Farms are a mere 10 minutes away from Amsterdam's city center. It's so weird to watch the scenery…read morechange from urban to rural, just like that. Rembrandt Hoeve is a farm of cheese and clogs. We had a hilarious guide at Rembrandt Hoeve Clogs and Cheese. This guy cracked jokes in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. He was kind of flirty, occasionally boastful, occasionally self-deprecating, and did not fail to charm.

This clog/cheese farm is run by one of the most entertaining men I've ever met in my life. It's…read moredifficult to tell if his utter insanity is an act, or merely to show guests a good time, but regardless he will teach you all about how clogs are made, and take the creepiest of photos at your request. Oh, and the cheese is cheap and delicious. I grabbed a huge log of smoked gouda with bacon in it (that helps make the best mac & cheese ever), and I only wish I had grabbed twelve. But then I probably would've been stopped at customs, and they would've taken all my delicious cheese.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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

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.