Loved checking out this farmer's market on a dreary Saturday a couple weekends ago in Amsterdam!…read more Located in the Jordaan neighborhood, this market has a history of being located in this public square since 1623, when it was renamed after the newly built Noorderkerk, a church which still stands today. Its prior name was Prisenmarkt (named after Prinsengracht (Prince canal)). The earliest version of the market sold everything from pottery, textiles, household items, second-hand goods and pigeons. There's a detailed accounting of this market's history on their website. The current iteration of the market consists of 1) a farmer's market with many local and artisanal producers of farm produce, meats and dairy, baked goods, etc. and 2) a "general goods" market which consists of stands selling housewares, art, vintage clothing and accessories, antiques, textiles and household furnishings, and more. The former is held on Saturdays 9-4pm, the latter on Saturdays same time as the farmers market and Mondays 9-2pm. From where I was walking around, it looked like about three dozen vendors with stands of varied sizes gathered here to sell on a Saturday morning. I also arrived around 9:30am, so there were still vendors setting up too. What a bustling atmosphere and certainly lots of locals doing some weekend food shopping--saw plenty of veggies, fruit, bread, placed directly in bicycle crates (on the front or back of this popular transportation method Amsterdam is well-known for) and biked away. So many yummy looking items! It made me wish I had a kitchen there so I could buy and prepare food from this market. For more info: https://www.noordermarkt-amsterdam.nl/en/home-en and https://www.instagram.com/noordermarkt_amsterdam/

The Noordermarkt on Mondays only is when there are vintage sellers and not just clothes..... had a…read moregood selection of vendors and we did well finding kitschy resale items to fill our suitcases. And everything reasonably priced. Bring cash and your carry bags - some take cards but not many. There are clothes - and food stalls as well. Worth visiting if vintage kitsch is your bag

it's a nice mix of stores in Jordaan. Minus one star for the over-taking of some of our favorite…read moreplaces by "tik-tok" followers. There are lines over the bridges waiting to get bubble tea or fries. The locals can no longer go to this place thanks to this ridiculous lemen behavior. But other than that, it's like a mall but outside. Be careful of the rude cyclist trying to run you over if you step in the way. Most likely these aren't typical Dutch cyclists but tourists or expats themselves being arrogant.

With only a limited time in Amsterdam (alas) before our river cruise would depart, walking the 9…read moreStreets neighborhood was a must. We took a taxi to the Anne Frank house and walked the few blocks to a starting point. It was a chilly, rainy November day but we had umbrellas, rain gear and determination! The neighborhoods are utterly charming, canals throughout, bordered by colorful houses, skinny sidewalks with bikes and cars squeezed in somehow. It so reminded us of Venice! Everything is so photogenic it's easy to burn through your phone's storage here! Shops and restaurants abound throughout. Would've loved to have more time to check them out but my wife did find some beautiful scarves in one. Walking the 9 Streets has been described as one of the great walks of Europe. A must see when in Amsterdam!

Yelp Review 2023 #24:…read more Even on a cold and rainy day, Amsterdam's Bloemenmarkt still has a charm you simply cannot resist. The vibrant colors makes you forget just how cold it is on a winter day. You can buy fresh flowers, seeds, bulbs, and stuff for your garden. There are souvenir shops and restaurants across this flower market. As much as I would have loved to grab something from here to take home, it would've gotten confiscated at the airport anyway and even if we're allowed to bring seeds and bulbs back home, there's no way it would survive Vegas heat. But it was nice to look around and see the beautiful flowers. It is "the world's only floating flower market" on the canals of Amsterdam. It's a free activity until you buy something.

If you love flower/garden shops and especially love tulips then you have to check out Bloemenmarkt…read more It is unique also because it is a floating market as many of the stores are on floating "boats" on the canal. I ended up getting some gifts for family/friends. The area could get a little crowded, and next to the flower markets there are also a lot of separate tourist/gift stores. Even if you are not into flowers, this place is worth checking out as it is near the city centre.

It's a large tree-lined square in the middle of Amsterdam with the statue of a very famous Dutch…read morepainter. If anything, it appears to be a good base location for tourists and locals alike. It's primarily known for its night life. There are hotels, bars, and restaurants all around it. It's close to many attractions and public transportation options. The square was historically a dairy market known as the Botermarkt. The iron statue of Rembrandt was placed there in 1852 when it was still a marketplace. It didn't get renamed to Rembrandtplein until some time in 1876. It's been an attraction for tourists ever since that time coupled with the growth of businesses around the square. Rembrandt's house (now a museum) is actually within walking distance from this location. The Amsterdam Flower Market is also close by. During our recent visit, I noticed that the current art installation is totally different from the ones that others have described in the past. It appears that the "Waterlife" sculpture by Ronald A. Westerhuis has replaced the gold astronaut. Prior to that, it was a grouping of statues in what was once a very popular work of art. It was a 3D version of Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" painting. So, don't be surprised if you encounter something totally different during your visit. Would I make a special visit to see it? Well, I don't think anyone really does. It just happens to be a square that you'll eventually walk through. It's everything in the neighboring streets around it that make it special. We found our exploration along Utrechtsestraat to be more local and enjoyable.

Rembrandt Square is named after the artist Rembrandt van Rijn who lived nearby. In the square,…read morethere are two statues -- one of Rembrandt and one of an astronaut called "The Thinker" by artist Joseph Klibansk. "The Thinker" is so-called as the figure is sitting in the same position as Rodin's famous sculpture. There are several hotels, restaurants, and shops around Rembrandt Square, and we went to the nearby restaurant, Cafe Kuyl, twice -- once for drinks, and once for dinner. Rembrandt Square is a popular destination, although I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. But if nearby, definitely check it out. [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Amsterdam, the Netherlands]

I have been on canal, river, and archipelago tours all over the world, and without a doubt,…read moreAmsterdam is THE place to do a canal boat tour, or just walk along the promenades and see the canals for free as they are literally EVERYWHERE! A friend and I visited Amsterdam right on the cusp of tulip season, so the water and foliage weren't completely in bloom yet - and even then, the beauty of the canals shone through. You won't need to seek out the canals or the canal cruises or tours because they are just on every corner and in every cranny of Amsterdam. Canals canals canals! No complaints here, as I'm from the triple landlocked US state of Nebraska, so seeing a city made up of canals, tributaries, and water was a sight to behold. I can't say that I "recommend" the canals, because you can't escape them anywhere you go in Amsterdam, but I will just say to experience them in one way or another (a paid cruise or a free stroll!)

This is it. THIS is…read morewhat you came all the way to Amsterdam to see. Not the Anne Frank house. Not the Rijksmuseum. Not the Red Light District. Not the Vondelpark, not the Royal Palace. You came to see the city's canals, and they're just as fantastic as you've always thought! I probably took 200 photos of Amsterdam's canals in only a few days. They're so pretty and peaceful, and it's fun just to meander alongside the locals on bicycles while sticking with a water view. If you want to spend the perfect day in the city, just walk the canals until you get tired. Amsterdam's canals are pretty in a different way than Venice, Italy or Bruges, Belgium. They have a distinct personality that's all their own. And personality goes a long way.

This festival takes place during the winter holiday season. I had really high expectations as it…read morehas been quite popular for a few years. I was told that there is a free boat tour where people line up in cues to get a ride, you can walk it along the canal edge, or you can do what we did and purchase a ticket online from "Those Dam Boat Guys". Personally, the later is great and well worth it. Our boat was small and gave us an intimate experience because the boat captain told us a little about the artistic lights and were could ask questions or slow down to take pictures. The lights are illuminated after dark which during the winter is quite early in the evening. Some of the lights were small displays and some were pretty magnificent. The whole festival takes less that 2 hours to view and it really is something to see both as a tourist or a local resident. I do suggest that the best viewing is when it is not a rainy evening so that you don't have an obstructed view from the boat.

Float thru an Amsterdam canal at night, drinking a beer and looking at light art?…read more Duh. FIVE STARS!

This is a neighborhood or "buurt" in Amsterdam. It is an exciting and vibrant place. It's super fun…read morewith lots of great restaurants and shops. A new metro stop here changes everything. They also stopped parking on many streets here so that makes it even nicer. It's not a 4 or 5 star neighborhood in Amsterdam, but anyone living there is fortunate indeed.

De Pijp is considered by many to be Amsterdam's Latin Quarter. It's a bit like Greenwich Village /…read morethe East Village in New York City, with a bohemian vibe that's beloved and inhabited by creative types. It's every bit as lively as its American counterpart, too. This neighborhood isn't overly touristy, so check it out to see how real Dutch residents live. That's not to say there aren't shops selling junky tchotchkes (the Heineken Brewery is here, after all), but there's a quirky mix of the multicultural, from the food, bars, and cafes that line the streets. The prettiest part of the area are the landscaped gardens at Sarphatipark (free). Spend some time lingering around and take slow, meandering strolls so you can adequately wander the neighborhood streets. There are delightful surprises around every corner if you just slow down and enjoy. Most important tip for those who love to eat: De Pijp is also home to the foodie fun zone known as the Albert Cuypmarkt street market. Go here for street food. It's good and cheap.

We got tickets to go do the swing at the lookout in the evening. There's a fun elevator to get up…read moreand down and lots of fun facts you can read about the lookout. There's also other things up there like a rotating restaurant and a VR experience. The swing at the top is fun but can be chilly so dress warmly. There's also other fun photo ops and a bar on the rooftop.

This place is SO MUCH FUN. You know it's a good spot when there's variety: tourists, yes, but also…read moresome locals. Families? Yep. Friend groups? Yes indeed. Couples? Please see my photo. Solos? But of course. There really is something for everyone. The bar and restaurant on the top floor is great--it's lovely, and it is worth visiting even if you aren't planning to head to the swing. (That said, the swing is fun and you should try it.) Excellent service, plenty to see and do, and a great beverage menu make for a lovely afternoon. I recommend reserving in advance and buying a package to save some money. I will report back after I try the VR roller coaster, but for now I am enjoying the sunshine! Update: VR roller coaster is a gas. Don't miss it. Also, remember to look up when in the elevator to the top.

Roppongi is a popular neighborhood in Tokyo, with many nightclubs and loved by tourists and…read moreJapanese girls searching for foreign men. It is also a cute shop at the Rozengracht in Amsterdam. I've been to both actually, but today I will tell you about the shop in Amsterdam, because that information will probably be more of use to you since Tokyo is not exactly around the corner :) Roppongi is a nice place for Japan-lovers. They sell all kinds of fun stuff and a bit of food as well. The shop is colorful because of the prints on the walls and the paper lanterns hanging through the shop. The lanterns are funny, their mostly shaped like fish and very colorful and festive. You can buy them here as well. The other stuff they sell are books, clothing, bento boxes, Japanese foods, kitchen supplies for making sushi, tea pots, accessories, traditional sandals en much more. ' Prices aren't cheap but then again, there are not that many places where you can find these things. Maybe in Chinatown, but this is a nice shop and its fun to have a look around when in the neighborhood.

From the owner: Roppongi is een winkel waarin Japan centraal staat. Mooie spullen en lekker eten! Bento…read more(lunchboxen), boeken, tijdschriften, levensmiddelen, sake, groene thee en heel veel leuke cadeau-artikelen!

The streets that radiate from the Prinsengracht form the Jordaan (pronounced your-dan), a district…read moreof little houses where workers and servants lived during the Dutch Golden Age (in the 17th century, Amsterdam emerged as a jewel of Europe, thanks to the enormous wealth accrued during the century of global shipping and colonial expansion). Today, the section of the Jordaan bounded by two long commercial avenues -- Raadhuisstraat and Leidsestraat -- is known as De 9 Straatjes (Nine Streets), and is Amsterdam's stylish shopping district. The maximalist housewares shop & the Frozen Fountain. The area is lined with galleries; Ron Mandos or Annet Gelink for contemporary art, and Galerie Wouter van Leeuwen for photography. Colorful Belgian winter fashion filled the windows of Essential Amsterdam, fancy housewares at Things I Like Things I Love, and Dutch-inspired souvenirs (that aat the Ko concept store.

Fun lil bar. Owner makes you feel like a local. Cheap beer…read moreand eats with great people watching!!!