Travel destinations: Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland. It was founded as a fishing village in the 12th century. With its old world charm and contemporary outlook, it is a city of tolerance, diversity and culture.

During the 17th century, the Dutch Golden Age, Amsterdam’s canals were built as four main concentric canals with interconnecting canals and over one hundred bridges. The middle three canals were for residential purposes and the fourth, outer canal was built for defense and water management. A boat ride through the canals is the best way to see this beautiful city the way it was built to be seen. An elegant mix of old and new, Amsterdam consists of cobbled streets and crooked buildings, coupled with cafes and coffeeshops.

Amsterdam is recognized for its world-famous museums. Visit Museumplein, or “Museum Square” in English- called such because four museums are situated around the square- to see the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gosh Museum and the Diamant Museum. The Rijksmuseum has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age as well as a collection of Asian art. It boasts works by artists Jacob van Ruysdael, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt and Rembrandt’s pupils. Rembrandt’s famous Night Watch is one of the many masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum. The Stedelijk Museum is a museum of modern art. It includes the big artists of modern painting movements in impressionism, cubism, and expressionism as well as a large collection of paintings by Kasimir Malevich. The Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. The main exhibition provides an opportunity to witness Van Gogh’s development as a painter. The Diamant Museum contains a collection of jewelery and offers the visitor information on diamonds and their journey from formation through mining, distribution, trade and processing.

Another bustling tourist spot and museum is the Anne Frank House, where Anne and her family hid from Nazi persecution. The house was converted into a museum in 1960, and is dedicated to Anne Frank. Tour the Secret Annex where the family hid and Anne wrote her famous diary, and examine the various exhibitions highlighting persecution and discrimination. The Rembrandt House Museum, like the Anne Frank House, is also a house converted into a museum and a very popular tourist attraction. In this house Rembrandt lived and painted until 1958. Today it attracts visitors with its collection of Rembrandt’s etchings.

But perhaps what Amsterdam is best known for is the Red Light District and its controversial drug policy. In Amsterdam, prostitution is legal, and a “coffeeshop” is an establishment where the sale of small quantities of cannabis for personal consumption is permitted. To get an actual coffee, one would visit a “koffiehuis”, while a “caf” is equivalent to a bar. Take a stroll through the Red Light District to see the ladies of the night in the windows, or stop at one of the Sex Shows or Banana Bars. Other attractions include the Sex Museum, the Condom Shop Het Gulden Vlies and the Hash Marihuana Hemp Museum. Amsterdam has a reputation as a party city and its nightlife attracts tourists from all over the world.