Discover Amsterdam & Holland: A Perfect 7-Day Itinerary for the Netherlands

Visit this beautiful 17th-century Protestant church built for the common folk of Jordaan.

Besides functioning as an active community, the church serves as one of the city’s most beautiful event venues. Built in the years 1620–1623 to serve the rapidly growing population of the Jordaan neighborhood, the Noorderkerk became the church for the common people. The classical appearance of the church and excellent acoustics make it well suited for a variety of events, including receptions, small conferences, meetings, fashion shows, concerts, and more.

There's something for all tastes at the Lindengracht Market

Lindengracht, which translates into the Lindentree Canal in English, was filled in 1895 and has been turned into a wide street with two rows of linden trees in the middle. This market, more than 900 meters long and offering a large variety of products, was held for the first time in 1894. Now, each Saturday, 232 market stands are erected along the whole street. Together with the nearby Farmer’s Market on the Nordermarkt, (both open on Saturday); Lindenmarkt is probably the best food market in Amsterdam. Local in nature, the market, and its many stalls feature cheeses, fresh fish, and beautiful bouquets.

Jordaan

The Jordaan district beckons with its narrow streets and quaint canals, epitomizing the charm and history of Amsterdam. Originally a working-class neighborhood established in the 17th century, Jordaan has evolved into one of Amsterdam's most sought-after areas. Known for its bohemian vibe, the district boasts an array of art galleries, unique shops, and cozy cafes, alongside traditional cafés and indie music venues. The Jordaan is also famous for its outdoor markets, such as the Noordermarkt, where locals and tourists alike browse for organic food, vintage clothes, and antiques. The area's historical architecture, including beautifully restored houses and hidden courtyards, provides a picturesque backdrop for leisurely walks.

Visit Rembrandt's burial place in this Renaissance-era Protestant church with a crown-topped spire.

Westerkerk, in English, the Western Church, is is the most largest and most important church in the city. Built between 1619 to 1631, the church and its bell tower – the Westerkerk Tower – are often regarded as the symbol of the city.  Come visit Westerkerk, if only to pay respects to that great master, the painter Rembrandt. Although technically a part of the canal ring, both the church and Anne Frank House are often described as a part of the Jordaan district as well. Since both these highlights rest on right on the border, it is the perfect starting point to explore either neighborhood!

Highlights Walking Tour

Make your introductions to Amsterdam with this 3-hour privately-guided walking tour. After picking you up from your hotel, your professional guide will lead you past many of the greatest highlights of the city, including its center, as well as the Jordaan, the Grachtengordel, and the infamous Red-Light District. The guide will explain how all these feature in the citiy's history and contemporary life. Your guide will be happy to share some great tips for the rest of your stay.

Highlights Walking Tour

Make your introductions to Amsterdam with this 3-hour privately-guided walking tour. After picking you up from your hotel, your professional guide will lead you past many of the greatest highlights of the city, including its center, as well as the Jordaan, the Grachtengordel, and the infamous Red-Light District. The guide will explain how all these feature in the citiy's history and contemporary life. Your guide will be happy to share some great tips for the rest of your stay.

Highlights Walking Tour

Make your introductions to Amsterdam with this 3-hour privately-guided walking tour. After picking you up from your hotel, your professional guide will lead you past many of the greatest highlights of the city, including its center, as well as the Jordaan, the Grachtengordel, and the infamous Red-Light District. The guide will explain how all these feature in the citiy's history and contemporary life. Your guide will be happy to share some great tips for the rest of your stay.

Highlights Walking Tour

Make your introductions to Amsterdam with this 3-hour privately-guided walking tour. After picking you up from your hotel, your professional guide will lead you past many of the greatest highlights of the city, including its center, as well as the Jordaan, the Grachtengordel, and the infamous Red-Light District. The guide will explain how all these feature in the citiy's history and contemporary life. Your guide will be happy to share some great tips for the rest of your stay.

Visit the elegant home of the Dutch National Opera and Ballet.

Get a Dutch take on the performing arts in the home of the Dutch National Opera and Ballet. Both groups rehearse and perform the majority of their works at the venue, housed uniquely in the same building as Amsterdam's City Hall. The institution is celebrated for its diverse repertoire, ranging from classic to contemporary works, attracting talent and audiences from around the globe.

Grow calmer in one of the world's oldest botanical gardens.

Amsterdam’s Hortus Botanicus is located on the eastern side of the city. Established in 1638, it was originally home to an herb garden filled with medicinal plants; today, Hortus Botanicus is home to more than 6,000 different flora. By the time the garden moved to its current location in 1682, it had collected many specimens unknown to Europeans. The Dutch East India Company, the organization that made the Netherlands such a economic powerhouse at the time, often brought exotic plants back that would be housed in the botanical garden, including Europe’s first Coffea Arabica plant and two small oil palms. Some of the original varieties brought here went on to populate Europe.

Visit the animals in this Royal Zoo, one of Europe's oldest .

ARTIS Zoo in Amsterdam, established in 1838, is the Netherlands' oldest zoo and a beloved destination for both locals and tourists. This historic zoo offers an immersive experience into the animal kingdom, housing a diverse collection of species from around the world, including exotic birds, mammals, reptiles, and marine life. Beyond its role as a wildlife sanctuary, ARTIS also emphasizes education and conservation, providing visitors with insights into animal behavior and habitat preservation.

Eastern Districts

The Eastern Districts of Amsterdam host a wide array of museums and activities that serve all ages. The districts include the areas of Waterlooplein, Eastern Docklands, Weesperbuurt, and Plantage. Get in touch with nature at the Botanical Garden or ARTIS, Amsterdam's famous zoo. Experience some hands-on learning at the NEMO Science Museum. See where the famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt, lived and created some of his most famous works. It might not be the most well-known area of the city but there is plenty to explore!

Explore Five Stories of Hands-on Exhibitions in the Largest Science Center in the Netherlands.

Using a variety of exhibitions, the NEMO Science Museum introduces people of all ages to the world of science and technology. The museum is filled with continuously updated and changing exhibitions, theatre performances, films, workshops, and demonstrations. Everything is interactive, so everyone can join in on the fun and learning, especially in NEMO's Laboratory.  When you've exhausted your hypothesis, the Center maintains a lovely cafe on its roof with great views of the city.

Wander through the restored 17th-century house where Rembrandt lived and worked for 20 years.

The famous Dutch painter, Rembrandt, was at the height of his fame when he moved into this house with his beloved wife Saskia. He mingled with the wealthy and powerful and was awarded the most prestigious commissions by merchants, nobles and clergymen. However, it was a turbulent time in the house where bad times followed the good in quick succession. The Night Watch was painted in the house. Saskia gave birth to three children in the home, all of whom died within a few months, before their son Titus, who lived to adulthood, was born. Soon afterward Saskia died in the same bed, probably from tuberculosis, leaving Rembrandt to raise their infant son. In total, Rembrandt owned and lived in this house between 1639 and 1660. A modern annex has been built next to Rembrandt’s house and, together, are a museum of Rembrandt’s life and work. While he was most renown for being a painter, this museum also shows the other sides of Rembrandt. In the museum, you will see him as a teacher, collector of art, entrepreneur and “Amsterdammer.”

Guided Bike Tour

There is no better way to explore Amsterdam then on a bike. Among the locals, it's not only the most common way to commute inside the city but also the fastest. They say, that there are more bikes in the city than there are people. On this 3-hour privately guided bike tour you travel away from the busy city center and discover local treasures of the town, not always included in the regular tours. You will return to the center by a public ferry.

Guided Bike Tour

There is no better way to explore Amsterdam then on a bike. Among the locals, it's not only the most common way to commute inside the city but also the fastest. They say, that there are more bikes in the city than there are people. On this 3-hour privately guided bike tour you travel away from the busy city center and discover local treasures of the town, not always included in the regular tours. You will return to the center by a public ferry.

Guided Bike Tour

There is no better way to explore Amsterdam then on a bike. Among the locals, it's not only the most common way to commute inside the city but also the fastest. They say, that there are more bikes in the city than there are people. On this 3-hour privately guided bike tour you travel away from the busy city center and discover local treasures of the town, not always included in the regular tours. You will return to the center by a public ferry.

Guided Bike Tour

There is no better way to explore Amsterdam then on a bike. Among the locals, it's not only the most common way to commute inside the city but also the fastest. They say, that there are more bikes in the city than there are people. On this 3-hour privately guided bike tour you travel away from the busy city center and discover local treasures of the town, not always included in the regular tours. You will return to the center by a public ferry.

Some of the Greatest Works of Western Painting Are on Display Here

Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" rests int the Mauritshuis, as well as 840 other pieces by Dutch Masters like Rembrandt. This 17th-century classicist mansion, filled with inestimably valuable works, politely, but firmly, demands your visit.

Visit this Working Shrine to Intermational Law and the Desire for Peace

The Peace Palace in The Hague stands as a symbol of international justice and diplomacy, hosting the International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and a library renowned for its extensive collection on international law. Constructed in the early 20th century with contributions from countries worldwide, its architecture is a testament to the global desire for peace and legal cooperation. The palace is a significant site for visitors interested in the mechanisms of international law and the history of global diplomacy.

Den Haag, Self-Guided

Den Haag (The Hague), the Netherlands' political heart, is renowned for hosting the International Court of Justice and other global institutions. It blends historical sites like the Binnenhof and the Peace Palace with cultural treasures, including the Mauritshuis museum, famous for Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring." The city offers a mix of elegant shopping, green spaces, and the popular Scheveningen beach, making it a diverse destination that combines international significance with local charm.

Castle in central Den Hague.

The Binnenhof in The Hague, with its 13th-century origins, is a historic and political landmark housing the Dutch Parliament. This complex, resembling a castle, features the iconic Ridderzaal (Knight's Hall) among other ornate buildings, offering visitors a unique view of the Netherlands' medieval history and their modern government.

Enjoy the tower views, from above, or from below.

This bell tower is the tallest in the country and has been standing in the square for over 5 centuries. This 14th-century Gothic tower was constructed with the church of Utrecht was at its height of power and influence. Dom Tower was originally designed as a steeple and was once attached to the cathedral; however, in 1674 the nave of the church was destroyed by a tornado and the rubble was let in the square for over 100 years. This 112m/368ft tower is accessible to the public via 465 steps and offers breath-taking views of the Dutch countryside. On a clear day, Amsterdam and Rotterdam are visible.

Go with the Flow on This Utrecht Canal

Take it easy on Utrecht's main canal, the Oudegracht, which has flowed through the city for 800 years. This canal was constructed in the 12th century to change the course of the Oude Rijn River. This canal originally functioned as a elongated harbor and the large city castle were built upon the canal in the 13th century. Evincing the Dutch trait of practicality, cellars from the structures above the canal had cellars that opened right to the water for easy transport.

Utrecht, Self Guided

Utrecht is a dynamic city at the Netherlands' core, a city whith layers of history going back to the Stone Age. Famous for its scenic canals, notably the venerable Oudegracht, and the towering Dom Tower offering views that encompass much of the Netherlands, Utrecht captivates with its medieval architecture and lively streets.  A little bit more aloof than Amsterdam or Rotterdam, Utrecht is simply a cool place for Dutch people to be. It hosts numerous museums, markets, and educational institutions like Utrecht University, enriching its urban atmosphere. This city blends history, culture, and innovation, making it an essential visit within the Dutch landscape.

Enjoy the tower views, from above, or from below.

This bell tower is the tallest in the country and has been standing in the square for over 5 centuries. This 14th-century Gothic tower was constructed with the church of Utrecht was at its height of power and influence. Dom Tower was originally designed as a steeple and was once attached to the cathedral; however, in 1674 the nave of the church was destroyed by a tornado and the rubble was let in the square for over 100 years. This 112m/368ft tower is accessible to the public via 465 steps and offers breath-taking views of the Dutch countryside. On a clear day, Amsterdam and Rotterdam are visible.

Zaanse Schans Windmills and Marken Excursion

On this 4-hour private excursion you will visit the famous neighborhood of Zaanse Schans, known for its beautiful windmills, artisan crafts and clog-making. You will be amazed with the recreation of an 18th-century Dutch village, albeit with running water and modern utilities. The neighborhood is also famous for cheesemaking, so you will have a chance to try this local specialty. During the tour you can also visit the charming villages of Marken and Volendam before being dropped off at your hotel.

Zaanse Schans Windmills and Marken Excursion

On this 4-hour private excursion you will visit the famous neighborhood of Zaanse Schans, known for its beautiful windmills, artisan crafts and clog-making. You will be amazed with the recreation of an 18th-century Dutch village, albeit with running water and modern utilities. The neighborhood is also famous for cheesemaking, so you will have a chance to try this local specialty. During the tour you can also visit the charming villages of Marken and Volendam before being dropped off at your hotel.

Zaanse Schans Windmills and Marken Excursion

On this 4-hour private excursion you will visit the famous neighborhood of Zaanse Schans, known for its beautiful windmills, artisan crafts and clog-making. You will be amazed with the recreation of an 18th-century Dutch village, albeit with running water and modern utilities. The neighborhood is also famous for cheesemaking, so you will have a chance to try this local specialty. During the tour you can also visit the charming villages of Marken and Volendam before being dropped off at your hotel.

Zaanse Schans Windmills and Marken Excursion

On this 4-hour private excursion you will visit the famous neighborhood of Zaanse Schans, known for its beautiful windmills, artisan crafts and clog-making. You will be amazed with the recreation of an 18th-century Dutch village, albeit with running water and modern utilities. The neighborhood is also famous for cheesemaking, so you will have a chance to try this local specialty. During the tour you can also visit the charming villages of Marken and Volendam before being dropped off at your hotel.