The most beautiful places in Netherlands

Amsterdam originated as a small fishing town somewhere in the 12th century, but it was named after a river and has flourishing in smooth waters ever since. Literally, its name means “Dam on the Amstel River” and it was here on the banks of this river that a dam was created to protect against floods. Today, the dam is hidden under the central Dam Square, where the Royal Palace and the former City Hall are located.

The small town blossomed into one of the largest ports in the world back in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age. After that, it continued to occupy top positions, both in the financial and commercial sectors, as well as in the arts. It is here that the Van Gogh Museum is located, as well as the Rijksmuseum – famous for its 17th-century Dutch art and the Stedolijk Museum of Modern Art. Today, the city is a top tourist destination in the world, attracting a million tourists, not only because of the art and well-preserved buildings from the 17th century, but because the city stretches over hundreds of canals, which earn it the nickname “Venice of the North”.

Amsterdam has 165 canals, most of which were created in the 17th century. Their length is over 100 km and they divide the city into more than 90 islands, connected to each other by 1700 bridges (and this, by the way, is 1300 bridges more than Venice).

It was through these channels that our tour of the city began. Amsterdam can be easily explored by boat or bike. According to statistics, there are over 1.2 million bicycles in the city, and 25,000 of them are taken out of the waters of the canals every year. Boat tours around the city are numerous, with ours starting near the Amsterdam Opera House and passing by the beautiful Munttoren Tower (meaning Mint). It was erected in 1480 and at one time was one of the main gates in the medieval city wall of Amsterdam.

The charming curve of the channels led us to the Basilica of St. Nikolay, located next to the central station. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of both the church and the city of Amsterdam, respectively, his basilica is the main church in the city.

A wonderful view of the church and its two towers is revealed by the floating Chinese restaurant Sea Palace, which we passed by on our boat. In the distance we also found the Nemo Museum, which is the largest science museum in the Netherlands and is worth visiting if you are with children.  On the outside, its architecture resembles a ship, on the inside there are high-tech technologies that allow you to participate and do hundreds of experiments, and from the roof there is an amazing view of the old town of Amsterdam.

Another must-see attraction for children in the city is undoubtedly the Royal Zoo ARTIS. The acronym comes from Natura Artis Magistra, which in Latin means Nature is a teacher of art. This is one of the oldest zoos, not only in the Netherlands, but also in the world, having opened its doors back in 1838. In ARTIS you can see over 900 animal species, including the imposing elephants, tigers, giraffes and penguins. The zoo also plays an important role in the conservation and protection of endangered species, and through various programs and initiatives it plays an important role in their conservation. There is a wonderful botanical garden and several places to eat.

If you still have energy for walking or cycling, be sure to visit the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palesi), where they have a special tour for families and children, as well as the Heineken Experience, where you will enjoy the unique beer known all over the world, with many interactive areas and a wonderful view of Amsterdam. Museum lovers can explore Madame Tussauds, the Anne Frank Museum, the State Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, as well as some of the other 80 museums in the city. Those who love nature can enjoy the Vondelpark, which is the largest park in the city and in the summer a place for many free concerts, or they can just walk along the beautiful canals enjoying the tranquility and beauty of the city preserved for centuries.

Amsterdam flourishes in smooth waters, and walking there, visitors get the same feeling.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT AMSTERDAM:

Location: Amsterdam is located in the western part of the Netherlands, at the mouth of the Amstel River. The port of Amsterdam is connected by the Nordseekanal to the North Sea.
Area: 219 sq.km
Population: 872,680 people (2020 data), making it the most populous city in the Netherlands
Official language: Dutch
Altitude: -2 m
Climate: temperate oceanic climate.
Time zone: UTC+1
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Further information: www.iamsterdam.com/en

TRIP TIPS FOR AMSTERDAM:

Best time to visit: all year round, and at the end of March the city blooms and is very beautiful. Almost every month in the Dutch capital there are various festivals that are worth participating in and visiting.
How to get here: Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is located 15 km southwest of the city and serves over 60 million passengers a year, with the center being conveniently reached by train and the journey takes no more than 20 minutes.