Had a great time walking around here for the day. Started the day by having Dutch pancakes at the…read morerestaurant then walked around looking at the windmills. Paid to go inside one of them just to get a better look. There were some steep ladders you have to climb to go up top and come back down. However it was insightful to see the interior part and how they work. There are many photo opportunities to take with the windmills, the lake with the homes, the wild ducks and at the shops. Check out the clog shop where you can see how they are made and even buy yourself a pair. We enjoyed walking through the cheese store because you can have samples however it was so busy and people were trying to cut the lines which was very aggravating and rude. It is very touristy and crowded.

So GLAD we came to this lovely place to spend the afternoon yesterday! Walking in nature and seeing…read morethe windmills up close in the marshy lands was refreshing. We bought our Zaanse Schans card online and selected the day of visit, then showed the QR codes from email to a docent at the Time Museum to trade in for physical tickets to use for entry into the chocolate and biscuit factory, the weaver's house, inside a windmill (you can enter two if you choose), and receive a discount at the Restaurant de Kraal. I learned a lot about cheese making and enjoyed tasting different unusual cheeses such as lavender, black garlic, beer, and asparagus. I bought two cheese wheels to take back to a friend and a family member after finding out they are shelf safe for up to a month unopened! We got to try a Verlode biscuit at the Biscuit and chocolate factory museum, and learned that the Verlode factory used to make collectible trading cards of Dutch nature pictures that were so popular that he employed 30 people just to answer fan mail and send those people their requested specific cards. That's so cool that early business/industry took a personal interest in their constituents needs and was not just a moneymaking venture. I also enjoyed seeing goats and waterbirds of all types roaming freely in the marsh lands. We've barely seen any animal life in Amsterdam (maybe a total of 20 dogs over the past 4.5 days), so it was refreshing! It's well worth a trip to see how windmills work and to check out the various museums and to just take in the natural beauty! Highly recommend!

We chose this windmill at Zaanse Schans to visit inside and learn about the inner workings, and…read morethen climb up the steep stairs to see the view from the upper deck. It's super loud down inside because the gears are turning and there's a steady pounding sound of wood-on-wood, so I could only stay down theme for at most 20 minutes, but that's plenty of time to see the little exhibits. Apparently this windmill was used to grind and pulverize minerals and materials to produce chalk and also different pigments for paint. I liked the display that showed a whole cabinet full of a rainbow of colors as examples of pigment created by the windmill, called "the cat" ironically since I still had not seen a single one in Amsterdam (or Zaanse Schans for that matter). Gorgeous panoramic view from the upper viewing deck. We were lucky to have sunny clear weather yesterday as it was quite breezy up there.

At Zaans Secans, there are moving windmills and this one you can get inside and also climb to the…read moreupper side. It was very interested in to get inside and see the system how it works. Climbing the upper(it was very steep and narrow!) and going outside, the view was great. There is a store to sell some souvenirs and hot coco that made us warm. Actually they have an adult coco-with rum!- and it was soooooo good!!! When you visit Zaans Secans, highly recommend to try this place.

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]

Rembrandt van Rijn owned a house nearby from 1639 to 1656. There were early markets & the Butter…read moreMarket was here. In the early twentieth century, this square became a center of nightlife drawing artists, young people & laborers. Hotels, cafés & entertainment venues opened around the square. Rembrandt's statue is in the middle of the square.

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

Can't explain the beauty of these…read more.. When you think about Amsterdam, you think Tulip gardens- Windmill or Canals and building around it. Yeah and after coming here, it did not disappoint me. There are 2 Amsterdam, one is at Dam's square and the other is on the bank of these canals. Totally different from each other. There are 165 Amsterdam canals combine for a length of over 100 kilometers (about 60 miles). The Canal Ring became part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010. Amsterdam got its name from the Amstel River. And hard to believe but it has 3 times more bridges (1281 bridge) than Venice (409 bridge) also there are 2500 houseboats in Amsterdam. Bridges on the canals, they have similar characteristics. Bicycle on the railing, flower pots, and canals. That's picture-perfect scene and that's Amsterdam identity. There are a few spots that are totally mesmerized. Near Anne frank house ( Jordaan Area) or central station. Some spots are just amazing. You just wanna sit at the edge or take some cruise tour or sip coffee in one of the 100s cafes near to canals. Jordaan's restaurants and cafes have become a trendy place to sit and people-watch while enjoying traditional Dutch folk music. In the night, you just wanna sit and admire the beauty of the city and its canals. pro Tip - check out the building near the central station. these are the place for Insta pictures

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.

This Markt is reliably suffused with quality goods. Looking for fresh produce? Got it! Need cheese?…read moreThere are so many options! After fresh bread? There are at least two bakery stalls. Let's not even get into the snacks and sweets or the textiles and housewares. There's a butcher and a fishmonger. You can do all of your shopping and never set foot in a corporate store. It's a bit crowded and the pedestrian traffic isn't well organized for those of us using canes or walkers so be prepared for a some bumpy terrain.

I bought a beautiful laundry baskets at Haarlem Saturday Grote Markt. I was so happy to finally…read morecome across some quality baskets that will last a long time. You can easily find them a few steps away from the lovely Texel wool and cotton sheets market stall. They are located on the very end before you walk into the market. You will see some beautiful color mats, baskets and bags for a very good price. No where have I seen these types of quality baskets in the shops.

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.