AMSTERDAM

The first thing that comes to mind for many tourists when you hear the word Amsterdam is the Red Light District and smoking pot. However, to fully enjoy Amsterdam you have to look past this stereotype and see Amsterdam as the locals see it. Look past the open public urinals (pissoirs) along the canal in the Red Light District to prevent stoned men from falling in while peeing and drowning. Look past the nursery school located between 2 brothels. Look past the coffee shops where you buy and smoke weed off a menu. Instead enjoy the history like the oldest building in Amsterdam - a church located in the Red Light District, Anne Frank House, Dam Square...and learn how sex work is regulated and the sex workers pay taxes from their earnings and receive affordable health care.

Download the Amsterdam tourist map courtesy of "I amsterdam®" in pdf format to your mobile device for easy offline access while walking around Amsterdam.

A fun way to take in the city is via a sightseeing canal cruise which typically runs 60 - 90 minutes along Amsterdam's iconic canals and historic landmarks.

Dam Square (pronounced Dahm) is Amsterdam's best known square and home to a 1956 limestone obelisk known as Amsterdam's National Monument. Often the site for visitors, shoppers, street performers and national ceremonies.

The Anne Frank House was the location where Anne Frank and her family went into hiding behind a bookcase in the building where Anne's father worked during the persecutions of the Jews after the Nazis gained control over Germany.

Amsterdam is a biking city, a bikers dream come true for bike riding, cyclists, motor bikes, and even tiny cars. There are dedicated lanes for bikers, pedestrian lanes and car lanes. You will absolutely get run over if you are in a bike lane! Biking in Amsterdam is an absolute pleasure for bike riders with the use of dedicated bike lanes. Bike rentals are available throughout Amsterdam.

The oldest part of Amsterdam known for its Adult atmosphere of legalized and regulated sex workers in windows soliciting their services. An illuminated red light indicates that a sex worker is open for business. Blue lights indicate that a transgender sex worker is behind the glass. Here's an interesting fact: There is a church (Oude Kerk), several brothels and Princess Juliana nursery school all within 50 meters of each other.

The Prostitute Information Center "PIC" is a non-profit information and education center about sex work in the Red Light District and offers unique walking tours of the Red Light District from a sex worker perspective. PIC is located behind the Oude Kerk a few doors down from Princess Julianna nursery school.

Note: Sex workers pay taxes on their earnings and receive affordable health care!

The Oude Kerk is the oldest building in Amsterdam and is located in the Red Light District. Saska Van Uylenburgh, the wife of famous Dutch painter Rembrandt was buried here in the Oude Kerk in 1642. The floor of the Oude Kerk is made up of tombs.

The baroque organ is located inside the Oude Kerk and dates back to the 18th century.

The Instrument of Troubled Dreams was an interactive audio installation by Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller that was shown in the Oude Kerk in Amsterdam from November 22, 2018 to April 29, 2019.

Coffee shops in Amsterdam are not a place to buy and drink coffee but a place where cannabis is sold and consumed. The employees are very knowledgeable and each coffee shop offers a menu with a wide range of joints, hash and edibles for the first timer, casual smoker or hard core smoker. The Bull Dog is touristy and the oldest Coffee Shop in Amsterdam.

I don't want to piss anyone off (pun intended) so let's cut to the chase and get right to it.
Amsterdam pissoir: De Krul - The pissoirs were installed because people (MEN!) would be out drinking late night and pee in the canal, lose their balance and fall into the canal and die. You can find the pissoirs in busy locations such as the Red Light District. It is illegal to pee in the canals and fines are severe!

Heineken beer lovers will enjoy the Heineken Experience brewery turned museum tour and learn the history of the brand, story behind the logo, brewing process and a cold beer after the tour.

Eat and shop for everyday items with the locals at the Albert Cuyp Markt. Try the local street food of Dutch herring (raw herring with pickles and onions), Kibbeling (fried cod fish), Stroopwafel, Poffertjes (Dutch pancakes), Belgium fries (served in a cone topped with mayonnaise) and other street food.

The Eye Film Institute Netherlands is a Dutch archive and museum that preserves a vast collection of film titles, posters, books and photographs of the film industry of the Netherlands dating back to 1895. Also located in Amsterdam North accessible by the free ferry from Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg (every 5 minutes).

A'DAM Lookout is located on the top of the A'DAM Tower in Amsterdam North accessible by the free ferry from Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg (every 5 minutes). Enjoy a 360 degree viewing point of Amsterdam and brave the dare devil "Over The Edge" Europe's highest swing on A'DAM Lookout sky deck.

Take a break from it all and enjoy a nice sunny day of bike riding, dog-walking, roller skating, listening to music or just relaxing in Amsterdam's largest and most famous park. Vondelpark is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.

The Van Gogh Museum holds the largest collection of Van Gogh masterpieces consisting of the Sunflowers, Almond Blossom, The Bedroom and The Potato Eaters. Book tickets early online to ensure a pleasant experience.

The Rijksmuseum contains many Dutch masterpieces from the likes of Rembrandt, Vermeer, Van Dyck and other painters. The most famous perhaps being Vermeer's "The Milkmaid" and Rembrandt's "Night Watch".

Visit the GVB website for tram information to all the top tourists attractions in Amsterdam. Buy a day ticket and enjoy Amsterdam. There are several ticket options depending on the amount of days you will be in Amsterdam. You can also bike to many of the places.

The ferry lines that operate from Centraal Station across the River IJ for pedestrians, cyclists and mopeds are free. These blue and white ferries are located directly behind Centraal Station and run 24 hours around 5 minutes between. The most popular route is the Buiksloterweg ferry to Amsterdam-Noord. The ferry will have the name "Buiksloterweg" on it when leaving Centraal Station and "Centraal Station" on it when leaving Buiksloterweg. Use this route to visit the Eye Museum and A'Dam tower.

Getting around the Netherlands and the surrounding countries from Amsterdam's Centraal Station is convenient by using the Nederlandse Spoorwegen "NS" train system. Use the online trip planner to plan your trips.

Keukenhof is one of the world's largest flower gardens and considered the most beautiful spring garden in the world known for its tulips!

Visit Zaanse Schans windmill village in the neighbourhood of Zaandam.