Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands.  It is also the largest city with a recorded population of about 1 million as of January of 2008.  Amsterdam plays a significant role in the financial and cultural aspects of the Netherlands.  There are 7 of the world's top 100 companies located here, along with the majority of the large Dutch institutions.

Weather

Amsterdam has very nice weather year round.  The climate is rather temperate due to its location to the North Sea.  In the winter temperatures are mild.  Night time temperatures will often stay above -5 degrees C.  Summer highs in August average around 22 degrees C.  It can be rather dreary for about half the year with 175 days of average precipitation, but most precipitation is drizzle rather than a hard pouring rain.

Traveling Around Amsterdam

Getting around Amsterdam you will probably want to bike.  It is bicycle friendly city and very safe for bicycling wherever you need to go.  Driving a vehicle within the city is difficult and parking is expensive, so it is best to ride a bike or try public transportation.  There are bus and tram lines as well as water taxis and water buses.

General Areas of Amsterdam

The oldest area in Amsterdam is called de Wallen and is just east of Damrak.  This area is where the famous red light district is located.  Just south is the Jewish area of Waterlooplein.  The heart of the city is encased by concentric canals.  Then there is the museum center of Museumplein, the 19th century park, Condelpark and Plantage where the zoo is located.

Tourism and Things to Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam ranks as the 5th most popular tourist destination in Europe.  There is no surprise as to why with the historic canals, the various museums, the red light district and the cannabis coffee shops.  Throughout the year the city also holds various festivals that draw incredibly large crowd.

Shopping Amsterdam is amazing.  There are options from large department stores to quaint shops.  The high end shopping is found on Pieter Conelisz Hoofstraat and Cornelis Schuytstraat around Vondelpark.  Another great spot is Kalverstraat which lies in the heart of the city. Smaller private shops are found at Negen Straatjes.  There are also open air markets in the city, namely Albert Cuypmarkt and Westermarkt.

There are a range of museums, most located at het Museumplein.  Located here is the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.  This area also hosts a variety of festival throughout the year.  Favorite festivals include Koninginnedag, Amsterdam Gay Pride and Uitmarkt. 

When visiting Amsterdam it is essential to take in the world famous nightlife.  The two main clubs for the late night crowd are Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. 

Finally, the red light district is a very popular spot.  This area has legalized prostitution and features roadways and alleys that run throughout the district.  There are a number of shops, theaters and museums in this area.  There are also many cannabis coffee shops.

When visiting Amsterdam you will see there are plenty of places to stay.  Finding accommodation in Amsterdam is not difficult.  Hotels often offer special arrangements during peak tourists periods.  There are also four campsites around the city that offer places to stay.  You may also find apartments in Amsterdam to accommodate you.