Sightseeing
Tread off the beaten track when you visit our Backpackers Hostel in Amsterdam - the capital of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Tourist Attractions
There’s so much more to Amsterdam than the abundance of cafes, waffles and the seedy Red Light District. This is a thriving city that offers a plethora of things to see and do. We’ve lined up the tastiest treats for you here.
Anne Frank's House
After you do as the Dutch do and find your way around the city, there are no excuses not to go to the Prinsengracht Canal - where you will find Anne Frankhuis. This is an incredibly moving memorial to Anne Frank, her family and the 100,000 Dutch Jews who died during World War Two. The rooms have been left as they were sixty years ago and the poignant memories are enhanced by video clips of the family and the holocaust. See what's there at www.annefrank.org
The Van Gogh Museum
Any trip to Amsterdam wouldn't be complete without a trip to the fantastical Van Gogh Museum. Inside you will find the world's largest collection of works by a certain Mr Vincent Van Gogh and the works of the many artists who were inspired by him. There are 200 paintings, 500 drawings and 700 letters. Also if you head downstairs you can explore the touring collections of a more modern variety. You can see some of the inspirational works and get more information from www.vangoghmuseum.nl
The Pancake Bakery
A five minute walk up the Prinsengracht Canal from Anne Frank's House will take you to the intensely delicious Pancake Bakery. In the intimate surrounds of this basement restaurant you can choose from a tantalising, taste bud teasing choice of more than 100 sweet and savoury pancakes. My advice is to skip the under-loaded Paris Hilton pancake and order a real life, calorie laden plate of International Pancake love. See the line up of tasty treats at www.pancake.nl
Red Light Religion
It's all fun and games when you're roaming around the vice ridden windows that line Oudezijds Voorburgwal, but if you want a break from all that “eye candy” then seek refuge in De Oude Kerk. This church is the oldest monument in the city and the interior is a vast expanse of calm, contemporary art and Christ. This beautiful building is pretty much next door to the hostel and it's a great base to launch yourself into the tourist attractions that litter the area. Get the low down at www.oudekerk.nl
Rembrandt
The funny thing about people during the time of Rembrandt is that they were a lot shorter than their modern day counterparts. You can find this out for yourself as you take a turn around this great artist's house. The bed boxes are positively tiny and when you get past this startling realisation there are a few paintings to look at too. The cone collection is very impressive and you can buy affordable replicas from the very friendly blonde lady, in the gift shop downstairs. Audio tours are also available but these cost a little extra. Take a gander at the collection at www.rembrandthuis.nl
Beer
Backpacking is thirsty work but don't fear. Your friends at St Christopher's have found a solution to this tourist nightmare. On the very central Oudebrugsteeg you will find Brouwerij Stamhuis & Historisch Stadcafe Heffer. It's a mouthful and impossible to say ten times fast but the beer is worth it. Our top tip is to try a glass of Veloosh Altbeer before taking advantage of the 2-4-1 drink deals back at the hostel. If you’re good with Dutch visit www.heffer.nl
The Attic Church
A five minute walk from the hostel takes you to the Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder on Oudezijds Voorburgwal. This catholic attic church will take your breath away because it manages to cram everything you would normally find in a cathedral, into the attics of three houses. There are lots of clever space saving tips, so even if you're not of the religious persuasion it's worth a look - just in case you buy a small house and want to maximise your space. See the compaction at www.opsolder.nl.
Cheap Eats
Filling up is something you have to factor in no matter where you and your backpack end up. This essential encumbrance doesn't however have to break the bank. In Amsterdam not only do you have cheap eats at the St Christopher's Hostel but you also have a chain of supermarkets called Albert Heyn. There's one on Vijzel Straat where you can pick up some apple juice, a sandwich, a packet of crisps and a cheeky chocolate bar for less than €2. If that wet your appetite and you're a fan of avoiding the token tourist price tags, then take a trip to the mile long market, held on Albert Cuyp – Straat. The North Market is full of food, flowers, fish, furniture and fun.
Rijksmuseum
This is a national museum, dedicated to arts, crafts and history. The Rijksmuseum has a large selection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian works. www.rijksmuseum.nl
The Heineken Experience
Take the Bottle Ride and find out what it’s like to be a bottle of beer as you ride through the various production stages. When you’re done you can take the Beer test and discover if you can tell your hops from your barley. This is an interactive experience with the worlds' most exported lager. www.heinekenexperience.com
De Hortus
The Botanical Gardens have long been considered to be the pride and joy of Amsterdam. The garden is nearly 4000 years old and was once a herb garden for the city’s doctors. Now it has become a museum of plants from all over the world. Even if you’re not botanical a trip here is still a rather beautiful and relaxing walk. See for yourself at www.hortus-botanicus.nl
Amsterdam Tour Operators
The I Amsterdam Card
There are a lot of great tourism deals out there but one of the best that we've come across is the I Amsterdam Card. When you pick one of these little wonders up you get free entry to more top tourist attractions than you can shake a stick at. Better yet when you get your I Amsterdam package, you are guaranteed to get very excited about the back page. Nestled in here, next to the actual card is a transport pass. This little grey ticket entitles you to free transport on all trams, buses and metros, in and around the city. It's definitely useful when you don't fancy the 45 minute walk to the Van Gogh Museum from Dam Square. Drag yourself to www.amsterdamtourist.nl for all the details.
Canal Cruises
Amsterdam isn't the biggest city in the world but just like everywhere else, it's not hard to get lost. A great way to prevent those back street blues is to take advantage of one of the free, I Amsterdam Card canal cruises. With the card you can choose between the Holland International and the Rederij Noord-Zuid cruises. With the first choice you get a glimpse of the harbour, the stunning Nemo Science Centre, a tour in five different languages and a whole host of tourist attractions. These cruise options will definitely help you to make sense of the 165 canals, 1281 bridges, 8 wooden draw bridges, 2500 canal boats and 120 water bikes that make this city so aqua fantastic. Read more at www.hir.nl or www.canal-cruises.nl
Doing It Yourself
If you don’t fancy being tied down to a tour and feel like a little independence, then take a look at the tourist attractions we scouted out for you. Here’s a summary of what you’ll find if you drag your eyes to the right hand column.
