There's more to a dam Straw waffle The smoking Dutch capital is a place of strange contradictions: order and chaos. It's a cosmopolitan city with a village mentality, steeped in history but driven by innovation, neat as a pin but not afraid to get dirty. Here, outspoken locals rub shoulders with disoriented tourists. Fortunately, you don't have to be one of them. Amsterdam Weekend City Guide turns red lights into green so you can navigate the city like an (old) master…
Friday evening
The fastest and cheapest way to get from Schiphol Airport to the city is by train. If you take the train, 'hey!' You can get to Amsterdam Central in less than 20 minutes. It's a 10-minute walk from there. Soho House Amsterdam, a stunning Art Deco building housed in the Bungehuis, the city's former stock exchange. When you check in, you'll see restored wood paneling, kaleidoscopic stained-glass windows, and original mosaic floors that give each floor of this seven-story building an old-world charm. If you look around, you'll also find Cowshed Spa. Canal-view gym (complete with sauna and steam room); It features a modern art collection inspired by Dutch masters and a rooftop terrace with a swimming pool overlooking Spuistraat, a major shopping destination. Spend your weekend leisurely and relaxed with a sunset dip and a CBD facial (you're at the 'dam' after all…), followed by a hearty meal of homemade pasta at Club House Picantes and Cecconi's on the ground floor.
Saturday morning
Enjoy breakfast in bed surrounded by Soho House's signature retro luxury décor. If you're in a Plus room, you'll enjoy picture-perfect canal views. Once you get up, walk south to the city's museum district, home to some of Europe's most famous works of art. The Rijksmuseum is Amsterdam's right of way, with collections spanning 800 years and the holy trinity of Dutch painting. Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Frans Hals. The Hogwarts-style Cuypers Library is one of the oldest and most extensive historical art repositories in the Netherlands. night watch I took my place with pride. The controversial painting has sparked a cult following and several conspiracies over the years, who claim it subtly reveals a murderous plot among the militia officers it depicts. Whatever you believe, the ethereal use of light and shadow is amazing.
Fast forward some 400 years and head to the Stedelijk, the city’s largest modern art museum. Nicknamed “the bathtub” for its sleek white architecture, its permanent collection features works by modernist masters including Picasso, Warhol, Mondrian, Rothko and Lichtenstein, while the gallery’s temporary exhibitions are dedicated to more recent artists and movements. Soho House guests can borrow a Stedelijk membership card for free entry. Around the corner, Reflex Gallery keeps its finger on the city’s creative pulse, with an enviable number of emerging artists on its books.
Saturday afternoon
Head back north and stop by Kramer Kunst & Antiek. Eduard Kramer and his family have been selling their products for over 60 years. Entering this historic store is like stepping into a Golden Age still life, with all the trinkets and treasures from Bartmann jugs and Rumer glasses to 17th-century Dutch tiles, Delft blue porcelain, Asian porcelain and more. Next, head to Huis Marseille, a photography museum located between two 17th-century houses. The ornate interior has largely been preserved. And if you like places like this, you'll love House Bartolotti, another antique canal house. Once the largest and still considered the grandest today, the house boasts the Rococo-style Blue Room, Jacob de Wit's original 'Witjes' (marble-like grisaille paintings) and wall hangings depicting idyllic Dutch scenes.
Just a short walk from the De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) shopping district you will find De Knopenwinkel, a quirky old-fashioned shop selling buttons. many There is the Athenaeum Boekhandel, with its side by side buttons and paintings, handmade bags, antiques and vintage clothing, and the Athenaeum Boekhandel, a world-class newsstand selling books, DIY magazines and specialty magazines on almost every subject. There are books, DIY magazines, and specialty magazines on every topic you can think of: cats, astrology, gardening, and more.
Just around the corner is one of the city's most unexpected attractions. that much Beguine Chapel. As if by magic – or time travel – a simple wooden door leads into a peaceful 14th-century courtyard and chapel. This was once the home of the Beguines, a Catholic women’s order that sought to imitate Christ, and is today the site of what is known as the ‘Miracle of the Eucharist’, a silent procession held annually, somewhat ironically, through the city’s ‘Red Lights’ district.
saturday evening
In the evening, explore Jordaan, the city’s best-preserved district, famous for its excellent restaurants and bars. Once home to Amsterdam’s working-class community, it still has a slightly bourgeois, but distinctly local feel. Start your evening with a few drinks before dinner. Cafe Twi PrinsenIt's a cozy spot for small plates, craft beers, and natural wines. On balmy nights, the terrace is the perfect place for people-watching. Make your dinner reservations here. Balthazar's Kitchen At Elandsgracht, Head Chef Wanne de Vries creates a new set menu every three weeks, inspired by seasonal produce from local suppliers. Finish with a slice. Store 43It is famous for its crispy apple pie and a glass of red wine. Bar ParisHidden in a quiet alley. Or if you're feeling adventurous chicago social club (Locals call it 'the soos') where records and disco balls keep spinning until the small hours.
sunday morning
Start your Sunday morning with a walk around the city, where a hearty brunch awaits. Dignity Hope To InnIt's a garden café behind the city's Hermitage Museum. Here, you can sample Ayurvedic dishes including garden-grown vegetables, homemade soups, jam-covered breakfast brioche and nutty granola bowls. And you can keep your conscience clear. Following the motto ‘Eat well, do good’, the cafe works closely with organizations that provide education to victims of human trafficking. While you're in the area, take a look around. Dutch National Opera and Ballet building. It was designed by Wilhelm Holzbauer and Cees Dam in the 1980s and is informally known as 'Stopera'. The name comes from 'Stop the Opera', a protest slogan once used against construction.
Because it is the weekend, many vendors will be out. Waterlu PlainIt is the oldest market in Amsterdam, trading in the same location since 1885. Expect all kinds of second-hand goods, from vintage clothing and used cameras to records, bicycles and jewelry. If you feel like it, you can even get a tattoo.
sunday afternoon
As soon as the clock strikes noon, you can start having a good time. Bitterballen Stop at De Sluyswacht, a historic, slanted pub with a terrace overlooking the canal. From here, you can continue your pub crawl at Café de Druiv, a former distillery with barrel-lined walls and quirky bags. For a healthier start to the afternoon, take a swim in Marineterrein, the inner harbour in the shadow of the impressive Science and Oceanography Museum. In the colder months, you can warm up in the Nordic-style Kuuma sauna, and in summer, the gardens here are a great place for a picnic.
Mediamatic Our next stop is the project space, which hosts workshops, events and exhibitions at the intersection of art and nature. Next, take a short trip to the city's eastern Docklands, with its green floors and pink walls. bisu gallery – A unique showroom open by appointment only – featuring a selection of contemporary art, ceramics and vintage furniture, all available for purchase.
Many people who visit the city don't make the journey across the IJ to the Noord area, but it's worth the short ferry ride. Once the city's industrial heartland, this area has undergone rapid redevelopment in recent years and is now a hub of wine bars, restaurants, galleries and cultural centres. Book a tasting room at Fromagerie Kef to hear from passionate cheesemakers and sample their labor of love. Consider, for example, a city lawyer who devoted his life to dairy products after falling in love with a farmer's son, or a man whose wife's aversion to blue cheese led him to develop his own cheese.
sunday evening
Cheese and wine are a classic combo, so it’s only fair to choose one after the other. Chateau Amsterdam is an urban winery in the heart of the Noord, making wine on site using grapes sourced from European producers. Learn more about the process on a five-flight tasting tour and enjoy a well-deserved aperitif. For dinner, head to Café Modern. This kitschy space may not look like a former bank, with its disco-ball mirrored walls, mid-century hanging lamps, and primary-color palette, but the downstairs vault is a real treat. Expect seasonal contemporary cuisine with fun twists and cork-popping wine pairings. Finally, Murmur, a listening bar, makes for the perfect finale to a canal-side pit stop, with live performances by sound artists and musicians most evenings.
Need to know
flight Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport is located south of the city and is about 40 minutes by car, depending on traffic. A train ride from Amsterdam Centraal will cut the time in half, taking just 20 minutes.
transport Explore the city the Dutch way by bike. You can rent one around the city, and a full day rental costs around €10. The city's blue and white trams are another sustainable option, with 24- and 48-hour tickets available for purchase on board.
When should I go? There is no need to worry about April. Not only do the famous Dutch tulips bow to welcome the dawn of spring, but come the 27th the entire city turns orange in celebration of King's Day. It's also a great day for shopping, with street markets taking place across the city from 6am to 8pm.
What should I buy? Shop Dutch-designed homeware Falls potential Buy custom leather shoes in East Docklands or from Reestraat in Jordaan. Terra Iberian Ceramics.
Worth knowing If you visit often, keep some Euros handy. Brown Cafe, In many cases, only cash payment is possible. Book the museum in advance to avoid waiting in line (especially in the summer). And don't be offended if you come out of the locker room and the clerk gives you his honest opinion. This is the Dutch way.
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