14 Interesting Things Amsterdam is Famous for

Amsterdam is one popular city and it isn’t just Schiphol, the international airport of the Netherlands is such a busy hub. I’m not going to dispute the fact that cheap tickets to the city help! I know loads of people who plan their layovers and connecting flights through the city such that they can get a day or two in Amsterdam. It’s not a bad idea really.

Amsterdam is famous for so many things and the city quite literally has something for everyone. From museums to the redlight area, from cafes and coffee shops to streets filled with restaurants, and so much more!

It doesn’t get more Instagram worthy than this! So keep your camera ready, snap up some epic pics and pair them with memorable quotes on Amsterdam!

Let’s take a deep dive into the city and see what Amsterdam is famous for and why this city deserves to be on your bucket list.

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1. Canals

Amsterdam is famous for its gorgeous canals.

If you’ve seen pictures of the city, 9 times out of ten, it probably features a canal. Amsterdam is famous for its canals that network across the length and breath of the city. They form a scenic backdrop for photographs and tourists love them! Did you know that the canals of Amsterdam were originally built way back in the 17th century?

While many people head to Amsterdam to take cool pics with the iconic canals that surround the city, not everyone knows that some of these canals are part of a UNESCO Heritage site. Let’s back track a bit. The whole city has 165 canals. These were developed over time. They are so many that it makes Amsterdam feel like a floating city.

Unlike Venice however these canals don’t have gondolas but in peak tourist season you will see tons of canal cruises. In fact, as you walk along the city, the odds are that you will be walking alongside a canal. There are few streets that don’t boarder one.

4 canals form a sort of a ring around the city and are a part of the UNESCO Heritage site and are a protected monument. These are Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht, and Prinsengracht. Along them are some of the best canal facing hotels in Amsterdam.

Another interesting point to note is that all the old heritage buildings are found lining the main canals. It is this picturesque view that has earned the capital city of Netherlands the name ‘Venice of the North’. 

While the canals are certainly scenic, they were built as a network for transportation via boat. They are still in use today!

As a tourist visiting here, hop on to one of the canal cruises to take in the sights of the city from a different perspective. Don’t forget to book your tour online to avoid getting overwhelmed when you reach there. Because no matter whether you are in Amsterdam for a week or for a day, this is one of those experiences that you cannot miss!

2. Cycles

Amsterdam is famous for its numerous cycles!

The Dutch love to cycle and Amsterdam is famous as the cycling capital of the world. When you walk through the city, you will see cycles almost everywhere you look. I kid you not! In fact, a fun fact about the Dutch bikes in Amsterdam is that there are over one million bicycles in the city and not that many people! Yes, that averages at more than one bicycle per person.

Despite this every year, there are loads of bicycles that are stolen and some are even fished out of the canals.

The interesting thing about Amsterdam is how so much work has been put into accommodating the cyclists. You will see cycle paths everywhere. The young, the old, the middle aged… They all prefer the pedal propelled vehicle! I love this because it means that the city is geared towards a more eco-friendly future. 

I left the city asking myself… If Amsterdam can do it, surely other big cities can too?

Pro Tip: Take a guided bike tour of Amsterdam to see the city form a locals perspective. It is super fun and you get to meet like minded people.

3. Flowers

Amsterdam is famous for its gorgeous flower market!

The tulips of the Netherlands are world famous. If you are headed to the country you have probably come across at least one photograph of the iconic flower fields with rows and rows of flowers that extend to the horizon. In fact there are over 7 million flowers that bloom in Keukenhof alone! Plus it is pretty easy to get to Keukenhof from Amsterdam.

One thing to note is that while Amsterdam is famous for its flower market, the actual tulip fields are outside the city and visiting them is a great day trip out of the city. Plus, the fields are not in bloom all year round.

The tulip season usually runs from the end of March to mid May. If you plan to head here during this time check online and see that you sync up your dates with the tulip fields being opened for visitors. There are also loads of tulip tours from Amsterdam that leave everyday.

Make sure that you are mindful of the flowers when you visit and don’t trample them. The tulips are grown, harvested and sent to be sold. The damage caused by travelers can reduce the revenue that the farmers make.

Pro Tip: Remember that the tulip gardens get really crowded. Book your skip the line ticket to the gardens online. It will save you loads of time in queues!

4. Museums

There are so many museums that Amsterdam is famous for.

Amsterdam is famous for the different museums that are located in the city. When I first visited the city, I made a beeline straight to the Anne Frank House. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank was a well worn book when I was a child and to visit the house that she stayed in meant the world to me.

In addition to the Anne Frank house, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh museum and the Rembrandt House museum are really popular. Don’t forget to check out our guide to the different museums in Amsterdam before you visit!

In fact, if you are visiting the city, consider staying in the Museum Quarter. It is close to all the fun stuff and yet much quieter than the central part of the city.

5. Food

If you are a foodie then Amsterdam is a paradise.

If you are a foodie then you are going to love the city. Amsterdam is famous for its food. While it has all things Dutch, it is also a great place to find cuisines from all over the world! Yes! Amsterdam is remarkably multicultural and the food choices show you just how inclusive the city has become.

But if you are visiting the city as a tourist, you definitely need to eat like a local in Amsterdam. What should be on your list? Well if you want to eat Dutch food then I would recommend

• Stroopwaffels
• Pannenkoeken (Dutch pancakes)
• Frikandel
• Cheese
• Herring
• Suikerbrood (sugar bread)
• Kibbeling
• Frites
• Pattat Oorlog

NOTE: Try the herring if you are in the area during herring season. Pickled herrings are great but the taste of fresh herrings is an experience in itself!

Dutch food makes some of the best souvenirs from Amsterdam. That’s one of the reason why you’ll find people filling their bags in the local grocery shops. Just make sure that you can carry it across to the country you are heading to because the

6. Cheese

The local cheese from the Netherlands is one of the things that Amsterdam is famous for. While the city does not produce the cheese there, it is one of the best places to buy cheese from all over the country. There are loads of places where you can do it. My favorite is the Cheese museum in Jordaan.

If you don’t reach the Jordaan area, I would recommend checking out the cheese shops in the city. Here you can taste the cheese before you buy it. If you want to be adventurous head out on a day trip to either Gouda or Alkmaar.

7. Coffee shops

Interestingly enough coffee shops aren’t coffee shops! Confused? So was I! The thing here is to understand that if you are looking for a place to plunk down and have a cup of coffee then look for a café. Coffee shops will have coffee but they are also places that sell soft drugs namely weed.

Amsterdam is famous for these coffee shops.  In fact, they aren’t just a place to get weed but they are also a social location where people come to meet others. It is important to know that these shops are open only to people over the age of 18! When you enter you will only be allowed 5 gms. Anything above that is illegal.

8. House boats

Amsterdam is famous for the numerous houseboats in the city.

I love love love the house boats that are situated sporadically along the canals. The city has such a great canal system that it should not come as a surprise that Amsterdam is famous for its houseboats! You can even stay in a houseboat hotel in Amsterdam. These hotels are some of the iconic places to stay in Amsterdam.

In fact, there are over 2500 houseboats in the city and if you get a chance you really should rent one. The houseboats give you an up and close perspective of the city. They give you some amazing sights of the old Amsterdam city and yet give you the comforts that a house would.

The houseboats in the city are anchored in place and the owners have to get a special permit for them. While the houseboats are scattered all around the city, you will find some in really prime locations. These of course cost more to rent and the permits that the owners have to get for them is also more costly.

9. The Iconic Architecture

Dutch houses in Amsterdam are really iconic. They are narrow and tall. In fact, some are so narrow that they are forced to lift their furniture into the upper floors using a pulley. The reason for this is extremely interesting.

The tax paid on houses was based on the width of the house. The narrower the house, the less the tax. That was why the houses started growing vertically instead of horizontally.

Today this 17th century architecture is one of the things that Amsterdam is famous for. There are over 9000 houses that bank the canal system in the city and they form a picturesque background that people love to use for their photographs.

10. The Sex museum

Did you know that Amsterdam is famous for a sex museum? I’m not kidding! It is!

Located just in front of the Central station, this much talked about museum deals with human sexuality. It had become quite popular with the visitors over time. With a number of different rooms named after prominent figures, the sex museum houses some interesting figurines. 

Figurines aren’t the only thing that you will find here. The extensive collection of paintings, photographs, erotic pictures and more were collected by the owners of the museum. 

A lesser known fact: The museum is the first and oldest sex museum!

11. The Red Light Area

One of the things that Amsterdam is famous for is the red light area in the city. Stroll through these lanes during the day time and you probably won’t notice much other than the condoms on sale! As daylight dims, the streets come alive and the whole area transforms into a red light area.

Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam and the red light area is a short walk away from the Central station. While all tourists don’t head here for the prostitution, it is one of the iconic streets that many stroll through at night.

12. Bachelor/ Bachelorette Parties

Yes! You probably have heard about how Amsterdam is becoming more and more popular for its bachelor/bachelorette parties. People fly in from all around the world just for them. I think a part of the reason is because Amsterdam has always been a bit lax with the partying rules.

That however has slowly begun to change because the locals aren’t too excited with the mayhem that can ensue. Needless to say, the tourists are still pouring in and if you wander the around the city (especially at night!), you can easily spot these parties in action!

13. Diversity

You can’t really miss the cultural diversity in Amsterdam. There are loads of people milling around the city and everyone comes from different cultural backgrounds. Amsterdam is also known as one of the places where different cultures are accepted which makes it a great place for immigrants and expats.

Speaking of expats, do you know that you can head to Amsterdam without worrying about communicating in a language. That is if you speak either Dutch or English. Most of the locals are fluent so there never really is an issue!

14. Day Trips

Now I know this is technically not in the city but one of the things that Amsterdam is famous for is its connectivity with other cities. The public transport is great so you can get from everywhere in the city to the Centraal station easily. This station connects the city with other big cities in the country. So you could easily head from Amsterdam to Den Haag or take the train to Groningen. Other popular routes are to Keukenhof, Zaanse Schans, Alkmaar, etc.

As you an see there are so many things that Amsterdam is famous for. The more you explore the city, the more you start seeing the famous stuff around you. But the ones that I have listed above are what the city is known for internationally. I’ve also added a couple of local tips in between and I hope you loved them.

Have you been to been to Amsterdam? What are you favorite things about the city? Let us know in the comments below.

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