Museums Many of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals' finest works are part of the national heritage and housed in the Rijksmuseum. Take your time in this beautiful museum, as it is huge, and the exhibitions and surroundings need your attention for more then just an hour. Rembrandt's paintings are also largely represented in Rembrandthuis. The life and works of Van Gogh are presented in the Van Gogh Museum. For modern art you should definitely visit the exhibitions in the Stedelijk Museum.
Nature & Science If you're interested in science and interactive entertainment, don't miss Science Center NEMO, a place designed for children with a lot of hands-on exhibits and technology. The Scheepvaartmuseum will appeal to anyone who's interested in maritime and nautical experiences. Nature lovers should visit the Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, which has over six thousand different kinds of plants.
History
In Amsterdam, there are a lot of historical museums. One of the best is Amsterdams Historisch Museum, where you will learn about the city's developments from the thirteenth century to the present day. The popular Anne Frank House has recently been restored and is able to accommodate a lot more people then before.
Classical
Home to many beautiful venues that offer brilliant acoustics for soloists and orchestras, the Concertgebouw Orchestra, has a regular programme of performances in the city. At Beurs van Berlage there are a lot of classical concerts on a regular basis. If you're more into opera, you should go to the Het Muziektheater (Stopera) on Waterlooplein, where the Netherlands Opera is often to be seen, or go and see an opera at the Carre.
Jazz and Blues
Local groups and jam sessions can often be heard in the lively city during the night. International stars visit the city to play at different venues. The best places to catch jazz legends in intimate confines are Casablanca and Bimhuis Jazz & Improvisation.
Rock
Big international stars such as the Rolling Stones enjoy playing in venues like Paradiso and Melkweg. Besides this there are a lot of rock festivals, eg. Drum Rhythm Festival, which takes place at Westergasfabriek or the Amsterdam Pop Prijs Wanted R & B & Hip Hop Prijs Finals, held at Melkweg.
House, Disco & World Music The VIP Club on Fridays and Paradisco on Saturday evenings in Paradiso are hip dance evenings where a lot of cool people are to be seen. Techno, house and hip hop music can be heard. Melkweg has dance evenings with hard house and drum and bass. The crowd is diverse but mainly young, and the atmosphere is relaxed.
The Old Centre
Amsterdam's old centre can be described as being surrounded by the Central Station, the Singel, and the Kloveniersburgwal canals. The central points are Dam Square, with the Royal Palace, Madame Tussaud's, the New Church and department stores such as Bijenkorf and Magna Plaza.
The Red-Light District Not far from Dam Square you will find the Red Light District. Many people visit Amsterdam mainly to go and see this area for the 'window shopping', but this beautiful, old and historical area contains a lot of other attractions, such as Nieuwmarkt with its characteristic building De Waag, which dates from 1488, formerly built as a gatehouse for the city's defences. Near Nieuwmarkt you will find Amsterdam's small Chinatown.
The New Side
This area starts at the west end of Central Station and ends at Spui. In between you will find Amsterdam's Museum of History and the Begijnhof. This area is worth a relaxed stroll and a cup of coffee at one of the cafes on the square.
Jordaan
This is a beautiful artistic area, where you will find lots of galleries and cosy little restaurants. Typical Amsterdammers live here; the area still doesn't see as many tourists as the other areas, although it has a very typical Amsterdam atmosphere. With a lot of greenery outside, it feels like a little village within a big city.
Waterlooplein Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein
Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are Amsterdam's tourist centres, packed with outgoing people and cafes and bars. During the summer months they are packed with people sitting on the terraces watching others go by. Waterlooplein is famous for its second-hand market, where you will find plenty of bargains.
GARDENS & PARKS Amsterdam has some beautiful gardens and parks, the Vondelpark being the most famous park amongst tourists and Amsterdammers. You will also find the Dutch Film Museum here, which has a beautiful terrace where you can spend a whole afternoon sitting, relaxing and watching the strangest people going by. The Amstel Park is located a bit away from the centre, but is a good retreat with rose gardens and a glasshouse. The Amsterdamse Bos is a busy park where you can be as sporty as you like.
