Fashionable, friendly, one-of-a-kind – Amsterdam is worth the hype

Written and Photographed by: Chloë Hayes

May 24, 2023

My visit to Amsterdam had me sure I was dreaming. The Netherlands, specifically Amsterdam, has been at the top of my European travel list since I was a young girl.

Painted with colour, decorated with futuristic architecture and unique street art, everywhere you look something is interesting to see. One of Europe’s fashion capitals, even people-watching is a riveting activity.

I arrived at the Sloterdijk bus station on a FlixBus from Paris. In Europe, travel by bus is extremely easy, and an affordable choice for a frugal traveller hoping to hit multiple destinations in one trip.

As I left the bus station, I could sense a one-of-a-kind weekend ahead of me. Looking around, it felt like I had entered the future, it was truly unlike anything I had ever seen.

A fashion enthusiast, history fan, and lover of nightlife, Amsterdam kept me consistently entertained. The city is perfect for the social, city-loving traveller. From culture and architecture to art, food, and parties, the adventure is ongoing.

Serial shoppers have to move with caution in Amsterdam. On every street in the city center, there are vintage thrift stores, high-fashion outlets, and outdoor markets stretching across the canal side. Most thrift stores are kilo shops, which function on a pay-by-kilo system.

Amsterdam’s oldest market, Waterlooplein, has sold pre-loved treasures to locals and visitors for 133 years. Monday to Saturday, from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, various vendors line up their tents of unique streetwear right in the city center, beside the scenic canals. Most vendors accept card payments, but it is best to carry cash just in case.

Amsterdam is recognized as a budding fashion capital known for its well-dressed locals and strong scene of creatives. Some of the world’s biggest designer brands have made it a base for their headquarters, and it is known as the denim capital of the world with the highest concentration of denim brands. Amsterdam’s laid-back yet bold style encourages colourful statement pieces paired with outdoorsy, comfortable counter pieces, creating a grunge-meets-vintage look.

Fashion events and attractions bring a fashion-oriented demographic of tourists to the city. Amsterdam Fashion Week, each February and September showcases the top design talent with its own Amsterdam twist, followed by impromptu parties throughout the week open for anyone to join.

Modefabriek, a fashion fair every January and July offers a mash-up of brand presentations, exhibitions, pop-up stores, talks, food, music, and more.

If history is more your style, Amsterdam’s vibrant, progressive culture can be admired at several galleries and museums.

Amsterdam’s most famous cultural attraction is the Anne Frank House, the former hiding place for Anne Frank and her family during the Holocaust. The house has been preserved as a museum and provides visitors with a poignant, emotional insight into the reality of Jewish families in World War II.

The Anne Frank House and Amsterdam’s World War II history has always been an important part of understanding Europe, but has gained major popularity in recent years, after its involvement in the film The Fault in Our Stars. Be sure to reserve a spot in advance, as this museum receives over 1.2 million visitors from all around the world per year, and spots fill up very quickly.

The Netherlands’ colourful art history can be admired all in one place at the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam which is home to rich cultural history from the earlier centuries. The Rijksmuseum is one of its most special collections of vibrantly artistic historical Dutch art. A display of works by Dutch talents such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh tells the story of the development of art and colour in Dutch culture.

The Van Gogh Museum showcases a specialized collection for art lovers with a specific fascination for the one-of-a-kind talent of Vincent Van Gogh. Alongside his famous paintings, sketches and letters by the artist, himself are available to the public.

A good meal is a must on a busy travelling day. Amsterdam is known for its Dutch pancakes eaten as a snack, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The perfect start to a day in the City Center begins at MOAK Pancakes. Savoury and sweet menu items will expand your horizons to taste pancakes in brand-new ways. Far away from Canada, maple syrup is less of a tradition, so prepare to indulge in a stack of pancakes dressed with rich chocolate sauce or melted peanut butter instead.

Aside from the shoppers and historians, Amsterdam also charms the outdoorsy travellers. 100km of unique canals make up a defining feature of the city. Built during the 17th century to facilitate transportation and trade, they are now a UNESCO World Heritage site and a major tourist attraction.

When the weather is pleasant in Amsterdam, everyone is outside. The perfect way to enjoy the canals is an affordable, relaxing canal tour, best suited to your interests. For $25-$50 CAD, an hour-long cruise takes guests along the canals and beautiful architecture among them accompanied by wine and cheese, onboard bars, live guides, and music.

A bike ride is a must on a warm, sunny day in Amsterdam made easy by well-maintained bike paths following every street. Since cycling is a preferred form of transportation in the Netherlands, bike rentals are extremely common and easy to find in the city center. Tourists can sign up for bike tours, or simply rent a bike and follow their curiosity through the city.

Getting from place to place is easy with Amsterdam’s impressive public transport system. Reliable trams, buses, ferries, and a breezy metro system offer plenty of options for a smooth day of sightseeing.

The tram is the most commonly used method of daytime transportation, known for its frequency and reliability. Several routes take passengers anywhere except for Amsterdam North. Fares are payable by pre-purchased tickets or credit card, with a tap-on tap-off system. Fares are calculated by the distance travelled.

Buses connect all neighbourhoods with other city areas moving to and from Central Station. Tickets can be purchased directly from the bus driver using a debit or credit card. After midnight, night buses run hourly to safely return passengers from their late-night endeavours.

The fastest mode of transport in Amsterdam is the metro, radiating from Central Station to the city’s outlying districts. Its four routes are the fastest way to reach further districts, and stations are gated by check-in and check-out ports.

The city’s most interesting transportation is its ferry system, which supplies free connections for pedestrians and cyclists across the River IJ towards Amsterdam North. Several ferries run on short routes so wait times rarely stretch past a few minutes long, and services continue to run throughout the night.

The Dutch are very welcoming to visitors and communication with locals is very easy for English-speakers. Dutch people are often impressively multilingual, and it is very common to hear Dutch, English, German, French, and even Flemish or Swedish spoken around the city. This makes it less daunting to ask for directions or make friends while out at a restaurant or bar.

Known for its nightlife, Amsterdam lights up at night. Just walking to an evening event is a scenic experience with the illuminated streets and canals in the city center. In many districts across the city, there are clubs, bars, and live music venues to suit any taste. Many of Europe’s top DJs can be found hosting parties at the biggest clubs, such as Escape, Panama, AIR, and more playing EDM, House, Dutch techno, or throwback sets to get the crowd dancing. While raving, remember to keep your phone tucked away and enjoy the music. It is etiquette to refrain from filming videos in most rave environments.

Raving is not everyone’s nightlife choice, so Amsterdam has many more experiences to offer.   Museum nights are a captivating way to take in the city’s culture in an energetic environment. On Fridays and Saturdays, many of the city’s museums keep their doors open until 11 pm. On the first Saturday of November, 50 Amsterdam museums open from 7 pm to 2 am, hosting performances, concerts, and special events alongside delicious refreshments to keep the party going.

For a more laid-back evening, just taking a walk through the city will lead you to one of Amsterdam’s hidden speakeasies, jazz bars, or cocktail watering holes.

Amsterdam is seen around the world as a beloved travel destination as well as a curious society. The norms surrounding topics like sex work and ‘soft drug use’ are extremely different from many other parts of the world. These topics are often linked with crime, but since being decriminalized in the Netherlands, a major illegal market is absent. That along with strong support services diminish crime rates, and according to Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, Amsterdam is ranked fourth out of the top 15 safest cities to travel to, after Reykjavik, Iceland, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Montreal, Quebec.

Amsterdam is truly one of a kind. Since my time there, I have fantasized about going back. The charm of the friendly people, colourful architecture, and guaranteed good times will have you fantasizing about moving there.

To learn more and develop the perfect itinerary, visit https://www.iamsterdam.com/en