Hi, I’m Katharina from Niederlandeblog and today I’d like to tell you about my favourite places in Amsterdam. Since my university studies, the city has been my second home. I spend lots of time there, and enjoy discovering new facets of Amsterdam during long walks.
The Rijksmuseum gardens
You are probably wondering why I don’t mention the Rijksmuseum itself. The museum re-opened a year ago, and since then everyone has been talking about it. This is the reason why I would like to tell you about the gardens that belong to it. They are free of charge and open every day from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. From spring until autumn, you can see artworks from a selected artist there. Amidst the hustle and bustle of Museum Square, you can find a quiet spot, take a quick break or enjoy the sun in the gardens. I prefer to go to the rear of the gardens – the back façade of the museum – because you don’t encounter many visitors there.
Haarlemmerbuurt
If you want to avoid the typical shopping street Kalverstraat but want to do some shopping, I can recommend Haarlemmerstraat. The street is full of small, trendy shops in which you can buy striking clothing. If you have a sweet tooth, there is a wonderful shop for chocolates and one for sweets. In both shops, they make everything themselves. As the Dutch would say, the sweets are “lekker”!!
The Royal Palace
Amsterdam has a total of 60 museums. I enjoy going to the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) directly on the dam. Tip: The museum is only open if the flag is hanging to the right of the balcony. For special occasions, the royal family still uses the palace.
In the Citizens’ Hall (Burgerzaal), visitors are surprised by the marble and splendour. In the Golden Age, the building was the Amsterdam city hall. Look at the maps on the floor that show the kingdom’s great achievements. Also unforgettable: the Atlas that not only found a home on the roof of the Royal Palace.
