A kaleidoscope of art, activities and adventure
Bistro boom
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Dining in the Dutch capital is better (and more multicultural) than ever
The bistronomy movement that took over Paris and London has landed in Amsterdam. As one of the most diverse cities in the world, representing more than 180 nations, Amsterdam offers so much more to eat than the traditional bitterballen, stroopwafels, salty liquorice and fries with mayonnaise (although we urge you try those too). The city has more than twenty Michelin-starred restaurants, with Japanese, French, Portuguese and Scandinavian fare.
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Culinary Craze i Art Appreciation i Health & Wellness i Family Friendly i Schipol Airport
The rainbow of tulips, clogs and windmills are front of mind when it comes to Amsterdam, but the Dutch capital city is much more than a series of charming canals and photo-ops. It’s one of the most visited cities in the world. With world-famous art galleries and baroque architecture, not to mention a thriving bistro scene, dozens of parks and fun outings for kids, Amsterdam is an endlessly interesting place to spend your vacation.
Getting to Amsterdam has never been easier for Canadians, with direct flights on KLM from Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. Even from the west coast, it’s less than 10 hours. As of Oct. 30, experience the new KLM Premium Comfort class available daily from Toronto. Schiphol, the city’s international airport, is a quick train ride to the city centre, making for easy access to the myriad exciting adventures that await in Amsterdam all year round.
There’s more than meets the eye to “The Venice of the north”
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The Foodhallen Amsterdam in Oud-West is a great place to start your culinary exploration or to pop in for a quick snack and a warm-up in the cooler months. This indoor food market has more than 20 different food stalls serving everything from classic bitterballen at De BallenBar to oysters and local fish at Mer du Nord, Mumbai street food at Shirkhan and Mediterranean delicacies from Maza.
For imbibers looking for gezelligheid (Dutch for ‘cosy conviviality’) Amsterdam’s Bruin cafés, or brown bars in English, are a must. These historic pubs can be found in any neighbourhood and offer traditional fare and local craft beers. Spirit drinkers will appreciate the House of Bols museum and cocktail experience to learn about jenever, gin’s Dutch cousin.
Amsterdam
If bicycles aren’t your thing, you’ll find many year-round options for health and wellness in Amsterdam. Try stand-up paddleboarding in Oud-West with Sup West Paddleboarding, or visit Pllek beach to relax and do outdoor yoga. Ferry across the river to Amsterdam Noord to access the landscapes and waterways of the Dutch countryside.
In the wintertime, when the canals freeze over (it only happens for a few weeks, if at all), skating is not only a fun activity but a great way to explore the city, along with the rinks like Rembrandtplein. Afterwards, warm up in the saunas and thermal baths at the city’s spas and wellness centres.
A getaway gateway to fitness and nature in the bike capital of the world
Cycling is a way of life in the Netherlands. No one thinks about Amsterdam without thinking about bicycles — they became an ingrained part of Dutch culture in the 1970s, after the cities destroyed in the Second World War were rebuilt with a shift away from automobile culture. Now more than half of Amsterdam’s residents are cyclists (at rush hour, hundreds of thousands of bikes are whizzing around the city) and the infrastructure is set up for biking all year round. Rent a Bike near Dam square is one of the oldest rental spots for grabbing a set of wheels.
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The city’s largest park, Vondelpark is great for wandering around the paths and enjoying nature with the family, and its Groot Melkhuis has a great playground for kids. Amstel Park’s Speeltuin Playground has tons of attractions for kids including a Thomas the Tank Engine train, boat rentals and a playground. The Westerpark has a splashing pond in the summer months and a petting zoo, Kinderboerderij Westerpark.
On rainy days (or any day) everyone in the family will appreciate ARTIS, the Amsterdam Royal Zoo with more than 900 species of animals and several playgrounds for kids, while at the NEMO, the city’s science museum, there are tons of interactive exhibitions and experiments to try.
For your yearly dose of holiday magic, Amsterdam has many Christmas markets and activities through December including the Ice Village at Museumplein, the Amsterdam Light Festival and the Amsterdam Winter Paradise with Ferris wheel and other family-friendly amusements.
Experience Amsterdam through the eyes of your kids
According to UNICEF, Dutch children rank as some of the happiest in the world, and there’s no wonder — there are tons of family activities and parks to explore in Amsterdam, from themed cruises to petting zoos. The Blue Boat Cruises canal tour company offers a selection of kid-focused canal cruises in Amsterdam, including the Pirate Cruise which comes with pirate binoculars and a colouring book.
Family friendly
To see the Dutch masters up close and personal head to the Rijksmuseum, the Netherlands’ preeminent museum featuring the works of Vermeer, Asselijn and Rembrandt, along with ceramics and precious antiques. Head to The Van Gogh Museum to see Vincent’s masterpieces like The Bedroom and Sunflowers which are part of the permanent collection, while at the Rembrandt House Museum you can step back in time — Rembrandt lived in this Jodenbreestraat home between 1639 and 1658.
The Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany for five years, from 1940 to 1945, forever changing the city. To learn about this period, start at the Jewish Cultural Quarter, which houses the Jewish Historical Museum and The National Holocaust museum, set to open in the fall of 2023. A visit to the Anne Frank House is essential, as is the Dutch Resistance Museum, which chronicles resistance to the Nazis.
Galleries, museums and architecture are just the beginning
The canals of Amsterdam (more than 100km of them) are a UNESCO World Heritage site and a cultural experience in their own right; but pair them with famed Dutch Baroque architecture, world-renowned Renaissance art and thought-provoking historic monuments and this cultural capital stands out above the rest.
Arty party
“Relaxing” and “airport” are not typically two words found in the same sentence, especially in recent months, but Schiphol has some of the most serene spaces an airport can offer. Breathe in the fresh air at the Airport Park, the first of its kind in the world, and one of the only places in an airport you can be outside — benches, greenery and even birdsong (prerecorded) make for a chill place to wait out your layover. There are even stationary bikes to get a little exercise and charge your cell phone at the same time. There are three spas in the airport, plus a meditation centre is open 24 hours a day to regain focus after a red-eye flight.
In addition to traditional dining options at The Dutch Bar & Kitchen and dozens of other places, you can shop for Edam and Gouda to take home with you at Say Cheese and sample the most famous of Dutch brews at The Heineken Bar. At House of Tulips, you can buy fresh bouquets of the Netherlands' most popular and beloved flower, or buy a box of tulip bulbs to plant in your home garden. When they bloom each year, they’ll be a colourful reminder of your wonderful stay in Amsterdam!
The airport layover you’ll actually want
At Schiphol, Amsterdam’s international airport, you can do things you never actually considered an option at the airport. You take a walk in the park, shop for flowers and fine cheese — even grab a book at the library. Schiphol has the world’s first airport library (and probably the world’s most international book swap) where you can browse titles left by fellow travellers and pick up one for yourself.
Schiphol stopover
