Amsterdam Vacations

As the largest city in the Netherlands and its cultural capital, Amsterdam is an ideal choice for travelers seeking to experience and learn more about Dutch culture. Located below sea level, the city is intercut with dozens of canals, all of which are easily navigable by boat. Designed in a series of expanding circles, Amsterdam is also one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. Visitors interested in learning more about the city’s history often begin their vacation by touring the Oude Kerk. Built in the fourteenth century, it is Amsterdam’s oldest building and serves as the burial place for many of the city’s most notable citizens.  Oude Kerk is located directly in Amsterdam’s notorious red-light district, known locally as De Wallen, so those traveling with children should be cautious. Travelers interested in exploring the city’s rich artistic history flock to the Rijksmuseum, which displays a huge number of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. Its permanent collection consists of nearly two dozen original paintings by Rembrandt, as well as numerous works by Vermeer. The Rijksmuseum is located in Museum Square, which is also home to three other popular attractions: the Diamond, Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museums. Another popular choice for visitors is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. Completed in 1665, this lavish home remains in use to this day by the royal family of the Netherlands and is only partially open to the public.