Amsterdam help please!!

[Inapickle3012]

Sorry to post on AIBU but need traffic and quick.

Its my boyfriends 30th next week and I’ve booked him Amsterdam for December as his present. I’ve had an idea that I’d life to put together a mini scrapbook for him to open on his birthday. In this scrapbook will be hotel details, flight details etc but I’d also like to book some excursions and stick them in there too.

Can anyone guide me on what’s the MUST DO things in Amsterdam please? Anything you recommend booking/seeing?

He is so lovely and I want for nothing, so I’d love to be able to give him something back for such a special birthday.

thank you!

*like

bloody rushing!

Albert Cuyp market
Keukenhof gardens - there is a bus from the train station
Heineken tour if he likes beer
Rijksmuseum
Evening canal cruise
Anne Frank house but book in advance as queues can be 2-3 hours
The Old Bell pub in Rembrandt Square

What interests does he have, I'd book a canal trip, is he going on his own, I'd look,at what's on in December if he likes music, art and culture, there are so many museums and galleries.

keukenhof in December will pointless - also December in NL is generally pretty grim.

Diamond district ...

I missed that it would be December. I’ve been to Amsterdam several times in December and it’s magical with the fairylit canals. Wrap up warm and it’s a good time of year to go. Keukenhof would be pointless but the museums, shops, and markets are all open.

First stop The Grasshopper, a stones throw from Central Station. Couple of grams White Widow, couple of cold beers, aclimatise and take it from there.

The OP has already said they've booked it for December, why would you dump on it?

Chateau Amsterdam wine and food tasting just outside the city

maybe read whose comment I commented on. Have a nice evening

I did- but you are talking about December because that is when the OP is said they're going. Absolutely no reason for you to say it'll be grim for any other reason than to stick the boot in.

If you want to go to Van Gogh museum you have to book in advance now so bear that in mind
Across from grand central station there is a big tower block with something called the sky swing - but might be cold in Dec

does he like football ? You could see about getting tickets to Ajax as they aren’t expensive compared to UK and it’s easy to get to from Dam centre .

we went in Oct with kids ( their first time) amongst other things mentioned - drove our own boat down the canals and went to the zoo which was brilliant. But might again be cold. So many good places to eat as well - so will really depend what he’s into tbh.

I commented on the poster who suggested "Keukenhof" for a December outing and yes - NL is grim in December weatherwise. I live in NL so yeah - I think I have a pretty good idea. Anyhow - be nice. And chill

Keukenhof is only open from the third week in March to May11th.

Welcome to Keukenhof

I amsterdam | The official guide to Amsterdam

December in Amsterdam will be... Bleak. The weather won't be good so I can recommend:

• Bols cocktail experience.
• see whats on at: https://www.fabrique-lumieres.com
• van Gogh (i always combine it with Bols)
• stedelijk museum if he likes history
• Jewish History Museum if he likes history (also resistance Museum)
• canal cruise (do one near the Heineken Experience)
• Ajax if they're playing
• day to den Haag /Rotterdam/Utrecht
• Dutch have AMAZING Suriname/Indonesian food

If you want specific restaurant recommendations, let me know the sort of cuisine and ill recommend something. Ive worked in Amsterdam /NL for many years so can recommend (am currently sitting in an Amsterdam hotel room!).

It doesn't matter if it's true, it's still rude. At least own it.

There’s a great food market type of place a bus ride out of the city - Foodhallen. It’s very ‘on trend’
https://www.instagram.com/foodhallen?igsh=dGJxNzlib3A3cndj

The smoke boat (if it's running) - very touristy, very weed focussed. However if you book at night in good weather, the views around and under the light up canals/port are amazing. Being a very warm coat and sit on the tiny deck. You don't have to smoke! But if you want to, a couple of cheeky tokes do brighten the experience IMO.

Electric lady land. Pure Californian hippy weird art. It's brilliant x

The light festival is normally running in Amsterdam then, so if you get one of the evening canal boat tours then, that’s always a nice thing to do. Or get the online map and do a little walking tour of some of them and pop into several cafes or brown bars to warm up en route.

Winkel43 is near Anne Frank’s house, and serves the best apple pie.

Noordermarkt in de Jordaan on a Saturday morning is an organic food market and vintage/flea market. Oysters are great to grab from one of the fishmongers here, and one of the bakeries does amazing focaccia.

I would also make dinner reservations in advance as it can be quite hard to get a table! Depends where you want to go of course though. Cafe Parlotte does great food and wine.

Depending on when in December you’re going, there’s a huge Christmas market in Haarlem which is only a short train ride away

Rijksmuseum (all the Dutch old masters, but also loads of other stuff)
Negen straatjes /nine streets for quirky shopping, if he's into that
Canal tour at night to see the lights festival
Indonesian food and dim sum
Eat poffertjes (sweet) and bitterballen (savoury snack) both are favourites with all my foreign guests over the years

Dress up warm and waterproof, due to the high likelyhood of grey, slightly wet and overcast weather.

Finally, loads of Dutchies don't smoke weed and the emphasis on it does get very boring.

My essentials are the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum - best part of a day for each.
Also Rembrandt's House.
But, to me, Amsterdam is all about the art.

Moco Museum (has some Banksy work and some cool illusion artwork)
The Heineken Museum - I've been 3 times and still love it

Been many times including a mini honey moon as it was the wrong time of year for our major one

sex museum
canal boat ride
hire cycles and explore

we stayed here
https://www.amrathamsterdam.com/en/information/history