Catling Christopher - DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Amsterdam

Inspire / plan / Discover / experience

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t Amsterdams skyline at sunset

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t Cyclists pause to admire the Rijksmuseum.

With its reflective waterways, tilting canal houses and humpback bridges, Amsterdam is undeniably picturesque. But this city contains multitudes: museums and street art, cruises and cycle rides, Dutch cuisine and world street food. Whatever your dream trip to Amsterdam includes, this DK Eyewitness Guide is the perfect travel companion.

Amsterdam is a city where both the past and the present are keenly felt. Majestic 17th-century mansions are perfectly preserved, whilst 20th-century warehouses have been transformed into quirky entertainment complexes. The vast Rijksmuseum, with its Old Masters, sits beside the Stedelijk Museum, which displays puzzling contemporary art installations. Infamously hedonistic, the citys nightlife encompasses so much more than the Red Light District. As well as relentless nightclubs, there are first-class concert venues, including the innovative Muziekgebouw aan tIJ.

Beyond Amsterdam, postcard-pretty villages and heritage-rich cities are never far away. Windswept beaches, flat, windmill-dotted fields and striped bulbfields punctuate the Dutch landscape. The cities have plenty to offer too. Theres ultra-modern Rotterdam and historic Haarlem, stately Den Haag and laid-back Leiden. World-class museums await, including the Mauritshuis and Utrechts museum of Miffy the little white rabbit.

With so many different things to discover and experience, Amsterdam can seem overwhelming. Weve broken the city down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge and colourful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether youre staying for a weekend, a week, or longer, this Eyewitness guide will ensure that you see the very best Amsterdam has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Amsterdam.

A boat moored on a canal at sunset.

A canal reflects the Red Light Districts illuminations.

A couple relaxing outside a colourful caf.

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Its undoubtedly pretty. Its renowned for its nightlife. It moves on bicycles and boats. Ask any Amsterdammer and youll hear a different reason why they love their city. Here, we pick some of our favourites.

t Few art collections can rival the concentrated brilliance of Amsterdams most famous . Dont miss Rembrandts masterful The Night Watch.

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam

t Admire the unique faades of canal houses and listen to the water lapping against your boat while you explore the rings of pretty .

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam

t has been given a veneer of respectability in recent years, but there are always exciting and raw works to be found when you know where to look, including these works by Bronik and Ives.

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam

Oude Kerk

t Tread in the footsteps of centuries of worshippers, through coloured reflections cast by the 16th-century stained-glass windows, at the citys .

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam

Museum Het Rembrandthuis

t Visit this emotive museum to discover the real man behind the paintings. You can almost feel Rembrandts hand on your shoulder as you walk around the artists .

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam

Sampling genever

t Savour the taste of the rich, malty grandfather of gin in a warmly lit proeflokaal. In the 17th century, customers could sample genever in these tasting rooms before buying it.

Discover Reasons to Love Amsterdam