Weekend in Amsterdam

Looking to visit Amsterdam? Take a look at some of our recommendations for spending a weekend in the Dutch capital.

By Robert Heaney
Published: July 18, 2024
Bridge in Amsterdam illuminated at night

Home to some of Europe’s most important cultural hotspots and one of the best nightlife scenes on the continent, Amsterdam truly offers something for everyone. With many of its top attractions and best venues housed within a compact city center, you’d be hard pushed to find a better European city break than a weekend in Amsterdam.

Nightlife

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Few destinations in Europe are as lauded for their vibrant nightlife scene as Amsterdam, and that isn’t without good reason. Much of the city center is replete with charming restaurants, classy bars and bustling clubs, making it a perfect weekend destination for young tourists looking for some of the best evening atmosphere on the continent.

One of the most popular areas to start a night of drinks is the infamous Red Light District, known officially as De Wallen. Aside from renowned after-dark shows and other such hedonistic appeal, the area is also home to a host of popular pubs and bars. Most notable are the Café Hill Street Blues, with its grungy, street-art interior, and The Old Sailor, adorned with all manner of traditional nautical instruments.

Another regular haunt at the beginning of the evening is the Jordaan area, for its vast selection of trendy bars and cafés. Among these are the vibrant speakeasy Bar Oldenhof, the warm and cosy De Zotte and the stylish JD William’s whisky bar for more of an intimate evening.

If you’re looking for a true weekend of partying in Amsterdam, then you’re bound to find yourself looking for some of the city’s most vibrant clubs. Some of the most bustling and tourist-packed clubs can be found on Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, with the likes of Paradiso, Melkweg and Escape truly taking the cake.

Retail Therapy

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A weekend in Amsterdam is the perfect opportunity to try to pick up some local bargains, a souvenir or two or even some high-class European fashion. Spread throughout the city are a number of spots where you can quench your shopping thirst, from quaint streets lined with traditional independent stores to sprawling malls populated by top brands and retailers.

While exploring the city’s famous canal district, you’re bound to stumble across the Negen Straatjes, or ‘Nine Streets’. These narrow, historical streets are home to a variety of charming cafés and restaurants, alongside a variety of stores from unique independent businesses to chain boutiques.

If you’re serious about shopping, though, then Kalverstraat and Leidsestraat are the places to be. Undisputedly the beating heart of Amsterdam’s retail offerings, the two are also connected by the Kalverpassage shopping mall, offering smooth passage between streets alongside a variety of top retailers.

For more of a typical mall experience, the Magna Plaza is a stunning building inside and out, lined with a handful of charming shops offering everything from souvenirs to fashion products. De Bijenkorf is your one-stop shop for all things luxury, with its vast collection of haute couture brands complemented by a selection of luxury beauty treatments.

Cultural Hotspots

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While many come to Amsterdam for a weekend of partying and pleasure, that isn’t to say you can’t enjoy more of a quiet and cultured trip away from the raucous crowds. One of Amsterdam’s greatest boasts is its vast selection of world-class museums and art galleries dedicated to its wealth of complex national history and celebrated artistic output.

Taking pride of place is the renowned Rijksmuseum, whose sprawling Renaissance- and Gothic-style halls boast an impressive collection of historical artifacts and famous artworks. The most important museum in the Netherlands, its collection chronicles over 800 years of Dutch history, complemented by the works of such artistic legends as Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh.

Nothing reflects Dutch artistic accomplishment quite like the Van Gogh Museum, standing as a tragically ironic juxtaposition to the artist’s anonymity in life. The museum houses over 1,400 of the Post-Impressionist painter’s works, from paintings to letters, amounting to the most complete collection in the world by far.

The various grand artistic claims of the Netherlands often overshadow its extensive and complex history. The Amsterdam Museum serves to remedy that, documenting the development of the Dutch capital from original settlement to the modern metropolis we know today, exploring periods of nautical domination and ground-breaking progressiveness.

Easily the most visited historical site in Amsterdam, though, is the Anne Frank House, housing a museum dedicated to the victims of Nazi persecution within the very same canal house in which the family of the famous wartime diarist escaped German capture. Although the site now stands empty of most original furnishings, it remains a potent reflection of life during one of the darkest periods in recent European history.

Iconic Activities

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Although Amsterdam is largely famous for its iconic streets, squares and waterways, it also offers a variety of engaging activities for visitors of all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re a family looking for a great day out or a couple with a taste for Dutch pilsners, there’s plenty on offer to keep your weekend trip jam-packed.

On the topic of Dutch pilsners, few have quite the same worldwide reach and rapport as Heineken. Those with an interest in the brand or Dutch beers in general are likely to find the Heineken Experience a real thrill. Visitors are offered a tour of the Heineken brewery along with insights into its entire production cycle, rounded off in style with a refreshing bottle of the beer at the heart of it all.

If you’re looking to explore the best sights in the city, there are few better ways to do so than atop its iconic canals. Various operators offer canal boat tours throughout the popular canal district, complemented by local insight into some of the city’s top attractions. Alternatively, a hop-on, hop-off boat tour offers much the same, with the added benefit of allowing you to get on and off at various points to better discover the areas that most interest you.

Something bound to offer families, couples and individuals alike a great day out is the ARTIS Royal Zoo. Combining a gorgeous botanical garden filled with endangered plant life with a vast zoological garden housing over 900 animals from all corners of the globe, the site is a great place to discover many of the wonders of the natural world, or simply sit down for a picnic and rest on a pleasant day.

Robert Heaney
Go City Travel Expert

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Colorful canal houses lining an Amsterdam canal
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Adults, rejoice! This is a child-free zone. Leave the little rascals at home and go check out all the amazing things adults get to do in Amsterdam! In fact, to help you on your way, we've curated this list of all the city's best bits. So, read on, and discover the best things to do in Amsterdam for adults! Including: Heineken Experience The Rijksmuseum Tour de BonTon House of Bols Moco Museum and more! And that's our list of the best things to do in Amsterdam for adults! There's so much to do and see in the city, why not grab an Amsterdam pass and see it all?
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Shopping in Amsterdam Guide

Vacationing in Amsterdam and have some extra cash you want to burn through? You'll need a guide to shopping in Amsterdam. But where will you find one that you can trust? Here, of course. Just scroll down and see what an authentic guide to shopping in Amsterdam really looks like! Including: De Bijenkorf Magna Plaza Nine Little Streets Haarlemmerstraat Albert Cuyp Market and more! Image courtesy of Travel-Fr/Shutterstock Where the labels lie Let's kick off our guide to shopping in Amsterdam with the big guns. If you're the sort to drip yourself in nothing but the biggest names and designer labels, spend your money more wisely! Just kidding, no judgment here. The good news is that Amsterdam more than caters to your opulent lifestyle choices thanks to De Bijenkorf, a chain of high-end department stores. They have stores all over the Netherlands, but you'll find their massive Amsterdam branch looming over Dam Square like a wealthy obelisk. Step inside its inviting revolving doors, and you'll be blown away by the number of floors on offer. Brands carve out their own territory here, defending it fiercely from neighboring competitors. Many, like Gucci, are so 'exclusive' that you'll have to wait by a rope cordon to be let in. Like a club, but no one's dancing or having fun. Still, if it's designer brands you want, it's designer brands you'll get, with countless big names calling this mausoleum to untethered consumerism home. A massive plaza Another structure that towers over Dam Square is the appropriately titled Magna Plaza, which roughly translates to Really Massive Place. Maybe. This grandiose building mirrors London's Parliament buildings, which was by design. Inside, you'll find a more rounded shopping experience, with food stores and restaurants cohabiting with fashion brands, cosmetics shops, and jewelry boutiques. And all of that sweet, sweet shopping is backed by the Magna Plaza's stunning interiors, which give every trip a sense of regality. Your bank account will feel pretty regal, too, because shopping is addictive, and you may have a problem. If you sit in Dam Square and squint hard enough, you can pretend that Magna Plaza and De Bijenkorf are facing off against one another, determined to be the best shopping complex on the block. Don't worry; they can't hurt you. Nine streets for nine treats Away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam Central, you'll comfortably find some of the best shopping in the city. And better yet, given the city's size, you can easily walk there from Centraal Station in about 15 minutes. The Negen Straatjes, or 'Nine Little Streets' are, well, nine streets that emanate from Amsterdam's canal ring - colloquially called 'the ring'. Walk along these revered streets, and you'll find a wealth of unique boutiques, smaller designer shops from all over the world, as well as cafes, bars, and restaurants where you can rest your burdened feet. The perfect answer to the busyness of the aforementioned department stores, these streets are as much residential zones and daytime hangout spots as they are shopping destinations. So, head there, shop to your heart's content, and breathe in all that space and calm. Nice. Image courtesy of Harry Beugelink/Shutterstock Sound the Haarlem! Just a stone's throw from Centraal Station to the west, you'll find a quirky, calm, and clean shopping paradise to rival Nine Little Lanes! It's called Haarlemmerstraat, and along with its brother Haarlemmerdijk, it's one of the city's often overlooked gems. With a whole host of boutique shops, salons, and an underrated bar scene, it's a great place to spend your day, do some shopping, eat some food, and then experience the nightlife. Plus, you're so close to the water you might as well have a wander to Amsterdam's shores - you'll find even more bars, cafes, and restaurants there! Image courtesy of AsiaTravel/Shutterstock On the cuysp of greatness Of course, department stores and packed high streets aren't the only places for you to flex your plastic. You forgot about markets, silly. No self-professed guide to shopping in Amsterdam would be worth a thing without mentioning the city's brilliant market scene. And arguably, the jewel in its market crown is the Albert Cuypmarkt. Located in trendy De Pijp, it's one of Europe's biggest open-air markets, offering visitors and would-be shoppers a whole host of foods, clothes, accessories, and even flowers. If you're staying in an Airbnb, it's the perfect place to buy fresh groceries to cook up your own delights. Or, if the hotel is taking care of all that for you, go try some of the freshly cooked foods on offer! You'll find many uniquely Dutch treats available, including stroopwafels - the country's best. Image courtesy of Tupungato/Shutterstock Hoof it up the street Fashion seekers, beware. Some of Amsterdam's best shopping can be found at PC Hooftstraat, a short walk from the city's museum district. Arguably Amsterdam's most affluent shopping district, you'll find a wealthy world of designer brands from across the globe. Need some Mulberry in your life? Jonesing for some Chanel? PC Hooftstraat's got you covered. Plus, its location is a massive bonus if you want to combine your shopping shenanigans with a little culture. The Rijksmuseum, Moco Museum, and the Van Gogh Museum are right around the corner. And let's be honest, after all that swiping, you might require some calm and inspiring sights. Image courtesy of Harry Beugelink/Shutterstock Kalvern Klien? Kinda Another of Amsterdam's famous shopping streets, Kalverstraat is a more modest shopping experience. You'll find its beginning at the foot of Dam Square, because of course you will. Dam Square - the hub of many shopping opportunities. This one is arguably the busiest on the list, so strap in for some shambling. Unlike some of the others on this list, Kalverstraat is a more typical high street affair, with sneaker shops, affordable clothing stores, and well-known cosmetic spots. Nike, Lush, and Zara are just some of the many global brands you'll find on this list. While you could spend the whole day here, we'd recommend you know where you're going, get in, and get out - it simply draws too big a crowd to be considered a fun day out. Waterloo, baby We'll end this list on a bit of an oddity. Unlike Albert Cuypmarkt, Waterloopleinmarkt is a bit of a free-for-all. This flea market lets anyone come and set up a stall to flog their undesirables, so expect garage sale energy. However, anyone who's dared enter the realm of the garage sale knows this is no sleight. In fact, you'll find things at Waterloopleinmarkt you may not find anywhere else. Bargain hunt for rare toys, antiques, furniture, and other unwanted (and unvalued) items, snap them up in a pinch, and then sell them on to become a multi-billionaire. Chin up - anything is possible. And that's our guide to shopping in Amsterdam!
Dom Bewley

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