Amsterdam has many accolades to its credit. Not only is this beautiful city the capital of Netherlands but it also the biggest in the country. It also takes its name as the cultural and financial capital of the Netherlands and boasts of all the advantages that a large city would have – an impressive culture, rich history, delicious cuisine, round-the-clock entertainment and excellent transportation facilities.

In addition to this, Amsterdam also bolts on a few other factors that equally big cities cannot boast about – which is the fact that it is comparatively quiet, beautiful and has relatively less traffic (thanks to its canals). With amiable canal belts, prominent museums, the precious ‘Amsterdam-cut’ diamonds, world renowned art collections and historical monuments, Amsterdam makes it to the top of any travelers
“must-see destinations” list.

The highlight of Amsterdam is its impeccably fine-looking canals which is certainly the city’s most charming feature. Gliding through these criss-crossing waterways gifts the visitor a spectacular display of a
dozen Amsterdam sights in a short span of time. With these lit up bridges and canals, Amsterdam is indeed a sight to behold once darkness creeps in. Known for its varied and pulsating nightlife, the glowing city proves that it is most romantic by night. The major nightlife areas in the city are the Rembrandtplein and the
Leidseplein.

The museums of Amsterdam are among its most unique and popular visitor attractions. The Rijksmuseum – the national museum which prides in possessing the startling Rembrandt’s Night Watch, the Anne Frank House
– the hiding place from where she penned her legendary diary during World War II, the Van Gogh Museum – bragging of the largest Van Gogh collection in the world, Hermitage Amsterdam, NEMO Amsterdam,
Amsterdam Historical Museum, Tropenmuseum and the Museum of Bags and Purses are a few of the notable museums in the city which feature great works in an extraordinary setting.

Other attractions include the Artis Zoo – where you can take a look at diverse animals from different parts of the world, Madame Tussaud’s wax museum – where you can come face-to-face with the rich and famous
including Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga (their latest additions) and the floating flower market -developed into the best flower market in Holland.

Last but not the least is the famed Red Light District of Amsterdam. This area which by day is one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam interspersed with beautiful houses and canals, transforms by night into an area where thrilled and snooping crowds love to wander along thanks to the entire vicinity which is crammed with sex shops, coffeeshops, peepshows, brothels, gay bars and window prostitutes in the glow of red lights.

Amsterdam is not only the largest city and capital of the Netherlands (Holland), but it is also the cultural and financial center. The many attractions of this city that started out as a fishing village in the 12th century attract well over three million visitors each year.

Amsterdam has approximately 7,000 historic buildings as well as 90 islands linked by 400 bridges. The inner Old Center dates back to medieval times, and two of those wooden houses and other old homes and ancient streets survive to this day. The 17th century concentric canal ring, Grachtengordel, with its white traditional draw bridges, is a sight to behold.

The Museum Card is a one-time cost that gains admission to those under 25 years old into over 400 museums in the Netherlands for a full year.

The Van Gogh Museum is a popular tourist spot because it contains the biggest collection in the world of Van Gogh’s works including 200 canvases, 500 drawings and 700 written documents arranged in chronological periods. Other 19th century artists are also featured in the museum.

The Rembrandt House is where Rembrandt lived and where he painted for 19 years.

Madame Tussaud’s famous waxwork life-size figures of famous people and ordinary people from Amsterdam 300 years ago is a “must see” experience. There is even a 5-meter-high wax figure that talks and moves! You are allowed to take pictures in the Scenerama.

The Anne Frank House not only has an exhibition regarding the life of young Anne Frank but also allows visitors to see the Secret Annex in the rear of the building (its entrance hidden by a bookcase) where Anne and her family and friends were able to hide from the Nazis for two years and one month and where Anne wrote her famous “Diary of Anne Frank”. When the building was due to be demolished, locals staged a protest and began a collection to purchase the building. Instead, in October 1957 the owner donated the building to the Anne Frank Foundation, and the funds already collected went to purchase the house next door. The building was closed and renovated several times, and in September 1999 the Netherlands’ Queen Beatrix reopened the museum. It is now visited by over one million tourists every year.

The NEMO Science and Technology Center was opened in 1997 and explains modern developments and the voyage of discovery between reality and fantasy and the relationship between art, technology, and science. There are exhibits and demonstrations as well as performances on three floors.

The Miniature City Madurodam has replications of many famous Holland landmarks down to the smallest detail. These include the Royal Palace, Cathedral Tower, cheese market, and much more such as working windmills, airplanes, boats, and trains on the world’s largest miniature railway.

The Heineken Experience is the former Heineken Brewery and is quite an experience for beer drinkers.

There are many street markets which feature fruit, vegetables, herbs, the marvelous local cheese, fish, flowers, art, antiques, cloth, and delicacies such as herring sandwiches and sweet fried dough with raisins and powdered sugar.