea, The Hague could make for a good day trip.

My take on Amsterdam 🇳🇱

Amsterdam is a city full of history, but it is also a city that makes you think differently about how people live.

The openness around sex, cannabis, and personal choices can be quite surprising if you come from a more conservative environment. You see these things in public, in shops and in the city's nightlife, and it can shift your perspective.

That doesn't mean you have to participate in any of it. You can visit the museums, walk along the canals, spend time in Vondelpark, enjoy the food, and take a day trip to the countryside.

For me, Amsterdam was a very relaxed trip. I had very little planning apart from the day trip, and I mostly decided what to do as I went along. I also made a couple of friends during my stay, which became part of the experience.

I think Amsterdam is worth visiting for everyone, not just bachelors or people looking for nightlife. It has a lot to offer, and it is one of those cities that opens up your perspective on different cultures and ways of living.

This was Chapter 03 of my Exploring Europe series. I will keep covering more places, so stay tuned for the next chapter.