Neighborhoods

Old Center: This core area around the Dam and Centraal Station, and through the neighborhood known as De Wallen (The Walls), which contains the Red Light District, is the oldest part of the city. It includes the main downtown shopping areas and attractions such as the Royal Palace, the Amsterdam Historical Museum, Madame Tussaud's, and many of the canal-boat piers. It is a busy part of town, filled with traffic, noise, and social whirl.

The Canal Belt: The semicircular, multistrand "necklace" of waterways called the Grachtengordel in Dutch,  was built around the old Center during the city's 17th-century Golden Age. Its vista of elegant, gabled mansions fronting long, tree-lined canals forms the image that's most often associated Amsterdam. It includes many hotels, both large and small, restaurants, sightseeing attractions such as the Anne Frankhuis and the canal-house museums, and antiques shops.

Around Leidseplein: The city's liveliest nightlife square and its immediate surroundings cover such a small area that it could have been included under "The Canal Belt." It is so distinctive that it deserves to be highlighted. In addition to performance venues, movie theaters, bars, and cafes, there are many fine hotels and restaurants in this busy area.

Around Rembrandtplein: Like Leidseplein, but on a somewhat reduced scale, this square is the focus for a grouping of hotels, restaurants, cafes, and nightlife venues that's lively enough to feature on its own.

The Jordaan: This group of small streets and canals lies west of the City Center, beyond the major canals. Once a working-class neighborhood, it's become fashionable, like New York City's SoHo, with a growing number of upscale boutiques and restaurants.

Museumplein & Vondelpark: Gracious and residential, this area surrounds the three major museums on Museumplein: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum: and hosts the Concertgebouw concert hall, with its many restaurants. It contains Amsterdam's most elegant shopping streets (Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat and Van Baerlestraat), and its best-known park. The U.S. Consulate is here, too.

Amsterdam East: A residential zone on the far bank of the Amstel River that is the location of sightseeing attractions like the Maritime and Tropical museums, and also of Artis, the local zoo. It's an area of Amsterdam that is rich in ethnic minority groups.

Amsterdam South: This prestigious modern residential area is the site of a number of hotels, particularly along Apollolaan, a broad avenue which the locals call the Gold Coast for its rows of expensive houses.

Amsterdam West: The district west of the Singelgracht canal is extensive, but contains no major tourist attractions.

Amsterdam North: On the north bank of the IJ channel, this district has begun to change with new dining and entertainment possibilities opening up.

Attractions

Amsterdam's Historisch Museum Kalverstraat 92 Phone: 523-1822 The museum is located within what was a former convent and orphanage dating back to the sixteenth century. Various sections of the museum, however, date back to the thirteenth century, a time when the city development was booming. The exhibits portray the sequence of events in Amsterdam's history from early times to the present day. The Begijnhof, a popular courtyard, might be the perfect place to take a break and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

Anne Frankhuis Prinsengracht 263 Phone: 556-7100 Guided tours by prior arrangement. Quite possibly Amsterdam's most often visited site, this was the place where Anne Frank, her sister Margot, her parents, and four other Jews went into hiding in 1942. Anne Frankhuis is a central fixture of remembrance for the persecution suffered during the war. The museum not only stands as a symbol to combat prejudice, discrimination and oppression; but it also works against current developments in racism, Neo-Fascism and anti-Semitism. A statue of Anne Frank, as well as a display of different editions of the diary, is featured within the museum.

Hollandse Schouwburg Plantage Middenlaan 24 Phone: 626-9945 During World War II, the theater was used as a collection ground for Jews who were to be sent off to the camps. Standing as a small structure amidst the streets of Amsterdam, this building embodies a large portion of the tragedy that befell this era.

Universiteitsmuseum de Agnietenkapel Oudezijds Voorburgwal 231 Phone: 525-3341 Amsterdam is a city of outstanding architectural style. The Agnietenkapel, built in 1473 and part of the university since its foundation in 1632, is a wonderful representation of the Gothic style that once filled the chapels of Amsterdam. The chapel combines the effect of an austere interior with the beauty exquisite craftsmanship of its lovely stained-glass windows. The showcases the history of education, research and student life.

Verzetsmuseum Amsterdam Plantage Kerklaan 61 Phone: 620-2535 The Museum of the Resistance includes collections of artifacts and interactive displays that represent the resistance movement within Amsterdam. The museum focuses attention on such themes as sabotage, espionage and the February Deportation to Birkenau. An interesting feature within the museum is that visitors can hear authentic replicas of wartime broadcasts as they examine the space designed to replicate a wartime family hideout.

Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art Paulus Potterstraat 13 (at Museumplein). Phone: 020-573-2737 Amsterdam's contemporary art museum showcases the works of not only modern Dutch painters such as Karel Appel, Willem de Kooning, and Piet Mondrian,  but the museum also has a section to illustrate the works of French artists: Chagall, Cézanne, Picasso, Renoir, Monet, and Manet. American modern artist also have a section of their own. In fact, the museum features one of the largest collection of paintings by the abstract Russian artist Kasimir Malevich.

The Rijksmuseum Stadhouderskade 42 (behind Museumplein, halfway between Leidseplein and Wetering-plantsoen) Phone: 020-673-2121 or 0900-8898-1212 The Rijksmuseum includes a magnificent collection of works by Dutch artists, including one of the most famous works, The Night Watch, by Rembrandt. A great feature for visitors is the museum's touch-screen interactive information center. The new system provides visitors with information on over 700 of the museum's exhibits.

Van Gogh Museum Paulus Potterstraat 7 (at Museumplein) Phone: 020-570-5200 Van Gogh's paintings were defined by seven distinct periods, and this is the way the museum is laid out. The Van Gogh collection, which consists of more than 200 pieces, is arranged in chronological order, allowing visitors to glimpse the 10-year career of this great artist.

New Metropolis Science and Technology Center Oosterdok 2 Phone: 0900-919-1100 A great outing for the family! This science and technology hub, features of hands-on interactive displays, a museum, demonstrations, workshops, and theater and film show. The museum is a port for learning, and the technology provides Internet-linked computers on every floor.

Heineken Reception Center Stadhouderskade 78 (on the Singelgracht, near the Rijksmuseum) Phone: 020-523-9666 Dating back to 1868, these former Heineken brewing facilities now offer visitors the chance to tour the brewing process, as well as learn about the company's history. Guides will lead you past the fermentation tanks and a multiscreen video wall showcases 5,000 years of brewing history. The impressive brewery show,  and the two complimentary glasses of Heineken,  draw visitors in year round.

The Netherlands Experience Waterlooplein 17 Phone: 020-422-2233 The Netherlands Experience offers visitors just that - a complete tour of the Netherlands. The multidimensional film and theater show provides scenic views and historical stories of the development of the Netherlands. An impressive feature of the Netherlands experience is the simulated display outlining what would happen if the 80,000 liters of salt water were to penetrate the dikes’ system of defense.

Madame Tussaud's Amsterdam Dam 20 1012 NP Amsterdam Phone: 31-020-523-0623 Fax: 31-020-523-0629 The glory of the Netherlands's Golden Age is the focus of this unique wax museum. Moving wax figures depict a historical journey through the Netherlands. The special effects help to create a vivid impression of life in Holland.

Canal trips

Holland Casino Amsterdam

Holland Casino Amsterdam is in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands and is open 1:30pm-3am daily, closed May 4th and Dec. 31. The 92,664 square foot casino features 576 slots and fifty-five table games. The property has one restaurant.

Damrak by Central Station, and Rokin by the Spui While visiting Amsterdam, don’t miss out on a boat tour. The canal trips offer visitors a unique view of Amsterdam from the water. The tours take visitors around the city and through the harbor.

Canal Bikes (Westerkerk, Leidseplein, Leidsestraat, Rijksmuseum) Canal Bikes provide a challenge to brave the waters and create your own tour through Amsterdam's canals. Canal bikes can be rented from most locations, and they allow visitors to choose their own route of travel, as well as provide a unique experience of riding over the water.

Electrische Museum Tramlijn Amsterdam Haarlemmermeerstation, Amstelveenseweg 264 Phone: 0900-673-7538 The Electrische is unlike most ordinary museums.  This one offers children a ride through history!  Visitors can take a closer look at the antique electric tram carriages as well as embark on a 60-minute round trip in one of the antique trolleys.

Archeon Archeonlaan 1, Alphen aan den Rijn Phone: 0172- 447-744 The Archeon offers visitors of all ages a trip through ancient times. Visitors can stroll through the dinosaur era or take a take a tour of the ancient Rome. The museum specializes in interactive and hands-on exhibits.

Efteling Europalaan 1, Kaatsheuvel, Noord Brabant Phone: 0416- 288-111 Efteling is an enormous fairytale forest where children and adults alike can venture into Grimm's fairytales and the Tales of the Arabian Nights. The village is full of dwarves and witches, enchanted and haunted castles. Efteling also provides its visitors with thrill rides in this state-of-the-art amusement park.

Madurodam George Maduroplein 1, The Hague Den Haag Phone: 070-355-3900 Madurodam features scale models of some of the Netherlands's most famous sights - everything from Rotterdam's Erasmus Bridge to Schiphol Airport. The miniature village is built on a 1:25 ratio.

Museum van Speelklok tot Pierrement Buurkerkhof 10, Utrecht Phone: 030-231-2789 Museum van Speelklok tot Pierrement showcases a unique antique collection of mechanical music boxes, circus, fairground and street organs. There is also a large selection of featured toys that children can enjoy.

Nederlands Spoorwegmuseum Maliebaanstation 16, Utrecht Phone: 030-230-6206 The National Railway Museum is located in an historic station, where visitors can examine more than 60 locomotives. At the museum, children can hop aboard one of the miniature Intercity and TGV lines.