| Top Contributors |  |  |
| Amsterdam has 42 museums and over 141 smaller galleries. |
| Amsterdam’s galleries are mostly located in the Spiegelkwartier. Two good ones (for very different reasons) are Electric Ladyland, The First Museum of Florescent Art, Tweede Leliedwarsstraat 5 (420 37 76) open Tu-Sa 1pm-6pm, 5E, and WALLS, Prinsengracht 737 (616 95 97) open Tu-Fr 10am-6pm, a space for contemporary multi-media art. |
| The Rjiksmuseum is Amsterdam’s grandest, most traditional museum of history and art. Rembrandt: the name says it all. Invest a whole day in wandering its hardwood floors. |  |
| The Sheepvaart Museum (The Maritime Museum) covers all things ship- and trade-related. An interesting way to get a feel for Amsterdam’s past. |
| The Historisch Museum (The Museum of City History) is housed in a former orphanage and has all manner of multi-media displays to help you get to know Amsterdam’s history. |
| The Stedelijk Museum is the other big museum in town. It has all the modern and contemporary stuff. |
| Just a 35-min. train ride from downtown Amsterdam, this museum and huge park are well worth a visit. Helene Kroller was the daughter of a wealthy German industrialist who married a Dutchman; her love of nature and pricey art is reflected in the museum’s sculpture garden of Rodins, Serras, and Oldenburgs and its collection of Impressionist masterpieces. Take the train to Apeldorrn; open Tu-Su... |
| The Joods Historisch Museum (The Jewish Historical Museum). A beautifully designed and fascinating space. A good alternative to the Anne Frank House during the summer high season. |
| The Van Gogh Museum has lots and lots to see by the Post-Impressionist master. Some like to have a little treat at a local coffee shop before viewing the canvases. |
| The Anne Frank Huis (The Anne Frank House) contains the immensely popular commemorative display of photos and writings from Anne Frank’s diary. Depending on your mood, it can either seem like a tourist feeding-frenzy or a heart-rending and faithful description of Anne’s life. Be prepared for crowds. |
| There’s almost no way a visitor could miss seeing these three big brothers—the Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keisersgracht (the Lord’s, Prince’s, and King’s canals, respectively)—whose concentric rings flow through the center of Amsterdam and whose banks are this city’s Park Avenue. But just in case you were inclined not to investigate them, know that they are home to the finest mansions in... |
| The Westerkerk (the West Church) has Amsterdam’s highest tower, which visitors may climb during summer months. The church was consecrated in 1631, and Anne Frank reports listening to its bells while she and her family hid in a townhouse just across the canal. |
| Dam Square is Amsterdam’s original marketplace, the site of the dam on the Amstel where Amsterdam got its start in the 1270’s. Since the 13th century the square has seen many a demonstration as well as a Nazi execution; the central monument commemorates those who died in WWII. Two of the narrowest buildings in the world can be found on the square: Singel 7, which is 101cm at its narrowest... |
| The Rembrandthuis (The Rembrandt House) is the home where Rembrandt lived for over 20 years and bankrupted himself in the process. |
| De Oude Kerk (The Old Church) was built in the Roman style in the 1200’s, but only finished in the 15th century. Skasia Rembrandt, the wife of the master-painter, is buried here. |
| What should you do if you’ve exhausted all the touristy possibilities in Amsterdam? Take your tired feet over to the beautiful Vondel Park, where you can lounge on the grass, play a game of Frisbee, take a bike ride around the park at dusk, catch a free outdoor concert, or visit the world-renowned Filmmuseum, Vondel Park 3 (589 14 00) www.filmmuseum.nl. Don’t worry, you’re not required to go... |  |
| Great zoo along with aquarium and planetarium. |  |
| a good excuse to get good and drunk (and support the queen). |
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