Beautiful park to walk in. Nice way to see nature and to people watch. The floating tulips were…read morespectacular. Lots of neat corners/areas and things to see in the park.

Vondelpark is the kind of place that looks serene in postcards but, in reality, always feels like…read moreit's one minor incident away from becoming a nature documentary about urban survival. It's beautiful -- genuinely -- but it's also the busiest park in Amsterdam, which means you're sharing the paths with walkers, runners, cyclists, skaters, dogs, children, musicians, and at least three people who have decided today is the day they learn to ride a bike for the first time. Chaos, but charming chaos. The main paths are wide, but that doesn't stop near‑misses from happening every few minutes. You learn quickly that eye contact is optional and braking is a luxury. Still, there's something undeniably lively about it: the energy, the noise, the constant movement. It's the opposite of remote -- you're never alone, even when you wish you were. Find a quieter corner and the park shows its softer side. Lakes, trees, open lawns, and the occasional heron staring at you like it knows something you don't. It's peaceful, but with that faint undertone of "someone is definitely smoking something nearby." Classic Amsterdam ambiance. And unlike the more feral parks on the city's edges, Vondelpark keeps its surprises relatively tame. No cows. No sanctioned adult zones tucked into the woods. Just people, lots of them, all doing their best to coexist without turning the place into a full‑contact sport. If you're staying nearby or just passing through the Oud‑West or Museum Quarter, it's an easy place to wander, sit, decompress, or people‑watch. Just know that "peaceful" here means "peaceful... with witnesses."

Great gym overall. I don't speak Dutch but the staff all speak English and are friendly and…read morehelpful. Because I am a highly experienced climber they even asked my opinion on what grade to give a few new routes that had not yet been rated. I felt right at home.

From the outside, Klimhal looks a little bit like a cathedral. All hail. This is easily the best…read moreindoor climbing gym I have ever seen. I thought Klimmuur Centraal was good because of the espresso bar. Well Klimhal will see your espresso bar and raise you beer on tap. The only thing better than the 55' walls inside are the 55' walls outside. Yes, outside. And the huge and numerous LEED routes. And the biggest inside/outside bouldering area I have ever seen. And all the exercise equipment you might need. And roomy locker rooms, an oversight at most climbing gyms. And on and on and on.... If you're into climbing, put aside 2-4 hours to check this place out. You will feel like you found religion.

Jordaan is one of the nicest areas to explore. The picture you get when you think of Amsterdam -…read moreit's here. Lots of cafés, coffee shops and cute places. Lots of people even if it less than around Dam. Beware of fast riding cyclists! They are everywhere.

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.

If you want to see windmills in Amsterdam, this is the place to go…read more Beautiful scenery in the surrounding area around the windmills. Kind of a small village town. Some of the buildings are living quarters and some are shops such as cheese, clogs, and chocolate. We were able to go inside one of the working windmills and see how it all worked. There are small steep set of stairs, so be prepared. They're not high, but space it tight. Nice experience and worth taking a trip out to see the windmill

I would give this experience 6 stars if I could! It was only a few metro stops away from Amsterdam…read moreCentraal with a 10-minute walk. The whole day there could actually have been free, but I paid in advance online for extra experience, like going up to the balcony of the windmills! I was so amazed by how close I was with the blade! The clog "museum" was so cool with alternating English and Dutch demo every 10 minutes. The cheese zone was fascinating. The hot cocoa hut was a fun experience. Honestly, I felt like I was in a dream just by walking along the curvy paths. Can't say I'll be back soon, and the photos I took simply don't do justice to how beautiful this place is. Oh, I miss this place already!

My boyfriend brought me here last weekend to try climbing. To be honest we had stopped in another…read moretime "just to look" and I got so scared I didn't think I was going to be able to do it. But I tried to be a good sport and put on the harness to show I was making an effort. Ha. It's very chill inside with lots of walls. You should wear workout-type clothes and rent the harness and shoes if you don't have your own. There are a few staff walking around if you have questions, but basically you're left to it, unless you're a total beginner without a more experienced partner and in that case you should book AHEAD OF TIME an introduction (I think it's around 20 euros - this is so you do it safely, not so much on HOW to do it as I understood - there are separate classes for that). There are changing rooms upstairs (without lockers, boo). There are lots of tables and chairs and post-climbing we had tea and some soup with nice dark bread. I like that they are open late as this makes for a nice evening activity.

Decent sized gym with a good mix of overhangs, straight up wall, short walls, features, and a…read morebouldering section. Staff are really friendly and knowledgeable. They emphasize safety (as they should) and constantly do walk-abouts to ensure nobody is being unsafe. There are also plenty of places to chill out and rest (tables, chairs, sofas). They also serve food and drinks here! I haven't had any of the items on the menu but you could easily turn a climbing session here into an all-morning/afternoon/evening affair. Hannekes Boom is across the way so that's an option too. The routes are challenging but fun. I do prefer the coloured sticker system as opposed to coloured holds. Some holds lose their colour,some routes zig-zag onto other walls, and some routes placed in close proximity to each other use the same colours. I've strayed off the route a couple times and have wasted time & energy trying to determine which holds are mine. The people who climb here are also very awesome. A good mix of expats and locals all just wanting to have a good workout in a laid back atmosphere. Lessons & gear available for sale/rent. Try it out!

Monk is an excellent bouldering gym, not far from city center in Amsterdam. Highly recommended for…read morea solid Bouldering gym in Amsterdam. It is bouldering only (no ropes, all climbing is no more than 3M high with thick padded floors), quite a large space and around 200 routes / problems. The route-setting and problems were good quality. The staff was nice, prices were reasonable and the space was big enough that it want crowded with a good number of people, ranging from kids to strong climbers.

If you are in this section of Amsterdam on a weekend during the summer you need to experience…read moreWesterpark. There is a lot to do here restaurants, picnic, jog, and people watch. The Het Schip (historic architecture) complex is a short 5 minute walk from the park.

Probably the best park in Amsterdam! Vondelpark is huge, but hey, no BBQ, and always full of…read moretourists smoking weed. Westerpark is a bit further from the city center which means only the very health-conscious and serious parkies come here. The park has a ton of dining options, my favorite being the ice cream shop. There are a few amazing coffee spots, and let's not forget -- Tony's headquarters are here! You could walk in and sample all the flavors for free! There is an amazing jogging trail around the park, and the 'garden center' to the west is a hidden gem. It's private property, though, and only open for limited hours during the summer. Other than that, the famous Rollende Keukens is organized at this park, as is the milkshake festival. Countless conferences. There's even a tv studio. Oh, and Ketelhuis is an amazing spot for some Dutch or European movies. So much to say about this amazing spot.

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]