Amsterdam in less than 12 hours

Amsterdam is a 2.5-hours drive away from Brussels. Together with friends, we decided to visit Amsterdam in less than 12 hours. Here are my must do’s when in Amsterdam.

1) Central Station Amsterdam

This railway station (1889) resembles the Rijksmuseum of Amsterdam. Both buildings had the same architect: Pierre Cuypers. The central station is the second largest railway station in the Netherlands.

2) Basilica of Saint Nicholas

Right in front of the Central Station is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas.

Fun fact: Go have a drink in ‘t Aepjen, an Inn from around 1550 a,d. It is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Amsterdam. This Inn accepted payments in monkeys if the sailors didn’t have enough money. This caused an outbreak of fleas within the Inn.

3) Chinese gate He Hua Tempel

The Fo Guang Shan He Hua Tempel is a Buddhist temple in Chinatown Amsterdam. The name means lotus flower. The He Hua Temple is the largest temple in Europe that is in such a traditional Chinese style.

4) De Waag

De Waag was a weigh house where goods were weighed. Sometimes witches were brought to the Waag in order to perform a witch test to prove their innocence.

5) Rembrandt House Museum

Today the house of the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn is a museum. Rembrandt is one of the greatest artists in the history of art. You can find some exhibitions dedicated to Rembrandt in the museum.

6) Red-light district

Amsterdam is also famous for its red-light district where you can find sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters.

7) Old Church

The old church is the oldest building in Amsterdam (1213). The church was once a Parish church but is now a Calvinist church.

8) Dam Square

During the 13th century, villagers decided to build a dam in the northern part of the river. Today you can see the Royal Palace, National Monument and the New Church upon this dam.

9) Anne Frank House

So during the Holocaust and Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, Anne Frank and her family hid behind a secret wall in an apartment for 2 years. After a few years, they were discovered and were sent to the concentration camps. The secret room where they stayed in, is now a museum that you can visit. So you can’t see the house from the outside because they build a front upon it to preserve it.

Tip: The waiting line is super long so when you’re visiting Amsterdam in 24 hours skip this one. The waiting line can easily be 2-hours long.

Tip: Better reserve online tickets to avoid the long waiting lines.

10) The Canal Belt

Amsterdam also has a UNESCO Heritage Site: the four canals. The canals were built in the 17th century to enhance the city’s water traffic. If you take a boat tour on these canals, you can see many houses that were built in the Renaissance period. Go walk around the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht (this is on your way to the Anne Frank House).

11) Begijnhof

This courtyard is a hidden gem in Amsterdam. The courtyard and chapel were built in the Middle Ages. Just take your time to admire these buildings and enjoy them.

Fun Fact: The Begijnhof is at medieval street level, which means 1 meter below the rest of the city center.

12) Flower market

The flower market in Amsterdam is the only floating flower market in the world. This place used to be the place were sailors loaded their flowers over to the decks. Eventually, the buyers just went straight to the boats to get the best tulip bulbs. Their boats turned into the floating market over time.

13) Mint Tower

The Mint Tower (Munttoren in Dutch) used to be part of the old main gate. The tower was rebuilt in 1620 after a fire destroyed it. From here on you can walk towards the shopping street.

14) Pathé Tuschinski

Pathé Tuschinski is believed to be the most beautiful cinema in the world. The cinema is built in the Art Deco and Art Nouveau style. Make sure to also go inside!

15) Hortus Botanicus

De Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and contains many tropical plants. It was also the main source of medicinal herbs in Amsterdam during the 17th century.

16) Plantage

The Plantage is a restaurant located next to a zoo. You can eat some churros on the terrace and enjoy the view on the flamingos.

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