SRembrandt 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.

Yo this place was so cool. My second time in Amsterdam was just as fun as the first. I first…read morethought these were chess pieces. After getting closer i saw they were Rembrandt statues. This place is also in the party district of town.

I am so bummed!! After being there for 5 hours, I still failed to make it to the 1700-1800 and the…read more2000s zones!! This place is HUGE! I now understand why tourists would plan an entire day there. Unfortunately, I had 2 other stops that day that I couldn't miss, so I had no choice but left at 2pm. I am soo glad I made it to the main hall first to see Rembrandt's Night Watch (granted it was through a piece of glass due to the restoration process). I would've been devastated if I couldn't. Love the info cards for almost all of the major art pieces to explain in detail on how it was created. Some tips: Buy your ticket ahead of time. Get there 15 minutes before your entrance time to get in line and for bag check. No water inside the exhibits. The coat check is your only option if you don't show up right at when they open. The lockers filled up within minutes. Don't be fooled by the opened ones because that means the lock is broken. Definitely worth a stop at the gift shop. (Like I said above) Plan to spend the whole day there.

Beautiful museum... Incredible Rembrandt and other masters…read more Love the architecture... And the café

I cried. I cried the day before…read more I cried the moment the curator said "today we're going to discuss Anne Frank." There is a window that opens on a certain day and it'll cover the next 6 weeks. If you miss this window, you won't get tickets. I almost missed the window as I completely forgot my 9hour time difference. For me, it opens midnight on Monday! Keep that in mind. So we got the 30 minute presentation + the tour of the place. There are no cameras allowed - that's to preserve the integrity of Anne's diary. There was also a section dedicated to Margot. Margot would have been 100 years old if she was here today. May god rest her soul. Turns out, Margot also kept a diary but it was lost when the bad people came to take the family away. Additionally, there was an entire team of people dedicated to keeping the family safe during their difficult time. Walking through the staircase to the annex felt - eerie and heartbreaking, you can see and experience the tight conditions in which the family lived. I had to duck my head to get to through the bookshelf that lead to the annex. Lots of the areas were bare because the bad people destroyed mostly everything. Though Anne's actual posters and pictures remained. There were also anecdotes from the friends and helpers about Anne and Margot. And even Peter as well. This is something I think every human should experience at least once in their lives. If you haven't read her diary, please do. Because sadly history tends to repeat itself.

I went into the Anne Frank House expecting something deeply moving, and while the history behind it…read moreis undeniably powerful, the experience itself felt more lackluster than I anticipated. The biggest issue for me was how crowded it was. The space is very small, which makes sense given the history, but paired with the constant flow of people, it created a "cattle line" feel that really took away from the experience. You're shuffled through room to room without much time to pause, reflect, or fully take in where you are. It felt more rushed than reverent. The museum itself is very minimal, which I understand is intentional, but combined with the crowding, it made it harder to connect emotionally. I was hoping for something more immersive or at least a bit more space to absorb the significance of it all. That said, the historical importance is undeniable. Standing in the actual place where Anne Frank and her family hid still carries weight, and the final section with excerpts from her diary was the most impactful part. Overall, I'm glad I went because of its significance, but the overcrowding and rushed flow made it difficult to fully appreciate the experience. I'd still recommend visiting, just be prepared for a tight, busy environment and manage expectations going in. Also pre-book in advance (far in advance)

Awesome spot. 1)…read moreThere are tons of attractions here: from coffee shops to bar/clubs. 2) The Square has statues which which are photo attractions for tourists. 3) Also, they have oliebol stands around, give those a try. They are especially there during Xmas.

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.

Museumplein ("Museum Square") is the public area located by the Concertgebouw concert hall and…read morethree major museums -- the Van Gogh Museum, Rijksmuseum, and Stedelijk Museum. Near transit, shops, and restaurants, Museumplein is a nice place to go for a walk or eat lunch on a nice day. I particularly enjoyed the beautiful tulips in the planter -- cheaper than Keukenhof! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Amsterdam, the Netherlands]

Great space for catching some sunshine or meeting friends. From the concert house to the…read moreRijksmuseum with the Van Gogh on the side. Also a big Albert Heijn at the Concert Hall end. The US consulate is also located to the far end of the plein. For those of you who read this far, "plein" roughly means "square" in Dutch.

Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder, or Our Lord in the Attic, is such a unique place to visit…read more "Hidden" in a 17th-century canal house, you can climb the stairs to the top floors to discover a house church as part of this museum. The Catholic church was built on the top three floors of the canal house during the 1660s. It is an example of a "schuilkerk", or "clandestine church." Since Catholics who rejected the Dutch Reformed Church were unable to worship in public, these hidden churches were often found on the top floors of canal houses. The canal house was built in 1630. Between 1661 and 1663 the top three floors of the house were transformed into a house church. The church is small, but beautiful. After the Church of St Nicholas was opened, the house church no longer needed to be used as a church. On April 28, 1888, it opened its doors to the public as a museum. It is the second-oldest museum in Amsterdam, after the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Definitely put this one on your list of museums to visit in Amsterdam. On the way up to the church, you can visit the front room, the between room, the hall, the Jaap Leeuwenberg Hall, and the 17th-century kitchen. It is on I Amsterdam Card. Such a unique experience.

The name of this museum translates to "Our Lord in the Attic" and the attic in this museum is a…read moreremarkable example of a "clandestine church" dating to the 1660s. When the Dutch Reformed Church was made the official church of the Netherlands in the 1660s, Catholics, Jews, and other religious "dissenters" had to practice their religions in private. Rather than being given religious freedom, they were given something more akin to religious tolerance. Catholic "attic churches" were created to serve their communities, and this museum is the best preserved example of one. The audio guide does a great job of explaining the history of the church and the family that housed it. The house, built in 1630, is in excellent condition and provides an informative window into Amsterdam of long ago. If you have time to stop by for an hour or so, this is worth the visit.

Craft brewery that was established in the 80s in a former bathhouse. It's next to the amazing…read moreDeGooyer Windmill. The tasting room is well appointed and the outdoor patio area is pretty large. They primarily brew organic craft beers leaning towards Belgian influences. The beers we had were spectacular. Far superior than anything I've had in America and we've got some darn good breweries. My favorite is the Zatte Tripel. The food offerings were perfectly European. We shared a board of bread, sausages, cheese, olives, and nuts. Service was fast and friendly.

This is one of my favorite spots n I'm in love with their beers, especially the Tripel, and my…read morepersonal favorite is the IJwit.

It's a great place with a unique concept for working with art…read more The art is interesting and the staff is very nice. It's a must see, if you have the chance.

From the owner: Limited Editon art. 4 Sizes, 4 Prices.read more

Fun history of Bols and the distilling of different flavors of alcoholic liqueurs…read more Self-guided tour with audio. After you pay for your ticket at the front desk, you put your jackets and loose items in a locker (free) and pickup an audio tour device and program it for your preferred language (easy). You get a yummy cocktail to savor at the end! And there's a fun gift shop to peruse, where we bought tulip glasses for the purpose of drinking Genever . We enjoyed the Espresso martini and Red Light Negroni at the bar at the end. Both were made skillfully and tasted delicious! The highlight of the experience, honestly, was meeting Lars (aka "Larson") and Julia at the front desk. They were hilarious with each other and delightful with us. They helped us package the 6 tulip glasses in paper within styrofoam boxes for sturdy protection during travel. They are the true stars of this operation.

I enjoy distillery tours when I travel. I browsed the list of attractions that accept the I…read moreAmsterdam card and came across Bols Amsterdam. It's located near Museumplein by all of the major museums which was so convenient. I was interested in doing a cocktail class with the tour, but wasn't sure if I could book the class with the I Amsterdam card. I sent an email through the website and a DM on Instagram and no one responded, which was disappointing. When I arrived, I inquired about it. They offered to let me upgrade my ticket, but I declined. Once I got checked in, I received a vial of a mystery flavored genever to taste at the end of the tour. The tour is self guided and it is truly a sensory experience. The tour starts with the history of Bols, then goes into the process of making genever. There are interactive elements throughout. It was really cool to see Lucas Bols' original recipe book from 1820. Towards the end of the tour, I tried the mystery genever in the sensory booth. I don't remember the flavor, but it was red and it was sweet. The sensory booth contains a camera that records your reaction as you're tasting it. At the end of the tour, guests are able to enjoy a complimentary cocktail. The bar area was really cool. They have a flair booth where you can learn how to spin and throw cocktail bottles. They also had house music playing which created a fun vibe. The bartender that made my drink was Serchan (pronounced "Sar-John"). He was so nice and let me sample a couple of genevers. I ordered the First Aid cocktail. It was citrus forward and refreshing! He also printed out a receipt with the cocktail recipe. I threw some cash in the tip jar and learned that they accept cash in any currency! This was a fun experience! Any activity where I can have a delicious cocktail and learn something new is right up my alley.

Some things to know... An appointment is a must…read more It likely will be very busy. You will check your bag in the lockers downstairs free of charge. Also pick up your audio guide downstairs as well. I felt it was worth it since they give background you wouldn't know otherwise. The museum does a fantastic job aligning the paintings to his life. Weaving those two together made it more interesting than just paintings to admire.

Nice museum with a pretty simple layout to follow. The audio guide was easy to get and use. The…read morelockers for storing bags were free, which is nice. It was nice to learn more about Van Gogh and his life while appreciating his art and others who influenced him.