Rijksmuseum
The national museum of the Netherlands, with Dutch Golden Age paintings including Rembrandt's Night Watch, as well as ship models, Delft pottery and historical objects.
Amsterdam
In spring, tulip fields lie close to this city of bicycles, canals and museums, the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum among them.
Attractive locations
Anne Frank House
The canal-side house and annex where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War. Visitors walk through the preserved rooms and see her diary.
Van Gogh Museum
A museum devoted to Vincent van Gogh, holding the world's largest collection of his paintings, drawings and letters. It also shows work by artists who influenced him or worked alongside him.
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
A grand 17th-century building on Dam Square, first built as the city hall and later turned into a royal palace. Its marble halls and furnishings can be visited when it is not in official use.
Rembrandt House Museum
The canal-side house where the painter Rembrandt lived and worked for around twenty years. Restored rooms and his studio show how he lived, and etching demonstrations explain his printmaking.
Oude Kerk
The oldest building in Amsterdam, a medieval church standing among the narrow streets of the old centre. Inside, it holds a large organ, old gravestones set into the floor and changing art exhibitions.
Westerkerk
A 17th-century Protestant church whose tall tower rises above the Jordaan and canal belt. The tower can be climbed for city views, and the church lies close to the Anne Frank House.
Our Lord in the Attic Museum
A museum in a canal house that hides a full Catholic church in its attic, built when Catholic worship had to take place out of public view. The rooms below show how a merchant family lived.
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's best-loved city park, with lawns, ponds, play areas and tree-lined paths. Locals jog, cycle and picnic here, and an open-air theatre hosts shows in summer.
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
The city's museum of modern and contemporary art and design, housed in a classic building with a bold modern extension. It shows works from the 20th century to the present day.
Dam Square
The historic heart of Amsterdam, where the city began around a dam on the Amstel. The Royal Palace, the New Church and the National Monument surround the square.
Canals of Amsterdam
The 17th-century canal ring of Amsterdam, a UNESCO site of gabled houses, bridges and tree-lined water. Visitors explore by boat or on foot along Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht.
Airports
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol AMS
It is about 10 km in a straight line from Amsterdam.
Rotterdam The Hague Airport RTM
It is about 55 km in a straight line from Amsterdam.
Eindhoven Airport EIN
It is about 107 km in a straight line from Amsterdam.
Getting around
From Schiphol Airport
The station beneath the terminal has trains to Amsterdam Centraal, up to eight an hour, with a journey of about 17 minutes. Buy tickets from the yellow machines, or tap a bank card or phone at the yellow readers. Airport Express bus 397 and night bus N97 depart from stop B17 and serve Museumplein, Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein. No reservation is needed at the official taxi rank; do not accept rides from drivers who approach you inside the airport.
- Source: I amsterdam (City of Amsterdam): How to get from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Trams, metro, buses and ferries
Most city services, including trams, four metro lines and ferries, are run by GVB, with Amsterdam Centraal as the main hub; Connexxion, EBS and AllGo operate buses into the wider region, and NS runs trains. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the free ferries across the River IJ to Amsterdam Noord, and the busiest, from Centraal to Buiksloterweg, also runs through the night. Trams are frequent in most of the city except Noord and NDSM.
- Source: I amsterdam (City of Amsterdam): Public transport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
OVpay and day tickets
OVpay lets you tap a contactless bank card, or a phone with a supported wallet, on boarding and again to check out at your destination. On GVB lines the daily fare is capped automatically. GVB day and multi-day tickets allow unlimited GVB travel from your first check-in and can be added to a phone wallet. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket extends to Connexxion, AllGo, R-net, EBS and NS services as well.
- Source: I amsterdam (City of Amsterdam): Pay for public transport (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Scams and safe taxis
Blue-plate taxis and stands
Only taxis with a blue number plate and an official roof sign should be used, says the city tourism site. You can hail one or find one at stands at Schiphol, all train stations, De Dam, Leidseplein, Museumplein, Nieuwmarkt and Rembrandtplein. Fares are metered, and the receipt holds the trip details in case of complaints or lost property. With apps such as Uber and Bolt you can track the driver and usually see a fixed fare first.
- Source: I amsterdam (City of Amsterdam): Taxi services in Amsterdam (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Dutch government (Rijksoverheid): How do I recognise a legal taxi? (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Pickpockets on trams and trains
Central Amsterdam and the area around Amsterdam Central Station see frequent pickpocketing and bag-snatching, UK advice says, and gangs work trains and trams to and from Schiphol, one person distracting while another takes a bag. Canadian advice names restaurants, cafes, trams and the Central Station, and singles out tram routes 1, 2 and 5. Keep sight of your luggage, do not hang bags on chairs, and stay awake on transport.
- Source: UK FCDO travel advice: Netherlands, safety and security (checked 4 Nov 2026)
- Source: Government of Canada travel advice: Netherlands (checked 4 Nov 2026)
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan3.5 °C75 mm
- Feb3.5 °C64 mm
- Mar5.6 °C53 mm
- Apr9.2 °C40 mm
- May12.7 °C57 mm
- Jun15.8 °C63 mm
- Jul17.9 °C81 mm
- Aug18.0 °C90 mm
- Sep15.4 °C70 mm
- Oct11.6 °C78 mm
- Nov7.7 °C76 mm
- Dec4.6 °C81 mm
Driest months: Mar, Apr, May. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 84% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Tulip season (Keukenhof)
Visitors should plan early. Among the country's largest yearly events, it brings fuller hotels and higher prices.
Who can help
Emergency
112 works across the EU for police, fire and ambulance.
local government
Dutch Police (Politie)
Helps with: The national police. Its English page gives 112 for emergencies and 0900-8844 for non-emergencies, and lets people report a crime or find out if they are a crime victim.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the Netherlands, including visitors, who needs the police.
Phone: 112
ngo
Netherlands Red Cross
Helps with: The national Red Cross society. It gives emergency and disaster help, first aid, tracing and family-link services, and support for victims of human trafficking.
Who qualifies: People in the Netherlands who need its aid, tracing or first aid services.
Phone: 0031 (0)70 - 44 55 678
Email: [email protected]
Address: Anna van Saksenlaan 50, 2593 HT The Hague
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Netherlands
Helps with: The UN migration agency in the Netherlands. It runs a voluntary return service with its own phone line and supports family reunification procedures.
Who qualifies: Migrants wishing to return home voluntarily or reunite with family. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +31 88 746 4466
local government
I amsterdam visitor information (Amsterdam and Partners)
Helps with: The city's official visitor platform. Its webcare team answers general visitor questions by email on weekdays from 9:00 to 17:00 local time.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Amsterdam or planning a trip there.
Email: [email protected]