What to do in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. The city is also known as Mokum and is located in the province of North Holland. The municipality of Amsterdam has the largest population in the Netherlands with over 935,750 inhabitants. The name Amsterdam comes from its location near a dam built in the Amstel River in the 13th century. Shortly after 1300, Amsterdam received city rights and during the Golden Age, the city grew to become one of the most important trade and port cities in the world.

The center of Amsterdam is world-famous and for good reason. This compact and charming inner city is full of sights, cozy streets, world-class museums, and lively markets. Stroll along the iconic canals, discover hidden courtyards, shop in Kalverstraat, or enjoy a canal cruise through the city.

Visit famous places like Dam Square, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, or the Flower Market. And don't forget to stop by one of the many cozy cafes or brown pubs for a cup of coffee or a local beer. The evening is also vibrant: from theaters and concert halls to trendy cocktail bars and international cuisines.

Amsterdam Canals

Amsterdam is known for its unique canals. Since 2010, the 17th-century canal belt with main canals (Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, and Singel) has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. From the beginning, the natural and man-made waterways have played an important role in transportation and water management. A characteristic of the Amsterdam canals is that they are man-made waterways, unlike natural waterways such as the Amstel and the IJ. Today, the canals have an important function in shipping, especially for tourist purposes.

Amsterdam Bridges

Amsterdam has more than 1500 bridges. Because the role of water was more important than land until the mid-19th century. Throughout history, the number of bridges has constantly increased. In the 16th century, Amsterdam had 52 bridges, in 1600 110 bridges, and in the 17th century, the number of bridges rose to 267. Today, the city has 1539 bridges, 252 of which are located in the inner city. The very first bridges in Amsterdam were made of wood and were purely built for functional purposes, an example of a wooden bridge is the Skinny Bridge. Then bridges were built of iron, stone, or concrete.

Amsterdam Central Station

Amsterdam Centraal is the second busiest station in the Netherlands. Approximately 160,000 travelers pass through the station every day. Travelers can use the train, subway, streetcar, bus and ferry. The building opened in 1889 and has 15 tracks.

Central Station was designed by P.J.H. Cuypers (who also designed the Rijksmuseum) and A.L. van Gendt (designed all stations on the Den Helder - Amsterdam railroad line and the concert hall). The Central Station was the first station in the Netherlands designed by a well-known architect.

From Central Station one can travel to the most important destinations in the Netherlands and surrounding countries. For example, trains go to Basel, Berlin, Maastricht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Enschede, Vlissingen, Nijmegen, Zwolle, Amersfoort, Utrecht, London, Paris, Bourg-Saint-Maurice and Brussels. Various destinations in and around Amsterdam can be reached by metro and streetcar, such as Amstelveen, Diemen, Duivendrecht, Amsterdam Zuidoost, Osdorp, IJburg and Nieuw Sloten. You can also easily reach Van der Valk Amsterdam-Amstel by metro via metro station Overamstel.

Hotel in Amsterdam

Are you looking for a hotel in Amsterdam? Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam Amstel offers the perfect base for the city center. From our hotel, you can reach the heart of the city in less than 20 minutes.

After a day full of impressions, it's nice to come home to the tranquility of our hotel. Relax in the wellness area, enjoy the view over the city from the top floor, or dine in style at our à la carte restaurant.