Charming and quaint are the first two words that come to mind when I think of Amsterdam. It isn’t very often that I get to travel to a new city on a layover. I was most surprised to learn that Amsterdam was so small. Because of its size bikers are everywhere. In fact, biking is a way of life in Amsterdam. Bikers mean serious business and have zero tolerance for tourists who stand in the bike lane. I was almost run over a few times. Amsterdam has a very laid back vibe (and no it’s not because of the weed) locals know how to relax and enjoy life. Diverse, friendly, and trendy Amsterdam is best described in photographs.
My second trip to Amsterdam was this past fall (2019) with my husband Daniel. I added new places we visited in Amsterdam to this city guide. If you see “we” and “I” used interchangeably in this post, it’s because of the two different visits. We decided to go to Amsterdam to visit friends from Chicago who are living in Amsterdam as expats. We had incredible weather and spent most of our time gazing at the architecture and fall foliage.
What I saw (did):
Keukenhof: About an hour outside of the city Keurkenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the world. There are over 7 million bulbs planted each year and a total of 800 varieties of tulips. It is massive and spans 79 acres, it’s almost impossible to see everything! Keurkenhof features a winding path amongst a variety of different gardens and garden styles. If you are expecting to be amongst tulip fields you won’t find that at Keukenhof (in fact many of the surrounding tulip fields are privately owned). The best time of year to see the tulips depends on how harsh the winter was. I was on a layover and just so happened to be in Amsterdam at the perfect time of year for 2017 (the last two weeks of April and the first week of May).
Wildernis: Wow this shop is the cutest! It feels like stepping into a tropical oasis after being in cloudy Amsterdam all day. If you need an excuse to stay longer, they also serve coffee so you can stay longer and enjoy the plants!
RijksMuseum: If you only have time for one museum in Amsterdam I suggest the Rijksmuseum. A pricier entrance fee (17.50 admission). The national museum showcases historical classic Dutch works of art. It was awe-inspiring to see the paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer as I had studied their works in college.
Moco Museum: Located on the Museumplein inside a historic townhouse, this modern and contemporary art museum was one of the highlights of our fall Amsterdam trip. The museum featured one artist per floor of the notable home. The featured exhibit, Banksy, was the main reason for our visit.
Exploring the canals: There’s no better way to see the city than getting lost in a maze of canals. The canals are iconic and there’s a photo opportunity around every corner. There are three main canals in Amsterdam and Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht, and Herengracht which are all beautiful and best seen by boat.
What I ate:
De Carrousel: This restaurant is the bomb! I ate so much food so such a small price. I ordered a traditional savory dutch pancake (pannenkoek) and the always delicious poffertjes (tiny pancakes covered in powdered sugar). It’s sometimes awkward going to restaurants and asking for a table for one, but this atmosphere made me feel comfortable and totally cool being solo.
Pluk: This Instagram-worthy café is a destination in itself. Pluk’s menu varies but always includes breakfast bowls, and pastries. They also sell home goods and curated items that make great gifts. Located in Amsterdam’s quaint 9 streets this was a perfect healthy meal to get our first day in Amsterdam started.
Foodhallen: This food hall offers a variety of stands if you can’t decide what to eat this is a great place to go. Everything from Dim Sum to traditional Dutch meatballs (bitterballen) can be found here. Make sure you bring cash as many of the stands do not take cards.
Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx: There’s a sign in front of this place that says “Best Frites in Holland” so naturally I had to try it. This was my first layover back as a flight attendant since I got married so naturally I was ready to go carb crazy! The french fries were amazing but the combination of sauces available were even better! Lemon mayo, peanut sauce, spicy curry are just a few of the sauce options.
Little Collins: A newer addition to the De Pijp neighborhood, the share-friendly dinner offering was exceptional. My favorites were the ginger glazed pork belly, Kimchi slaw with broccoli, and Halloumi with roasted beets and fennel.
Van Wonderen Stroopwafels: I’ve never had a freshly made stroopwafel before this visit and it was a game changer. Imagine an ice cream cone and a cookie had a baby…and then covered it in chocolate and stuffed it with hot caramel. I swear I ate mine in about three bites! Stoopwafels on the airplane will never be the same again.
WHAT WE DRANK:
Bar Botanique: Amsterdam East’s new hip hotspot. The tropical café is open all day for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks. We went for a quick cocktail and enjoyed the beautiful lush ambiance and modern décor.
Koffie Aademie: This café imports beans from all of your favorite coffee countries and roasts them right on site. You might have to wait a few minutes longer than usual from your cup, as the baristas here craft every single drink with care. Everything you see inside this cozy, hop spot is for sale—from sandwiches to carrot cake to the handmade furniture from reclaimed wood.
Toki: After walking quite a few miles in the chilly Amsterdam weather, Toki was the effortlessly cool hangout we needed in the afternoon. The beautiful terrazzo tables and handmade coffee mugs compliment the shop’s calm, relaxed energy. There were many drip coffee options and I sipped an oat milk latte.
4850: I went on a quest to find the best oat milk latté and I found it at 4850. We had the most delicious avocado toast with poached eggs and drip coffees. We loved it so much we went twice. If you’re a coffee snob like us, you cannot miss some of the best coffee in the city.
LT (layover tips):
Yes, Amsterdam has legal weed and prostitution…so you’ll probably have to deal with annoying drunk and/or high people at some point.
Don’t stand in the bike lane. Bikers will run you over!
Tall people are everywhere, the Dutch people are some of the most beautiful and tallest in the world.
Shops close very early on weekdays (like 5 or 6pm)
If you’re interested in visiting the Anne Frank Huis make sure you book tickets online far in advance. I went online a month before our trip and all of the tickets were sold out.
Make sure you try Dutch cheeses!
