Outdoor Activities in Amsterdam

By Robert Heaney
Published: July 18, 2024
Windmill and hot hair balloons over a field of tulips

If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in Amsterdam on a particularly clear day, you’ll want to make the very most of the situation. As a city known for its gorgeous waterside architecture and iconic canals, no trip would be complete without giving yourself the chance to really explore its unique streets and squares.

What’s more, there’s a plethora of outdoor activities in Amsterdam to help you make the most of a pleasant day. Whether you’re keen to explore some quaint Dutch markets or take a tour upon the city’s famous canals, there’s plenty to do for all types of visitors.

Cycle Across the City

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Home to more bicycles than people, Amsterdam is a city literally built for cycling. With over 470 miles of cycle lanes making up the Amsterdam Bicycle Network, cycling can often be the easiest means of getting around. What’s more, it doesn’t get much more authentically Dutch than exploring the capital on your own pair of wheels.

If you’d like to make your visit a more active one, then you can pick up a bike at one of the many rental shops spread throughout the city. You can expect to pay somewhere in the region of €10/day at most shops, while some may also offer weekly or hourly packages. Once you’re up and running, why not choose one of the city’s many stunning routes to follow for the day?

Cruise Along the Canals

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Second only to the prevalence of bikes, Amsterdam’s canals are one of the most central symbols of the Dutch capital. Having been built originally for water management, defense and trade purposes, this labyrinth of canals makes up 25% of the city’s total surface area.

While they’re certainly pretty to look at and make for a fantastic (if somewhat overdone) photo op, Amsterdam’s waterways are best experienced on the water itself. Naturally, the city is home to a huge boating industry, with countless companies offering all manner of excursions through the canals.

If you’re looking for a unique way to explore the city, then a hop-on, hop-off boat could be the ideal transportation for you. But where the city’s boating industry arguably shines brightest is in its canal tours, offering visitors an overview of many of Amsterdam’s top attractions, complete with audio commentary to provide unique insights into their cultural and historical significance.

Discover the ARTIS Royal Zoo

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One of the oldest zoos in Europe, the Natura Artis Magistra was established in the mid-1800s and has since continued to offer an enchanting escape from the busy streets of Amsterdam for families and nature lovers alike. Commonly known simply as ARTIS, the location comprises both a botanical garden and zoological garden.

Home to over 200 unique species of trees – many on the brink of extinction – alongside over 900 animals from all manner of habitats around the world, the zoo serves to educate visitors as to the vital role that every living creature plays in nature. The site is also home to an aquarium, a planetarium and an impressive art and sculpture collection.

Spare a Moment in Nature

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For a brief escape from the bustling streets of the Dutch capital, Amsterdam is home to a wide selection of beautifully serene green spaces. Most popular among these is the Vondelpark, whose 120-acre footprint houses ancient trees, scenic lakes, charming gardens and a variety of delightful bars and cafés.

Westerpark is another popular choice as, connecting to the Westergasfabriek complex, it serves as a home to some of the city’s most hip bars and restaurants, along with an arthouse cinema. Visitors can hire a boat to cruise along the Haarlemmerweg canal into the city, or attend some of the great food and music festivals hosted in the park throughout the year.

If you happen to visit Amsterdam during the spring, then you should definitely consider a trip to the nearby town of Lisse. Only an hour’s train ride from Amsterdam, Lisse is home to Keukenhof Park, sometimes known as the Garden of Europe, where you’ll find the Netherlands’ best display of tulips and other flowers punctuated by the ever so iconic Dutch windmills.

Grab Yourself a Bargain

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Those with a penchant for finding a bargain can rejoice at the fact that Amsterdam is home to over 20 regularly occurring markets. Whether you’re looking for fresh produce, antiques or simple bric-a-brac, chances are one of these markets should scratch that shopping itch.

For all things food, the Albert Cuyp Market takes place every weekday, as does the Marqt Farmer’s Market (excluding Fridays), while the Nieuwmarkt and Noordermarkt Farmers’ Markets take over on Saturdays with their selection of organic goods. Also popular is the Flower Market, which runs Monday to Saturday and offers a wide selection of rare flowers, seeds, bulbs and gardening equipment.

Held each Wednesday and Saturday, the Postzegelmarkt is one for the history buffs, stocking all manner of old coins, medals, stamps and postcards. The Waterlooplein Flea Market is the best stop for antiques and second-hand clothes, open Monday to Saturday and very much open to bartering. For a unique gift, be sure to visit the Boekenmarkt op het Spui, stocking various books, maps, cards and engravings.

Explore Another City

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If you find yourself with a spare day or two and want to see a little more than just Amsterdam, then there are plenty of nearby cities to explore. With most destinations throughout the Netherlands easily reachable within a couple hours by train, it’s perfectly doable to slot some excursions into your itinerary.

The fourth-largest city in the Netherlands, Utrecht is often considered Europe’s most beautiful canal city – even overtaking Amsterdam! Known for mixing big city amenities with a provincial atmosphere, the city is home to both medieval architecture and one of the Netherlands’ largest shopping malls, Hoog Catherijne. Utrecht also serves as the embodiment of European café culture, with a vast selection of quirky bars and terraces.

Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ chief port town and second-largest city, serving as the country’s main departure and arrival destination for international cruises and cargo ships. Having been heavily bombed during the Second World War, the city is now famous for its wealth of modern architecture, from its cube-shaped houses to its spaceship-like market hall. Particularly popular with younger groups is the city’s thriving nightlife scene, complete with many quirky nightclubs and bars.

Home to both the Netherlands’ monarchy, the parliament and many major Dutch companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, The Hague is truly the seat of Dutch business and politics. The city is home to a wealth of royal architecture and palaces, alongside art galleries showcasing the works of Vermeer, Rembdrandt and Andy Warhol.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Several boats moored beside Amsterdam's iconic canal houses
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Amsterdam in May

For a true taste of the best of both worlds, a trip to Amsterdam in May could be just the ticket. As the early bridge between the city’s low and high tourism seasons, May is the perfect window of time to experience both the healthy buzz of the Dutch capital and the relatively meagre queues of the late low-season traffic. Visiting Amsterdam in May Average Temperature: 45 - 61°F • Average Rainfall: 12 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 7 hours/day As springtime begins drawing to a close, so too does the Amsterdam shoulder season. May lands you right on the precipice between low-season traffic and the impending waves of summertime tourists. That makes it a great time to enjoy the city’s healthy buzz while also making the most of the shortest queues for top attractions for the next few months. Visiting Amsterdam in May will have you experiencing the first days of mostly mild weather, after many months of chill and rain. While you should still be prepared to pack an umbrella and perhaps some waterproofs too, you might not have to bundle up quite so warm anymore. What’s more, May is the first time when you can expect regular full days of sunshine, making for ideal exploring conditions. Things to Do in May History & Culture Few trips to Amsterdam would be complete without exploring some of its renowned cultural hubs. Taking pride of place is the striking Rijksmuseum, home to the Netherlands’ largest collection of art and historical artifacts, among which sit multiple works by the likes of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Known for drawing in creatives from around the world, the Dutch capital certainly makes sure to celebrate its artists. The Van Gogh Museum leads the charge with its more than 1,400-strong collection of the famed Post-Impressionist painter’s works, while the MOCO Museum just down the road celebrates such modern and contemporary artists as Banksy and Damien Hirst. The city as it stands today is nothing if not for its rich and diverse history, which it certainly makes every effort to chronicle. Central to this is the Amsterdam Museum, documenting the development of the capital from the middle ages to modern day. Perhaps most popular, however, is the Anne Frank House, which immortalizes the story of the famous World War Two diarist and stands as a reminder of the tragedies of war. Outdoor Activities With milder weather on the rise, there are few more perfect ways to explore the city than on your own pair of wheels. With more bikes than residents, Amsterdam is literally built to facilitate cycling, with over 470 miles of cycle lanes running through and around the city. For a more active approach to your trip, grab yourself a rental bike from one of the many stores dotted throughout Amsterdam for around roughly €10/day. Since we’re talking about unique ways to see the city, why not do so from atop Amsterdam’s world-famous waterways? One of the capital’s largest tourism industries, canal boat tours offer a fantastic way to get from one place to another while also offering unique perspectives and insights into the cultural and historical significance of many of the city’s top monuments. Just as May marks the final days of spring, so too does it serve to see out the Dutch tulip season. From the end of March, tulips will have been in full bloom throughout the Netherlands. For the best tulip and flower displays in the country, you’ll want to take a trip to nearby Lisse to explore Keukenhof Park, known also as the Garden of Europe and the most popular place to see tulips in bloom. You might find the milder, clearer days of May to be the perfect opportunity to take a day trip or two to some of Amsterdam’s neighboring cities. Utrecht is considered Europe’s best canal city and is popular for its trendy yet provincial architecture and atmosphere. Rotterdam is the Netherlands’ principal port town and home to some of the country’s best modern architecture, alongside a killer nightlife scene. Most cities are accessible within a few hours by train, so it should be no trouble to work them into a free day in your itinerary. Events in May Rolling Kitchens Food Festival Over the course of a long weekend in late May, Amsterdam’s Westergas hosts the Rollende Keukens or Rolling Kitchens Food Festival. Dozens of food trucks and mobile kitchens set up shop to create one gigantic open-air food court, offering all manner of cuisine to tickle every taste bud. Joining the street food are also a selection of bar stands serving everything from health smoothies to stylish cocktails. With free admission, the festival promotes a cheap and cheerful atmosphere, giving visitors the chance to experience anything from local Dutch staples to world cuisine in a relaxed, affordable setting. Complete with live music and performances, you can easily sink an evening into exploring the labyrinth of food stalls and dining beneath the stars. World Press Photo Often launching sometime in April, the annual World Press Photo exhibition typically takes place in Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk and can be visited for a number of months following its unveiling. The exhibition serves to showcase the award-winning images and videos submitted to the World Press Photo Competition, split among prize categories such as News, Sports, Nature and the Environment. The largest photography competition of its kind in the world, World Press Photo offers aspiring and prominent photographers alike the opportunity to share their skills with the world, through the stories told by their work. An independent and international jury works to judge submissions each year and pick out the best of the bunch, ultimately landing on a single Photo of the Year. Those with a penchant for photography, journalism and the visual arts might find a great deal of value from exploring the galleries of winning pieces. Complete with elaborate captions and often audio commentary, each image tells an intimate story, often shedding light on ongoing global affairs that otherwise go unseen.
Robert Heaney
Rembrandt House
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Flowerbeds floating on water in front of Rijksmuseum
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Best Museums in Amsterdam

Globally renowned as a rich cultural center, Amsterdam is positively brimming with engaging museums and historical landmarks. Having grown from a small riverside settlement in the middle ages to a modern cosmopolitan paradise, the Dutch capital has seen its fair share of significant historical and cultural developments over the centuries. Whether you’re looking to retrace the steps of Dutch history, appreciate the works of influential artists or simply discover some brand new cultural insights, the best museums in Amsterdam cater to a huge variety of audiences. Rijksmuseum One of the most important museums in both the Netherlands and indeed Europe as a whole, the Rijksmuseum stands as the largest museum in Amsterdam. Dominating the popular Museumplein, the museum is easily one of the most recognizable monuments in the city, most notably for its striking Renaissance- and Gothic-inspired architecture. The grand halls of the Rijksmuseum are home to a vast collection of art pieces and historical artifacts, illustrating the art and history of the Netherlands from the Dutch Golden Age to present day. Among its more than 8,000-strong collection are priceless pieces from such renowned Dutch artists as Rembrandt and Vermeer, including the former’s famous Night Watch painting. Amsterdam Museum Combining both historical artifacts and striking artworks, the Amsterdam Museum stands as the Netherlands’ most complete public chronology of the Dutch capital’s history. The museum sits within the canal band, just a short walk from the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. The museum documents the city’s growth from a thirteenth-century settlement on the banks of the River Amstel to the thriving cultural center we know today. Everything from archeological finds and historical artifacts to the works of such Dutch masters as Rembrandt help to paint a picture of life in Amsterdam and the Low Countries as a whole throughout various periods in history. Van Gogh Museum Having lived and worked in the Netherlands throughout his life, it’s only fitting that Amsterdam’s most significant art gallery be dedicated to the world’s most famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh. Just a brief walk from the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum stands as the most complete permanent collection of the Dutch painter’s works. Among the gallery’s vast collection of permanent exhibits are over 200 original paintings and 500 drawings from the Post-Impressionist artist, alongside exhibitions showcasing the works of his contemporaries. The museum is separated chronologically into five periods, each exploring a different key period in his life and work. National Maritime Museum As a country defined by its fight against the ocean and its role as a pioneer in the Golden Age of Exploration, it’s no secret that the Netherlands is a country built on seafaring. The National Maritime Museum stands as a monument to Dutch nautical pursuits, covering everything from the Golden Age to Amsterdam’s historical role as an international trade hub. Situated quite fittingly upon the water, the museum recounts the history of Dutch maritime activity through the likes of naval maps, contemporary paintings, navigation instruments and a variety of replica ships. Moored outside the museum is a replica Dutch East India Company ship, upon which visitors can see what life was like for crew members on their exploratory voyages around the globe. NEMO Science Museum Housed within one of Amsterdam’s modern architectural marvels is the NEMO Science Museum, offering visitors of all ages an opportunity to explore science and technology in an engaging, interactive environment. Various exhibits, workshops, activities, demonstrations and movies allow visitors to see, touch, hear and smell how the world works across five immersive floors. Situated in the Oosterdok area, the venue’s accessible rooftop offers an additional open-air exhibition, terrace and restaurant, as well as stunning panoramic views across the city. While this is an ideal experience for families with younger children, that isn’t to say older individuals can’t get just as much of a kick from the vast range of immersive exhibitions on offer. Anne Frank House Easily the most popular historical site in Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House. Once the original house in which the famous wartime diarist evaded German capture, the building now serves as a museum documenting her family’s more than two years in hiding, along with sobering insights into Jewish persecution under the Nazi regime throughout the Second World War. Located on the outer banks of Amsterdam’s canal band, visitors can explore the former premises of the Frank family business including the original concealed annex in which they and two other families remained in hiding. While the rooms of the property now sit empty of original furniture, they still breathe the chilling atmosphere of the period. EYE Film Institute The EYE Film Institute is the Netherlands’ most important center dedicated to the medium of film and the moving image. Visitors to EYE Amsterdam can enjoy a selection of classic screenings across its four main cinemas and explore the many facets of the film industry through its expansive exhibition area. The museum explores current, historical and artistic developments in film, while its interactive basement offers visitors the opportunity to explore its vast digitized collection. EYE also hosts an impressive program of immersive, educational events and activities for families and individuals alike to learn about the industry. Rembrandt House A short ways behind the Red Light District sits the former residence of celebrated Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. A vast property on the banks of Zwanenburgwal, the Rembrandt House has been restored to replicate its exact layout during the artist’s residency, decorated according to an inventory drawn up shortly after his declaration of bankruptcy. Enthusiasts of the Golden Age painter’s works can explore his studio and living quarters, adorned with a rotating collection of his paintings. Demonstrations held at the venue also offer insights into Rembrandt’s painting and etching techniques, alongside other artistic techniques popular among his seventeenth-century contemporaries. Venustempel Sex Museum As a city now long famous for its various hedonistic offerings, it should be clear that Amsterdam isn’t one to shy away from topics often considered taboo in other parts of the world. The Venustempel (‘Venus Temple’) is the world’s oldest – and indeed first – museum dedicated to eroticism and sensuality. Fittingly situated close to Amsterdam’s infamous Red Light District, the museum displays an extensive collection of erotic paintings, photographs and recordings, among other exhibits. At the museum’s entrance, visitors are immediately greeted by a plaster bust of Venus, the Roman goddess of love and fertility, before embarking on an exploration of human intimacy throughout the ages.
Robert Heaney

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