The Ultimate Amsterdam Travel Guide
A few months ago we had the pleasure of exploring Amsterdam in the best possible way! We partnered with the Residence in Marriott and swapped places with another instagrammer, Rosanna @dutchgirlsontheblog!
We were tasked with narrowing down some fun, new and exciting things to do here in LA for Rosanna to do and she created a must see Amsterdam list for us! While we were there we also had to explore the city on our own and add to the list!
We had the time of our lives and we can’t wait to tell you about it! Keep reading to find out all about our stay with The Residence Inn and how we saw every bit of Amsterdam!
First things first, Here is the list of things we did in case you don’t want to read this whole blog. If you do however, we have gone into specifics about how we booked these events and all the fun things we learned along the way, so read on for all the deets!
Rosanna’s List:
- Rent a bike and explore the city
- ADAMs Lookout / Swing
- Markets in Jordaan
- Try local beer at Brouwerij ‘t IJ
- Hang out at Pllek
- Explore Rijksmuseum
- Canal Cruise
- Pluk Amsterdam
- The Butcher
- Take a Free Ferry ride
Our Add’s
- Explore all of NDSM and talk with some local artist
- Van Gough Museum
- Eat dutch fries with Mayo
- Try Herring from a street vendor
- Explore Haarlem street and have lunch
- Eat at REM Eiland
- Go see the windmills at the Zaasmuseum
- Have brunch at Noorderlicht Café
- Have a picnic in Zondelpark
- Travel by the tram
When Preparation meets Opportunity
When we found out about this collaboration we were just over the moon! We were hiking up in Yosemite with friends when we reached the top of the mountain and started receiving emails. Paid Travel is something we started manifesting a few months prior and just couldn’t believe the universe responded so quickly.
We have stayed numerous times at Residences Inn’s all over the country and knew this was a company and brand we not only believed in but loved dearly. The answer was an immediate YES!
Residence Inn Amsterdam
After a long 10+ hour flight with KLM (which by the way was an AMAZING airline to fly with!) We landed safe and sound in Amsterdam. This was the first time either of us had been to Europe so you can say we were a little excited!
We knew were not going to have service in Amsterdam so we brought our Skyroam Portable Wifi with us! It was an absolute life saver the whole entire trip! It allowed up to stay connected and post in real time to our socials!
We hopped on WIFI and called an uber to take us to the Residence Inn in Houthhaven. Once we pulled up we knew we were going to love this place! The hotel sits right in the harbor and was lit up a bright pink.
The Lobby
We loved the decor! Totally how we would style our place! Which made us feel at home right away!
The Room
After such a long flight all we craved was a hot shower and a comfortable bed. We checked in, got a little tour of the hotel and immediately felt at home in our well-appointed studio suite.
The rooms offer floor to ceiling windows with stunning harbor views. The bed was just the most comfortable bed we have ever laid on and the shower was hot and had wonderful pressure!
These are legit the only things we look for in a hotel room! Check and Check!
Home or Hotel
To be honest, one of the things we love about the Residence Inn is it feels much more like a home than a hotel. All of their luxurious suites include home-like amenities.
A fully-equipped kitchen, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, oven, dishwasher and cookware were all there ready and waiting in case we needed it.
The Amenities
A Complimentary hot breakfast was served every morning which was so delicious! We really appreciated how everything was laid out in abundance and tasted so fresh.
They have a fully stocked common area where you can pick up a few snacks.
The Lounge
A Common Office
The Gym
If you like to keep fit whilst on the move, their state-of-the-art fitness centre is available 24/7 which we took advantage of everyday.
Indoor Swimming Pool and Hot Sauna
They have an indoor swimming pool
With an epic skylight and huge art installation suspended above it.
It was a manta ray made completely out of fishing hooks! They actually had to removed the roof of the building to get that piece of art in there!
They also offer complimentary WiFi throughout the hotel, communal laundry facilities and a 24/7 Grab ’n Go Market in the lobby!
Rent a bike and explore the city
As soon as we arrived and after we settled we wanted to get out and explore the city. Luckily The Residence Inn has bikes that you can reserve and take out on the town. The Residence Inn’s general manager Gus introduced himself to us, showed us a map of the city and offered to take us around town. To which we quickly said yes and were off on two wheel!
The Bikes Tho!
Let’s discuss the bike culture for a minute shall we? I mean WOAH! It was a complete culture shock for us! Here are some fun facts about the city of cyclists:
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According to the most recent figures, the 850.000 residents (442.693 households) of Amsterdam together own 881.000 bicycles. That represents 1.91 bicycles per household. 78% of people 12 years and older owns at least one bike
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There are more than 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam. That’s four times the number of cars.
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Combined, Amsterdammers bicycle about two million kilometers (a little over 1.2 million miles) every day.
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The City of Amsterdam is investing around €120 million (a little over $136 million dollars) on bicycle infrastructure before 2020, €90 million (a little over $102 million dollars) of which is for creating 38,000 new bike parking places.
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Amsterdam has the only museum in the world you can cycle through. Yep, it’s the Rijksmuseum.
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About 57% of Amsterdammers use their bicycle on a daily basis. Even when it snows!
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The total length of bike paths in Amsterdam is about 400 kilometers (248.548 miles).
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There are 7,800 official bike parking places near Amsterdam Central Station, but more than 8,200 bicycles are typically parked there.
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Between 12,000 and 15,000 bicycles are pulled out of Amsterdam’s canals each year.
It was all a pleasant surprise to us. We knew there were a lot of bikes, we just couldn’t have imagined how many! That first day we definitely got the lay of the land and saw so many things!
Gus was an absolute God send and we could never have gotten around without him! Thank you Gus for showing us an absolutely one of a kind view of your city! It was not only service with a smile but we truly made a friend that we can’t wait to reconnect with!
Rich in History
One thing we quickly learned is that Amsterdam is rich in history and they want to keep it that way! We loved that nothing was torn down but rather repurposed for future generations to love and cherish.
Markets in Jordaan
There is nothing like emerging yourself into another culture and the best way to do that in our opinion is visiting local farmer markets!
The Jordaan was founded in 1612 for the workforce. Nowdays the Jordaan is one of the most wanted locations in Holland! We also thought that it was interesting that Rembrandt lived the last years of his life in the Jordaan.
We walked around, bought some cheese, ate some herring and just dwelled in the slow life with the locals.
A’DAM Lookout
A’DAM LOOKOUT is an observation deck with an unrivaled panoramic view of Amsterdam.
You can see the city’s historical centre, its pulsating port, the unique Dutch polder landscape and you’ll spot the famous canals which belong to the UNESCO world heritage list.
Complementing the experience is a state-of-the-art interactive exhibition about Amsterdam’s history and culture. A’DAM LOOKOUT is located on top of the A’DAM Tower in Amsterdam North. They also have a really nice panorama Restaurant & Rooftop Bar with a phenomenal view!
Swing Over The Edge
On the top of A’DAM LOOKOUT they have Europe’s highest swing on their sky deck!
Of course we had to go for a swing!! It’s about $20 per person to go up on the sky deck and swing. We bought all our tickets ahead of time as to not have to deal with waiting and potentially missing out on the day we wanted to go.
It was really fun and just a little scary. The views were to live for
though!
Try local beer at BROUWERIJ ‘t IJ
Have a beer under the biggest wooden windmill in the Netherlands!
Brouwerij ‘t IJ has been brewing quality beers since 1985. It all started when musician Kasper Peterson looked for an official outlet for his experimental home brewing.
Searching for a suitable building to start an official brewery, he stumbled upon an old municipal bath house in disuse. It still had its water supply and drainage system, easy-to-keep-clean tiles and steam generator. It was, in short, the perfect building for a brewer.
As a bonus, it had the biggest wooden windmill of the Netherlands right next door as the ultimate landmark. The pioneering paid off and ‘t IJ gradually grew into the biggest and best known brewery of Amsterdam.
We loved it here! They had so many beers to choose from so we both got the sampler and sat under the windmill on a beautiful sunny day. We made friends with the couple next to us and ended up riding our bikes back to the hotel buzzed! Not recommended as it was definitely risky business!
Hangout at Pllek
Located on the banks of the River IJ in Amsterdam Noord, Pllek is a restaurant and party venue that was after our hearts. Pllek wants to inspire people, stimulate them and introduce them to other cultures and new insights. Throughout the year they have live music from all corners of the world, international films, yoga classes, art exhibitions, workshops, mini-festivals and much more.
Their motto is simple. They love vegetables, animals, people and the environment. They choose products that are mostly organic and vegetable. Their menu is 75% vegetarian, of which 25% is vegan. With this they hope to make guests curious about the special alternatives that the vegetarian kitchen has to offer and for that we love them!
Explore Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is THE museum of the Netherlands. The completely renovated Rijksmuseum tells the story of the Netherlands from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, and more!
Most famous is Rembrandt’s masterpiece the Night Watch which we stared at for about 30 minutes!
They have new display of the collection, a renewed building, new public facilities, a revamped garden and a new Asian Pavilion.
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm it was one of the highlights of our trip!
Canal Cruise
When we booked our swing at ADAMS LOOKOUT we also booked our canal cruise with Amsterdam Canal Cruises. You can book online to ensure your seat on the boat.
It was slightly raining the day of our cruise so it was literally just us and another couple on the whole boat! We were given a private tour of the canals and it was absolutely incredible!
We learned quite a lot about the canals and the history of Amsterdam.
Amsterdam has more than one hundred kilometers (around 62 miles) of canals in Amsterdam, about 90 islands and 1500 bridges. The three main canals Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century, during the Dutch Golden Age, form a concentric belt around the city, known as the grachtengordel.
UNESCO Heritage Site
These waterways are now known as de Grachtengordel (the canal belt) and are recognized as a UNESCO Heritage Site. This historic network contains the four main canals that encircle central Amsterdam, namely, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, and Singel.
In the mid-17th century, many people immigrated to Amsterdam due to its growing economic influence, consequently straining the city’s resources. To create more space and facilitate the transportation of goods, Amsterdam’s authorities decided to dig a system of canals around Dam.
The Dam
This network enabled merchants to quickly move their wares from the borders of the city to its harbor without stepping foot on land – a technical development that significantly improved trade within Amsterdam.
As the canal ring was mainly used by traders, many merchants decided to settle on its banks and build elaborate mansions that featured personal warehouses. Many of these properties are still standing today and have become iconic in their own right.
Cultural Institutions
While Amsterdam has changed significantly since the 17th century, apart from conservation projects, de Grachtengordel has remained almost completely intact and is still used for transportation. Today, it also contains several important cultural institutions including FOAM, the Anne Frank House, and Huis Marseille, as well as some of the best examples of Dutch Golden Age architecture.
Pluk Amsterdam
Undeniably one of the most Instagrammable places in Amsterdam! We loved just sitting outside and watching everyone ride by on their bikes. The food was superb and the coffee was hot and delicious!
We will always go back for breakfast or brunch when we are in town!
The Butcher
The Butcher is a burger joint in Amsterdam and It was so freaking good!
We did A LOT of eating while in Amsterdam so …
All you really need to know about this place is it’s ALL – BLOODY DELICIOUS – DAY DINING & DRINKING!
Free Ferry Rides
Amsterdam’s ferries provide essential, free connections across the River IJ for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds. Many of these blue-and-white ferries can be found directly behind Amsterdam Central Station, providing a frequent and free service across the water to and from Amsterdam Noord.
It was so cool to watch everyone line up with their bikes to get on the ferry. We totally felt like locals doing this!
Explore all of NDSM
A former shipyard located on the banks of the River IJ in Amsterdam Noord, the NDSM Wharf has blossomed into an enormous cultural hotspot in recent years with a vibrant artist community and an ever-expanding variety of bars and restaurants.
With grounds exceeding the size of ten football pitches, the area hosts multi-disciplinary festivals, performances, exhibitions, dance parties and a wide range of other events in unique, post-industrial surroundings.
It was so cool riding our bikes around and talking with the local artists!
Van Gough museum
Well obviously we had to see the Van Gough Museum for ourselves while in Amsterdam! First you should know that you are not allowed to take photos in here so… There’s that. But what it did do is make us be fully in the moment! We learned all about Vincents life, his struggles and observed in awe his beautiful transition as an artist.
Here are some fun facts we learned about the one and only Vincent Van Gough:
- Born in Holland.
- Didn’t start painting until he was older.
- Produced his most famous artwork while in a mental hospital.
- Best friends with another artist whom we lived with
- He sold only one painting while he was alive.
Eat dutch fries with Mayo
Fries and Mayo….. need we say more?
Try Herring from a street vendor
Ok, so this was something we definitely had to give a whirl… All over Amsterdam there are these vendors that sell herring. Herring is a small fish that is very popular among Dutch people. It is basically raw fish, dipped in raw onion and pickle. There is a lot of Amsterdam Street Food to experience as you explore Amsterdam but herring is a must!
Callie loved it… Leo needed A LOT of sweet pickles to choke it down…
Explore Haarlem street and have lunch
Haarlem is a city outside of Amsterdam in the northwest Netherlands. Once a major North Sea trading port surrounded by a defensive wall, it retains its medieval character of cobblestone streets and gabled houses. It’s the center of a major flower-bulb-growing district, and famous for its outlying tulip fields, art museums and hofjes (almshouses built around leafy courtyards).
Here are some awesome eats in Haarlem:
Bonetti
Good – honest Italian fare – absolutely fresh and sublimely prepared and so much better than mamma made. The very affordable menu changes monthly, depending on seasonal produce and the wine list is brilliant. Read more
The Louisiana Lobster Bar
Chill out with lobsters, craft beers, an astounding array of cocktails and live music in Haarlem’s in-spot! Read more
The Roast Chicken Bar
Who doesn’t love chicken? With ample space, finger-lickin’ fare and a laid-back ambience, it’s the perfect joint to visit with your kids. Read more
Loetje
The ever-popular Loetje in Overveen (just outside of Haarlem) is the place to go with your granny, your kids, your boss or just about anyone except for a romantic date. The specialty is steak and chips – which are really tasty! On warmer days you can sit on the terrace outside.
Café Colette
A lively French-styled brasserie in the heart of Haarlem, Café Colette serves French classics like escargots, onion soup gratinée, duck legs and of course crème brulée. They also have enough vegetarian choices like Melanzana or Ravioli. Slightly on the pricy side though.
Eat at REM Eiland
Right near the Residence Inn there is REM Eiland. A very unique restaurant in a former broadcast platform of the illegal television station ‘TV Noordzee’.
In the past REM Island had the function to create an experience. As a broadcast platform, it ensured that millions of viewers enjoyed the first commercial TV programs. It was a rebellious pirate channel that was able to reach a large audience with TV Noordzee.
Despite the success of the viewer it did not take long before the government adopted the anti-REM law. This made the broadcast practices of TV Noordzee illegal. The Netherlands would not be ready for this new form of entertainment and therefore the broadcasts had to stop, according to the government.
On December 17, 1964 at exactly 9 o’clock in the morning a raid was made on the REM Eiland and the government put an end to TV Noordzee. This fantastic piece of history and the unique experience that people brought with TV Noordzee, something had to be done with it. It was decided to give REM Island its entertaining function. The island was taken ashore, where the building was completely renovated. While retaining the original elements, REM Island was then placed in the Houthavens of Amsterdam and nowadays it has the function of a trendy restaurant concept.
It’s located in the middle of the Amsterdam Houthavens and still offers an experience with a spectacular view. The bar, the restaurant, the multifunctional studio and the roof top terrace are such a cool experience to go and dine.
The food was just as AMAZING as the view!
Oh… and please do take the stairs for a breathtaking climb upstairs!
Go see the windmills at the Zaasmuseum
Zaans Museum is a museum in Zaandam, Netherlands, located at the Zaanse Schans. It opened in 1998 to preserve and protect the heritage of the Zaan area. In 2009, the museum was extended with the addition of the Verkade Experience.
We really craved some pictures with windmills! This is legit the only place to do this around the city. It was a little touristy so be prepared for that!
Have brunch at Noorderlicht Café
A quirky greenhouse-style space houses this hip, bustling cafe serving seasonal dishes by the river.
We loved this place so much! The food and service here were great. A local recommended it to us, and We felt like locals when we were eating here. Don’t forget the Mint, Ginger and Lemon Tea!! So good!
Have a stroll through Vondelpark
The Vondelpark is a public urban park of 47 hectares in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is part of the borough of Amsterdam-Zuid and situated west from the Leidseplein and the Museumplein. It was so nice to just ride our bikes through. People were enjoying the sunshine, kids playing and dogs everywhere! It felt a little like Central Park!
Take a ride on the tram
Public transportation in Amsterdam (as in many European capital cities) is first class. Please do note, however, that central Amsterdam itself is very compact and walkable. Many visitors never feel the need to use public transport other than the train to and from Schiphol.
We literally just hopped on because our butts hurt so bad from riding bikes 6 days in a row! It was an awesome experience to immerse ourselves in with the locals!
We definitely had the time of our lives in Amsterdam and can’t wait to go back! We hope this blog has been helpful if you are planning your trip to Amsterdam!
Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions and we will be happy to help you plan your next Netherlands trip! Til’ next Time!
XO
Callie & Leo