Experience Amsterdam Like a Local – The Complete guide

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to experience Amsterdam like a local? Amsterdam is quite frankly one of the best cities in the world. It’s vibrant, beautiful, and full of interesting history. The various canals give it a charm that only Venice might be able to top.

I was lucky enough to call this world-class city my home for just over three years (though OK, technically I lived in Haarlem two of those years). I left in March of 2020 and miss it every day. 

It’s not an understatement to say that I’ve explored the city from top to bottom and every nook and cranny. So here in this guide I’ve put together my top experiences in the city and how to see Amsterdam like a local (and a typical tourist too of course), should you wish to get off the beaten tourist path. I’m sure you’ll enjoy visiting the city as much as I enjoyed living there!

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent GetYourGuide, World Nomads, GoCity or Booking.com. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article..

Amsterdam: The Basics

Where is Amsterdam?

Amsterdam is in northern Europe in the small but mighty country of the Netherlands. It’s very close to many other world-class cities such as Paris, London, Brussels and Berlin.  

How to get to Amsterdam

You’ll most likely be flying into Amsterdam Schiphol airport, which is just outside the city. The airport is well connected to just about everywhere on the planet and has many direct flights to every continent except Australia. If coming from northern Europe, it’s easy to drive, take the train, or take the bus to Amsterdam too. 

How to get around the city

Public transportation in Amsterdam is top notch. There are trains, trams, buses, and an underground metro, all of which run on the same payment system.

If you plan on spending a decent amount of time in the city, it might be worth purchasing an OV Chipkaart (7 EUR) from a kiosk at a train station. But Amsterdam is also small enough that you can get by just walking everywhere. If the weather is nice, I recommend walking or cycling.   

Money

The currency in the Netherlands is the Euro. You shouldn’t need any cash, but if you plan on going to a supermarket you’ll need some, since Dutch grocery stores do not take credit cards for whatever reason. So if you don’t have a European bank card you’ll need to pay cash.

Overall, Amsterdam is not cheap by European standards. It’s cheaper than Zurich or Stockholm, but it’s not Athens or Madrid. Hotels in the city are overpriced and Airbnb options are limited due to local laws. There are still cheap places to eat, but be prepared to spend some money.

Language

Dutch is the language of the land, but the Netherlands has one of the highest rates of English proficiency in the world It’s unlikely you’ll come across someone who doesn’t speak English on your trip. Most people are completely fluent. But it’s courteous to at least be able to say thank you: dankjewel (pronounced “daank ya vel”) 

Cycling

No trip to the Netherlands is complete without renting a bike at some point. Just be careful when on the bike paths. The Dutch are known for using the bike as their main mode of transportation, so the paths can get very crowded. Stay to the right and don’t run any red lights and you should be fine.

For more information on biking in Amsterdam be sure to check out my entire detailed guide to everything you need to know about cycling in the Netherlands.

Amsterdam Weather

Amsterdam is not known for its amazing weather. It doesn’t get too cold or too hot, but it rains a lot and can be very windy. The best months for weather are May and June. You’d think July and August would be the nicest, but historically Amsterdam gets some pretty wet and chilly days in peak summer. Though it can also be 35 degrees. You never know!

Best time of year to visit Amsterdam

The best month in Amsterdam is May. It’s the warmest month on average and the days are long, with sunsets after 9:00 PM. But if you want to make a day trip to see the famous Dutch tulip fields you’ll have to go in April.

Whatever time of year you go, you can have clear days or horribly rainy days. It’s just luck. Late autumn and winter days are very short with overcast skies and heavy winds. Stick to May.

If you want to read more about the best time of year to visit the Netherlands in general, I have an entire article dedicated to it that goes into more detail. You can read that here!

Food

I’ve dedicated an entire post about eating in the Netherlands, which focuses on Amsterdam. See that post for a full rundown of Dutch food culture. 

Smoking

This is always a culture shock for Americans, but smoking is still very prevalent in the Netherlands. Not as much as France, but you can reasonably expect to get a fair amount of secondhand hand smoke on your trip. It’s not allowed anywhere indoors, but if you’re sitting outside on the terrace at a café or restaurant just be prepared for cigarette smoke coming from all directions. 

Where to stay

I recommend staying outside of the inner canal ring (see map below) if you value your sleep. Inside this inner ring it can be REALLY loud with people out drinking all night. It’s also very easy to stay a bit outside of the city where hotels are cheaper.

If you stay by Amsterdam Sloterdijk station there are cheaper hotels that are still very good and you’re only a 5 minute train ride from Amsterdam Central Station. I used to stay at the Mercure at Sloterdijk when I lived in Groningen and I can highly recommend it. 

Or if you’d prefer to stay closer to the action, you can check out the wide range of hotels in Amsterdam on booking.com and book an amazing place to stay in the city.

If you’re on a strict budget you’ll want to look for hostels and some budget hotels. They’re still not cheap, but they won’t break the bank.

Travel Insurance

When visiting Amsterdam you’ll want to have a quality travel insurance policy. We use World Nomads when we travel internationally. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can find a great policy on World Nomads by using the link below.

An Introduction to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands. It’s one of the most historic and beautiful cities in the world. The city dates back to the 1200s and was named after a dam put in the Amstel river, which runs through the city. It’s had its highs and lows, with its Golden Age falling somewhere in the 1500s – 1600s.

Amsterdam was the global center of world commerce back in those days. Perhaps you’ve heard of the Dutch East Indies Company? Dutch explorers sailed the globe and traded goods with anyone they came across. 

We won’t go into the full history of the city, but know it’s rich. These days, The Netherlands is known as one of the most liberal and tolerant countries on earth. Marijuana was legal in the Netherlands well before that was even a discussion in the United States. It was the first country to legalize gay marriage and prostitution is legal and regulated. 

Geographically, Amsterdam is located in the province of Noord-Holland (North Holland). You might hear people use “Holland” and “the Netherlands” interchangeably. This isn’t accurate. The country is the Netherlands – “Nederland” in Dutch – and there are two provinces named Holland: Noord Holland and Zuid Holland (South Holland).

So while they are not the same thing, if you’re going to Amsterdam and someone says you’re going to Holland, technically they are still correct. Zuid Holland is where you’ll find Rotterdam and the Hague, the second and third most populated Dutch cities. 

A little big city

Amsterdam, at about 850,000 people, is the most populous city in the country. Now that might not sound like a lot of people, especially compared to Paris, London, or New York. But the Netherlands is a small and compact country. It’s very common for people to live in one city and work in another.

I had colleagues that lived in the Hague, Rotterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Alkmaar, and all sorts of small towns between the cities. In fact, I can’t think of a single colleague over 40 who actually lived in Amsterdam.

It’s a very young city with a lot of expats and immigrants and has a very transient population, much to the chagrin of many older Amsterdam residents, who have seen their city become more English speaking year by year. Want to work in a restaurant in Amsterdam? You don’t need to know Dutch but you have to be able to speak English. 

Now don’t get me wrong, the city is still very Dutch. It’s just such a great place that young people come from all over the world to live and work there.

The same goes for young Dutch people too. Most of my Dutch friends were not actually from Amsterdam. In the city center you’re likely to hear mostly English, as there are so many tourists. To the west of downtown is where most of the expats and young people live. Here you’re just as likely to hear English on the street as you are Dutch.

On the east side of downtown, you’re much more likely to hear Dutch. This is probably the only part of town where you might find someone who doesn’t speak a word of English, as many are Turkish and Moroccan immigrants who learned Dutch but not English. I do a breakdown of the various neighborhoods after discussing the attractions in the city. 

Central Amsterdam 

The vast majority of the main tourist attractions in Amsterdam are located in the city center, which can roughly be described as the part of the city inside the outer canal ring. Even when experiencing Amsterdam like a local you’ll still have to hit all the main sights.

I give a quick rundown of the top sights to see in the city organized by category here. These places are all noted on the map below. If you’re visiting Amsterdam for the first time, be sure to check out my top travel tips for Amsterdam first time visitors.

If you plan on visiting multiple attractions I recommend a GoCity pass for Amsterdam. With the GoCity pass you can save up to 50% over the cost of visiting the attractions separately. Unlike the IAmsterdam pass, GoCity includes all major attractions in Amsterdam and not just museums (like the Heineken Experience for example).

All you need to do is purchase the pass and download it to your phone and show the QR code when you visit the attractions. If, however, you only plan on visiting one or two paid sites, then the pass is not worth it. And if museums are the only thing that interest you, then the IAmstredam pass might be what you need.

Historical sites

• Anne Frank House: 14 EUR. To prepare you for what you’re going to see here, it’s literally just a small house on a canal. They’ve tried to preserve it the way it would have looked when Anne Frank and family were hiding out during WW2. And there’s a lot of information given in the museum. But if you’re expecting something magnificent this is not it. It’s more of an experience to be humbled by the horrible situation the Franks and so many other Jewish families were in back then. Book well in advance. Reservations mandatory. You can’t just show up. 
• Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam: 10 EUR for entrance, free to admire from the outside. The king’s royal palace, at Dam Square. It’s not quite as grand as some of the other European palaces you’ll see. It’s definitely more modest than Shonnbrun in Vienna or Nymphenburg in Munich, but it’s right in the heart of central Amsterdam and is cool to check out. It will only take an hour or two out of your day. 
• Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam: This is better known today as the Jewish quarter of Amsterdam. Portuguese Jews fled to Amsterdam in the 1600s to escape persecution and founded this synagogue in the city. 
• De Waag: This is one of the original city gates for Amsterdam. Did you know that Amsterdam was once a walled city in medieval times? This building is the oldest non-religious building in the city and today houses a restaurant and sits on a beautiful plaza.

Museums

• Rijksmuseum: 20 EUR. This is essentially the Dutch history museum. It goes through the entire history of the country and also features many works of art, as art is integral in Dutch history and culture. The building itself is also a magnificent work of art, and should be admired even if you don’t go into the museum. 
• Van Gogh Museum: 20 EUR. Next door to the Rijksmuseum, in what’s known as Museumplein (museum square), you’ll find a museum dedicated to legendary Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. His greatest works are on display here. I’ve never been since I don’t really care for art, but for anyone who appreciates art this is a must-see. 
• Rembrandthuis: 15 EUR. Another art museum dedicated to a famous Dutch painter, the Rembrandthuis is actually the house the 17th century painter lived in. Another must-see for art connoisseurs. 
• Stedelijk Museum of Contemporary Art: 20 EUR. Next door to the Van Gogh Museum you’ll find something a bit different, a modern art museum. I’ve actually been to this one and all I can say is if you’re into modern art definitely stop by. If not, don’t waste your time. 
• NEMO Science Museum: 17.50 EUR. Amsterdam also has non art-related museums. At the NEMO Science Museum you’ll find all sorts of exhibits about how things work. But the best part of this museum – at least in my opinion – is the building itself. It’s like a giant sail and you can climb the roof. There’s even a bar at the top of the roof. The perfect activity for a sunny day in the city!
• Het Scheepvaartmuseum (Dutch maritime museum) 17.50 EUR. Come here to see a collection of maps, paintings, navigation instruments, and other various objects from the golden days of Dutch imperialism. 

Cathedrals

• Oude Kerk (old church): The oldest of the historic cathedrals in the city. Very close to the central train station and right next to the red light district. In fact, right outside the church is a small sculpture of breasts. Yes, female breasts. The Dutch are not particularly concerned with blasphemy. 
• Nieuwe Kerk (new church): Don’t worry, it’s still pretty old. 1409 to be exact. These days it’s not used as a church but as an exhibition space. There are various exhibits and events in it at various times. Consult its website for more information. 
• Westerkerk: A smaller church next to the Anne Frank House, mainly to be admired from the outside. 

There are various other small cathedrals in town but these three are the most impressive. 

Parks 

Amsterdam has a lot of beautiful green space. While parks might not be the focal point of a trip to Amsterdam, on a warm, sunny day it can be nice to walk around a park or have a picnic. On summer evenings you’ll notice tons of locals pour into the parks for barbecues.

Some of the best parks to walk around or relax in are Vondelpark, Rembrandtpark and Westerpark. These are all a bit outside of downtown, as the city center is basically just canals and bridges, but worth checking out if you really want to experience Amsterdam like a local. 

An ideal walk around town

Without a doubt my favorite thing to do in Amsterdam is to just walk around. It’s a huge open air museum and every street you turn down is simply stunning. Check the map below for an awesome walking route around the city starting and ending at central station. 

Canal tours

A super touristy thing to do is to take a canal tour around Amsterdam. There are dozens of companies that offer essentially the same 1-1.5 hour cruise down the canals. There is no guide – only an audio guide – and the ticket price typically doesn’t include drinks or snacks.

The canal tours really aren’t anything special but they can be a good way to spend an hour and you get the views from the canals, which gives you a slightly different perspective. 

The tours cost on average about 16 euros, though you might be able to get cheaper if you book online in advance. There are so many cruises that you don’t need to prebook, but like I said you might get a discount if you do.

If you have the time I’d say go ahead and do one. Just about all of them leave from the Damrak Waterfront, which coincidentally also has one of the coolest views of Amsterdam, where you can see old buildings come right out of the water.

Group tours

There are a ton of organized tours in Amsterdam, should you not wish to be your own tour guide. You can stay in the city or explore outside the city with GetYourGuide.

Amsterdam Neighborhoods 

While it’s a small city and most of the tourist attractions are located in the city center, there are many other neighborhoods in the city that might be worth visiting depending on what you’re looking for. 

The Jordaan

The Jordaan is the region just west of the outer canal ring, Princengracht (Prince Canal). Many consider this to be the most beautiful residential neighborhood in Amsterdam. The streets are lined with cute houses and cozy shops and restaurants. There aren’t really any tourist attractions here persay, but a walk along the canals here is hard to beat. 

Oude West

If you want a taste of expat life or life in Amsterdam like a local, head over to Oude West (Old West), just west of the Jordaan. This is where the majority of young professionals in Amsterdam live. It’s a hip and vibrant neighborhood, full of great restaurants and bars. It’s not nearly as beautiful as the city center or the Jordaan – the buildings are more monotonous – but it has a unique character. 

Amsterdam Noord

The long forgotten part of the city north of the IJ river, Amsterdam Noord (North Amsterdam) is becoming a trendy destination these days. It’s full of funky bars, restaurants and art galleries, but features some of the city’s newer tourist stops as well.

You can take the ferry across the river, which takes about 5 minutes and leaves every 15 minutes from Amsterdam Central Station. Some of the key spots to hit in the north are:

• The A’DAM Lookout: about as high as you can get in the city. Enjoy a drink from the bar atop the lookout and enjoy the views of historic Amsterdam
• The Eye Film Museum: a museum dedicated to film. If you’re not into movies, just admire the crazy architecture of the building. 
• NSDM Wharf: a funky old industrial building that’s been turned into a sort-of art market/gallery

Amsterdam Noord is also home to some of the best breweries in Amsterdam. So if you’re into good beer head over to Oedipus Brewing or Walhalla Brewery and Taproom. And if you’d like to chill in the sand along the river check out Pllek (booking essential), a popular restaurant to watch the sunset over the city.  

Amsterdam Zuid

The southern part of the city, Amsterdam Zuid (South Amsterdam) is the main business center these days. It’s not really a tourist destination, but has multiple new skyscraper office buildings that look pretty modern.

There’s not really a reason to go here unless you’re in Amsterdam on business or you’re into modern architecture. However, it is an option for cheaper accommodation and is only a 5 minute train ride from the airport.   

Amsterdam Oost

Amsterdam Oost (East Amsterdam, are you catching a theme here yet?) is the neighborhood between the Amstel River and the IJ River and is super local. This area is not really visited by any tourists, or really locals that don’t live there by that matter.

It’s not really worth stopping by unless you’re looking for excellent middle eastern food, or you’re an Aussie who’s been traveling the world and you’re desperate for some good ole Aussie grilled kangaroo, in which case be sure to check out Drovers Dog, the best Australian kitchen in the country. 

Amsterdam Zuidoost

You’ve got it by now, Southwest Amsterdam is not officially known as the live entertainment capital of the Netherlands, but it could be. At Bijlmer ArenA, you’ll find some of the best and biggest live music venues in the Netherlands, as well as Johan Cruijff Arena.

The Ziggo Dome is the country’s largest live music venue. This is where I saw Metallica and the Backstreet Boys. AFAS live is also a large concert hall, holding a few thousand people. 

Really big acts, like Ed Sheeran or Bon Jovi – will play Johan Cruijff Arena, which is the home stadium for Ajax FC, the most decorated football (soccer) club in Dutch history. If you’re a football fan and in town during a game, it’s a cool experience to see Ajax play live.

While the Dutch Erdedivisie is not the best football league in the world, Ajax is world-class and competes in the Champions League with the best of the English Premier League. Just be aware that because of that their league games are often blowouts and not terribly exciting, unless they’re playing PSV Eindhoven or Feyenoord. There is a train station that serves all the venues so it’s easy to get here from the city center.  

Eastern Docklands

Now the Eastern Docklands are also not known as a tourist destination, but this neighborhood is near and dear to my heart because this is where I lived when I called Amsterdam home. I lived on KNSM island, a long and narrow island in the middle of the IJ river. It was fantastic.

Along the river you will find the Amsterdam cruise port, so if you’re hopping on a cruise of the Baltics or something you’ll get to see a bit of my old neighborhood at least.

Other than that there isn’t much reason to visit the area as a tourist, unless it’s a hot summer day and you’re looking to swim in the river. The best public access to the river is from the island. 

Amsterdam Like a Local

What does it mean to experience Amsterdam like a local? It’s tough to say but I’ll try to go through some local things to do in this section. Experiencing Amsterdam like a local doesn’t necessarily mean avoiding the tourist-packed city center. The best restaurants and the most beautiful places in the city are down there.

But there are a few things that make Amsterdam Amsterdam for the folks who live there. And if you’re considering moving to Amsterdam, be sure to check out the pros and cons of living in Amsterdam.

Festivals and house music

If you want to truly experience Amsterdam like a local you should attend a local festival. And by local festival, I mean basically an organized party with various DJs. The Dutch love house/techno music. LOVE! Like to the point where there are no live bands at Dutch bars, only DJs. Dutch children are taught how to work a turntable in elementary school music class (only a slight exaggeration). 

So due to their love of this music, little summer festivals are a major thing. I’m not talking about the huge music festivals that draw hundreds of thousands of people for an entire weekend. The Netherlands has plenty of those. I’m talking more about lesser known house music festivals.

There are multiple festivals every weekend from about April to September, known as “festival season” in Amsterdam. The cost anywhere from 20 to 100 euros for a ticket, which does not include food or drink. That is extra once you’re in the festival. 

I can’t say what makes the festivals different from each other. I don’t like, understand or appreciate house music so my ears were basically bleeding at the one festival I went to in my four years there. But my friends absolutely love them and swear by them. In the summer they’ll go to one every weekend.

I don’t get it, but they don’t get why I listen to Dream Theater and Iron Maiden. So if you really want to be a local, attend a festival! 

Rent a boat

Nothing saying Amsterdam like a local quite like renting a boat. While cruising the canals on a canal tour can be nice, nothing beats a private boat ride through the canals. So if you want to cruise the canals of Amsterdam like a local, many of whom own their own boats, look into renting a boat.

There are a ton of companies that rent out boats, like Canal Motor Boats. You can usually get one from about 50 euros per hour, depending on size of the boat and whether it’s self drive or comes with a skipper.

So if you want to be a local, rent a boat, grab a few cases of Heineken and have yourself a fun afternoon on the canals. If you’re driving yourself though just make sure someone is staying sober. Drinking and driving applies to boats too!

Ride a bike

The ultimate thing to do to see Amsterdam like a local. The first thing to note here is that riding a bike in Amsterdam can be an intense experience. The bike paths can be super crowded. And the locals hate it when tourists stop on the bike trails to take photos. So don’t do that. But if you’re prepared to cycle as a mode of transportation there’s no better way to pretend you’re Dutch. 

There are a ton of bike rental agencies in Amsterdam and I’ve never used any of them so I can’t recommend any particular agency. Check out the Iamsterdam website for more info on bike rental companies.

As you cruise the bike paths, just be sure to pay attention to the traffic signals. The Dutch bike path system is state-of-the-art and you’ll be cycling on special paths. If the weather is not nice, I would not recommend this though, as cycling in the rain and wind can be a miserable experience! 

Picnic in the park

As I’ve said before, another popular summer activity is to have a barbecue in the park. This might not be at the top of your list of things to do as a tourist, but a picnic or barbecue on a nice weekday night is the perfect way to experience Amsterdam like a local. In spring and summer it can be light out till nearly 11 PM.

You’ll have to either know some locals or have a group big enough to make your own picnic. If you’re going down this route, Vondelpark and Rembrandtpark are your best bets. 

Speedskating

All the activities listed above are really just for spring and summertime. But what about winter? Well, have I got the most Dutch winter activity for you: speed skating. That’s right. For whatever reason speed skating is huge in the Netherlands. It’s historically the only athletic competition the Dutch have been successful in at the Olympics.

To try it for yourself head over to the Jaap Eden IJsbaan, where you can rent skates and cruise around the track with the locals. Note that, however, as of 2020 it’s currently closed to the public and will hopefully open one day life goes back to normal.

Or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to visit when the canals freeze, which happens every few years. Walking on the frozen canals of Amsterdam is an experience that is tonight to beat!

Local hangouts

If you want to get away from the busy tourist bars in central Amsterdam there are plenty of places you can hang out with the locals if you want to get a little outside the city center to some of the more popular local neighborhoods.

Some spots you’ll be almost guaranteed to be surrounded by locals: Waterkant, Pacific Amsterdam (and really any of the bars/clubs in Westerpark), Pllek, Skatecafe, and the Foodhallen (though it’s becoming more and more popular among visitors).

If you’re a fan of craft beer, then you might be interested in my list of Top 10 Breweries in Amsterdam to visit!

King’s Day

For the ultimate way to experience Amsterdam like a local come around the King’s Day holiday, April 27. It’s a national holiday to celebrate the King’s birthday, but in reality it’s just a giant party.

Everyone dresses in orange and rides boats around the canals and gets hammered. It happens all over the country but the biggest party is in Amsterdam. So if that sounds like your thing you might want to plan your trip to coincide. 

Legal Vices

Now, when many people think Amsterdam they think of two things: prostitution and marijuana. I hope by now you’ve realized that there is so much more to this vibrant city and that these things are not what defines it. But it is true that prostitution and marijuana are legal and regulated.

By this I mean legal in the sense that there are official places to buy weed and to have sex with prostitutes. You still can’t just buy drugs on the street or call a girl to your hotel room. Either way, the city is world known for its liberal stance on these vices. 

The Red Light District 

The Red Light District is the neighborhood of central Amsterdam where prostitutes are allowed to legally operate. This region is along one main canal with side streets that are tributaries from the main canal. The girls are in the window, just like you’ve seen in movies, with a red light above the window.

If the curtain is open and there is a woman in the window, she’s looking for customers. I’d the curtain is closed she’s either with a customer and not open for business. Many girls won’t start their shifts till after 10:00 PM. There are various little pockets of red lights in other parts of the city – as well as other Dutch cities – but the main concentration is here. 

It’s hard to not associate Amsterdam with the Red Light District. There’s all sorts of controversy over it these days, but it’s truly unique and for many people it’s what makes Amsterdam, well, Amsterdam. You can’t see anything quite like it anywhere else in the world.

I won’t give you a full rundown of the operation here. For that you can visit the Red Lights Secrets Museum, which I quite enjoyed. But there are about 500 windows owned by various landlords and the girls rent out the rooms in 8 hour chunks. A popular girl can make a lot of money in those 8 hours. It’s best not to think about it. 

The main canal is also lined with sex shows, peep shows, erotic stores, and slimy bars. While I don’t have personal experience with a prostitute, what I know comes from a friend who saw one when he was in town. And all I’ll say is that it won’t cost you only the 50 Euros they’ll tell you when you knock on the door 🙂

If you’re not looking to get lucky, just walking the canal taking in the sights and sounds should be enough. I used to enjoy sitting at Cafe de Zeevaart and making bets on which girl in the windows across the canal got the next customer. Good times!

Coffee shops

As you’ve probably heard by now, “coffee shops” in Amsterdam don’t sell coffee. If you want coffee, go to a café. If you want weed, go to a coffee shop. These are all over the city and the country in general. As I don’t smoke, I don’t feel strongly about any coffee shops being better than others. The further you are outside of the tourist-heavy city center though, the more likely you are to get a good price. 

Technically you’re supposed to smoke the joint or eat the brownie inside the shop or outside in a designated patio area, but plenty of people walk around the city smoking joints. Or they do it in the park. It doesn’t really matter. Just don’t try to draw attention to yourself while doing it.

It’s also not technically legal to drink in the street in Amsterdam, though just about everyone does it. In recent years they have been cracking down on the open container law in the red light district though, so don’t do it there. 

Top Amsterdam Restaurants

If you haven’t already, you should definitely check out my guide to eating in the Netherlands . Here’s a list of my top Amsterdam restaurants from that post. 

• Bird Thai: one of the best Thai restaurants I’ve been to, including my time in Thailand. No reservations taken. Waiting in a single file line outside is necessary. 
• Ashoka: the best Indian restaurant in the city. It’s small so bookings are essential. 
• Aneka Rasa: a great and affordable Indonesian rice table restaurant in the city center. Booking not essential but recommended. Come hungry. 
• Sichuan Restaurant: numerous locations downtown for authentic Chinese food. 
• Ali Okagbasi: awesome Turkish restaurant on the inner canal ring.
• Persian Parsa: great Iranian/Persian cuisine just west of the city center. Usually not busy so booking is not required. 
• Cafe Kobalt: one of the best contemporary restaurants in my opinion. Try the beef ribs. 
• Restaurant ‘t Zwaantje: if you want to try some of the traditional Dutch meals I described above you can head here (or Restaurant Moeders, which is tough to get a booking at).
• Smit-Bokkum (Volendam): my favorite seafood restaurant in the Netherlands is about a 40 minute bus ride north of Amsterdam in the little fishing village of Volendam. You have to try the smoked eel. Booking essential. Not cheap but worth it. 

Lastly, at some point you should try traditional Dutch pancakes and for that head to Restaurant De Carrousel. 

Day Trips From Amsterdam

With the Netherlands being so small, many people add multiple day trips into a stay in Amsterdam. I have dedicated a whole post to day trips from Amsterdam. In that post you can read about visiting Haarlem, The Hague, Volendam, Giethoorn, and more.

The Netherlands is also well connected enough by rail to make day trips to parts of Belgium and Germany possible as well. It’s entirely possible to have dinner in Belgium and be back to your hotel in Amsterdam in time for bed! 

If you want to get out of town for a little longer, I’ve prepared the perfect 7-day Netherlands travel itinerary for anyone visiting the Netherlands. This will really get you in touch with Dutch culture and allow you to see the endless farm-filled countryside. And if you have more time, consider adding in a few additional stops in Belgium and Germany like Bruges or Cochem.

Amsterdam Like a Local – FAQs

Final Word

This has been a long post. And we’ve only scratched the surface of all the things you can do in Amsterdam. There’s just too much great stuff in this city to cover it all. One visit to the city and you’ll see why so many people come year after year and why I loved living there so much. I hope you enjoy Amsterdam as much as I did!