Amsterdam

The Reichs Museum is lovely. Anne Frank's House is worth a visit but the queues can be off-putting. A canal trip is definitely worth it. A wander to the flower shops on the canal side is nice too

Anne Frank House. Book in advance

Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank Huis, a canal boat with a (gin) bar. Nearby the Museums if you like tasty snacks, or brunch, try Smit en Dorlas. There was an interesting diamond museum somewhere nearby too.

Lovely to just wander around the place. Canal trip a definite though!

My apologies for the bad spelling!

Thanks everyone will bear all this in mind. Could be difficult booking for Anne Frank as they tell you itinerary can be subject to change so as much as I'd like to go, don't think that will be possible. Shame you can't just turn up.

Just be careful when crossing roads in central Amsterdam - the hordes of cyclists whizz along flat out.

When we were staying centrally a couple of years ago, one of our friends stepping out of our hotel, missed by a hair’s breadth colliding with a cyclist* - who was going flat out, with a young baby in one arm! 😱
And virtually none of them wear helmets - I must say that did surprise us.
*she wasn’t wearing one either.

Not sure you would get much out of Anne Franks house. The queues outside have always looked awful to me. There's much more to see in Amsterdam. We once had a lovely meal in a beautiful old house on one of the canals. The gorgeous wood panelling and creaky stairs stick out in my memory. So nice just to be in one of those historic homes.

Anne Franks house is definitely worth it but very upsetting, it leaves its mark on you. Perhaps not good to do if not much time.

Do go to any of the well known art museums the art is breathtaking . If there is a special exhibition it is worth paying the fee, usual exhibits are all free.

Do have a canal boat trip with a guide telling you the history as you go.

Lots of lovely bars have a drink and a portion of bitterballen , little hot balls filled with creamy mushy meat or chicken on sticks with peanut sauce. Their apple pie is better than any other with masses of whipped cream.

Just walking is good interesting architecture and bridges over the canals . You can still see the “ladies of the night” posed in their windows in the day in a street opposite ordinary shops. Lovely China to buy not all of it delft although this can be bought anywhere and clogs to wear .

We lived in Holland for a while when my children were small I love it as a country , it’s very relaxed but be aware some of the coffee shops allow Dutch customers to smoke cannabis so don’t go there if it will put you off ( I never did I never tried drugs and hate the smell)

Museums and walking the canals. Lovely city.

Go see the Vermeer Exhibition if you can get tickets

Do you like museums and galleries? If that's your thing then go for the Rijksmuseum.

Otherwise take a canal trip for an hour or so and then just have a wander around taking in the atmosphere.

pascal30

Go see the Vermeer Exhibition if you can get tickets

I was disappointed to discover that the Girl with Pearl Earring wasn't in Amsterdam, but in The Hague. Maybe it gets lent out for exhibitions?

I lived in Holland and often visited Amsterdam. Admire the fantastic architecture and if you like museums, one that is quite small but interesting is Rembrandts’s House. Have a Dutch pancake, sweet or savoury. The shopping area is a bit tacky. Do take a boat trip it is the best way to see a lot, the smallest house, the cat barge and admire the houses of the golden age. I understand the Vermeer exhibition is sold out but the Van Gogh museum is interesting.

I have an odd memory of the Van Gogh museum: it was very crowded. All I could see was by peering at the odd painting over peoples' heads. Anyway my friend needed to go to the loo. There was a huge queue and she was desperate so she went into the disabled toilet and I waited outside. Not for long though. Two security guards burst open the door and matched her out . Luckily she hadn't, er, got too far with things.
Needless to say I'm not rushing back there!

Our Dear Lord in the Attic. A secret church used by Roman Catholics when they were banned from worship.

You would need to booked ahead ( timed ticket ) for the Anne Frank museum and I think it has been spoilt since they made a it into a major tourist attraction.

"The Night Watch" by Rembrandt. In the Reichs Musuem. Captivating. Apologies for the spelling of the name!

Just wander and soak it up and see where your feet take you a lovely city

We were there in March. The Rembrandt House has reopened. No chance of Vermeer, which sold out in five days, unless you booked early, as we did. Joseanne the Girl with the Pearl Earring was there when we went to the exhibition but has gone back to the Mauritshuis now, I believe. Not my favourite anyway.

Wander round the canals and admire the architure. Boat trip down the canals. Reichs Museum.
Whilst in Holland a must visit is the flower auction at Aalsmere the biggest in the world.

“Reichsmuseum”? You’ve got the wrong language there!

I apologised in a later post, if you had bothered to look.

Years ago, on a trip to Amsterdam, I went to Volemdam where people dressed in traditional Dutch clothes.

Watch out for the bikes. Madness.