Amsterdam over New Year

[DeathWinsAGolfish]

We're off to Amsterdam for five days over New Year, DH, and DDs 20 and 18.

I've not been since the 90s and it was a very different experience...

I have so far only booked for the Anne Frank house, we'll also be heading to Van Gogh museum, and Tony's Chocalonley. We're staying in a hotel on Dam Square.

Does anyone have any top tips where we shouldn't miss out on visiting or eating?

Thank you.

Have you booked the museum? You can do a canal boat ride - the one we did was outside the Anne Frank house - they're quite fun.

We haven't yet, we're planning on a trip on the canals too.

The Amsterdam Light Festival is on, so you can do canal tours at night and there are all sorts of light artworks. It is really nice. Just google the festival and get tickets through the companies that offer tours for ALF.

Eat at the Foodhallen- great indoor food market. Drinks at the Waterkant - very cool waterside bar. Boat trip with Captain Jack- best tour, lots of snacks and alcohol included and very entertaining. Watch the sun set at Noorderlicht.

https://foodhallen.nl/venues/amsterdam has some good options and and, if you're happy to give this a go, I can very much recommend https://www.vegansushibar.nl/#Menu . The gyoza was one of the best things I've ever tasted. Obviously chips and pindasaus (possibly with mayo and onion) is a must. I like vlaamse frites on damrak but there are obviously great options around. Eat the apple cake too, always eat the apple cake. The laatste kruimel is very cosy too albeit not good if steep stairs are a problem. It's on Langebrugsteeg.

There are so many great galleries in Amsterdam but if you like contemporary art you can't go wrong with a visit to the stedelijk as a start. I would also recommend de appel but that is shut until next year now. Again, if this is an OK option for you the talk given at the PIC - https://pic-amsterdam.com/ - is excellent. Essentially, the red light district from the sex workers perspective rather than just tourist titillation.

This one! https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/AttractionProductReview-g188590-d17809082-AllInclusiveeAmsterdamCanallCruisebyyCaptainJack-AmsterdammNorthHollandd_Provi.html

Take extra warm clothes, it's always much colder than you think there especially if you're wandering about.

Rijksmuseum

Wow, thanks for these recommendations especially the food and drink, and the associated links, I really appreciate it

there will be loads of fireworks. be prepared to be 'shot at' with fire crackers.

Get the ferry over to the NDSM district, it only takes 15 minutes, you catch it next to the railway station and go to the STRAAT museum, huge canvasses of street art in an old ship building warehouse. Brilliant bar/restaurant next door. I enjoyed it more than the Van Gogh gallery.

We have been warned about the fireworks and the associated litter on NY day.

We'll be prepared for the cold, fingers crossed no or very little rain.

Thanks once again for these excellent suggestions.

Nothing will ever prepare you for the fireworks! I live in NL and dread new year's eve!

@citybumpkin
I know we've been warned by friends who lived there up to last year, we have the option of watching from the hotel roof!

@DeathWinsAGolfish I would hunker down in the hotel new year's eve! It is mayhem on the streets. I'm based in zuid holland and the "fun" usually starts at 5pm and finishes at 5am. Its completely crazy!

My half-Dutch dd’s always enjoy some shopping at the Bijenkorf.

Also the famous stroopwaffle place, van Wonderen.

If your DDs love Instagram etc then the Wondr experience is good fun.

Book Ann Frank House.

Saves such a long queue ( over 3 hours when we were there) as there is (was) a separate entrance for those with a booked slot.

Eating - Cafe t'Smalle on the corner of Tuinstraat near the Anne Frank House. Lovely little place, get coffee and apple pie with cream and go upstairs by the window. I always suggest it to visitors to Amsterdam as I used to go back and fore a lot for work, everyone likes it.
Hire bikes at central station, take the free ferry across the Ij out back of the station and cycle to Durgerdam for poffertje pancakes.

We've booked Anne Frank's House, and following suggestions here will book museums before we go.
Our Dutch friends are usually a bit dismissive of food in Amsterdam, but we're looking forward to trying some of the suggestions here, thank you.

Take a lot of money. It's a pricy place

We found the Foodhallen absolutely heaving when we visited in summer. So much so we left without eating. I would recommend The Chicken Bar, delicious food and relaxed vibe but do book as it is very popular.
The Van Gogh museum is amazing, do make sure you get the audio tour. It had me in tears, it was so so good.
I found Amsterdam very expensive. Bog standard coffee in cafes was a minimum of €4.50 euros.

The vegan junk food bar is incredible even if you're not vegan

If you're staying on Dam Square you only have to walk up Damrak towards CS to find canal cruises doing the Amsterdam Light Festival. It really is great. I did it before Covid hit.

Amsterdam Light Festival

This place is on the same road as Ann Frank's house, going up towards Centraal Station.

https://pancake.nl/

This place is just off Dam Square and is good for an informal tasty meal.

https://hotelcornerhouse.nl/

I was going to recommend another but it's closed from 27th Dec to mid Jan which is a shame.

Have a great time and take your thermals!