Amsterdam Guide

When you go to Amsterdam, rent a bike.

Also, book your Anne Frank Museum tickets ahead of time. A luxury that is not afforded when you spontaneously decide to arrive 72 hours beforehand.

Eats

The Black Dog – Great service, with pretty basic bar food like nachos, burgers, stews, etc.
Café Tabac – Good bitterballen!
Henri Willig Cheese Farm Store – These shops are all over, and they’re so fun—half cheese shop, half museum. Some cheese is remarkably bad, others incredibly good. There are some interesting laws that prevent the cheese from being brought to the U.S. due to lack of pasteurization.
Stroopperie – Stroopwafels are good, but they’re not as good as Belgian waffles.
Black and Blue – Unlimited fries and solid burgers.
Winkel 43 – A specialty in Amsterdam. They serve apple pies with a thick crust, thick slices of apple, and a generous amount of whipped cream.
Chimney Cake Bakery & Café – Very mediocre panini with pesto, tomato, and mozzarella.

Amsterdam Tulip Museum – Think boutique shop with lots of tulip bulbs, a disappointing lack of emphasis on the tulip bulb craze, some of the best souvenir items I’ve seen, and a very small museum in the back.
Van Gogh Museum – Enjoyable museum with an open display and a good collection of his work, as well as an emphasis on his personal life. I left with a much deeper appreciation for Van Gogh’s brother. This part of town is very cute, a concentrated area where most of the museums are located.
Rijksmuseum – The museum of the Netherlands, featuring fantastic brick architecture, a library, and a gallery. Bookshop in Dutch is Boekwinkel.
Vondel Church – This church has very unique architecture; it felt very steampunk-esque.
De Otter Amsterdam – One of the few windmills in Amsterdam if you want to see one.
Dappermarkt – I randomly stumbled upon this market, and it was incredible. Street food, fresh produce, silk scarves, jewelry—you name it—all for local prices.
Weteringpark – Simply stunning, with weeping willows lining the canal.
Canal Cruise – They’re probably all similar, but I did this one.
Grace Church – Wonderful Sunday fellowship, with a “church bar” as their coffee alternative.