Amsterdam got its name when a dam was put in place on the River Amstel during the 13th century. Popular belief is that The Hague is the capital city of The Netherlands when in reality it is Amsterdam.

The City has earned an enviable reputation as the perfect city break destination, although with so much to see and do, a weekend might not be enough days to do the city justice. With such a huge variety of prices, there are cheap Amsterdam hotels to fit all testes and pockets. A very enjoyable way to explore the Amsterdam experience is to take a boat trip along the canals. There are four main canals and 1,281 bridges and many cruise operators who provide all sorts of themed trips around what is the city’s intricate water system. Many water excursions are available all year round. As a suggestion, reserve a day to explore a selection from the many museums in Amsterdam and board the museum boat where you will be transported in style to all of the popular museums. One stop is that of Rembrandts Museum at the Jodenbreestraat. Here you will be able to study the original collection of 250 etchings and a number of sketches and drawings by the famed Dutch master Rembrandt. Apart from the house that Rembrandt once lived in, your boat will take you over to the house of Anne Frank. The house is now a museum, but was once the home of the Frank family. In fear of capture by the invading German army, the whole family spent years in hiding. Anne Frank, the daughter, wrote her incredible diary during the 2 years of her concealment. The house (her home) has been saved by the Anne Frank Foundation and was opened as a museum in 1962.

The famed Rijksmuseum contains the country’s biggest collection of art and history including Asian art, paintings, dolls houses and a history of Netherlands exhibition. The main exhibit at the Rijksmuseum is that of the celebrated works from the country’s wonderful Golden Age with artists such as Vermeer, Steen and Rembrandt.

For an unforgettable art experience, situated midway between the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum is that of the Van Gogh museum. A wonderfully detailed exhibition of Vincent Van Gogh’s life is displayed within the walls of this landmark and you will enjoy in excess of 200 of his masterpieces. In addition to his paintings there are hundreds of drawings together with incredible amounts of hand-written notes by the commonly misunderstood artist. A must for Impressionist fans, fans of modern art and fans of Holland!

Everybody wants to experience Amsterdam’s Red Light District. It is located in the region of the Oude Kerk region where many of the city’s greatest buildings can be located. The Red Light area runs between Nieumakt Square and Warmoesstraat. Stag Nights are a popular event in the De Wallen area, presumably drawn here by the reputation for window prostitution and sex shops. The region is particularly attractive since it is where people come to be themselves. It is a lively energetic area where you will find a huge variety of people, a perfect cup of coffee, excellent shops and a wide choice of excellent places to eat.

Driving in and around Amsterdam can be very enjoyable. The roads are modern and well organised and the city can be considered an excellent centre for touring around the nearby regions and countries. Costs for Amsterdam car hire are very economical and you can make substantial savings by booking car hire online.

Dam Square is the place to return to time after time because it is a tourist meeting place generally and the perfect location to enjoy street entertainment and people watching whilst sipping a well-deserved cappuccino! Amsterdam has so many attractions for the visitor that visiting a small sample of them could set a family back a small fortune. The City offers its treasured tourists the Amsterdam Card saving you a lot of money!. Provided by the Amsterdam Tourist Board, the card entitles you to free admission to all the famous museums together with a free canal boat trip and reduced price vouchers to lots of restaurants and shops. In addition the Amsterdam Card provides free travel in and around the city. You can buy an Amsterdam Card for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The 24 hour version costs EUR 31 (GBP 25), 48 hours EUR 41 (GBP 33) or 72 hours EUR 51 (GBP 41) and can be obtained from Tourist Information  (VVV).

In the middle of the sometimes all too hectic centre of the city is a haven of parkland known locally as ‘the town’s pride and joy’. Amsterdam’s particularly beautiful botanical gardens, Hortus have been on this spot for over 400 years and are looked after with pride by its dedicated keepers. A tranquil retreat for the times when life in the city gets a bit too overwhelming!

If you are visiting Amsterdam in August, you will enjoy the colourful ‘Gay Parade’. The Gay Parade takes place each year and consists of a procession of brightly painted and wildly decorated boats. Its a great photographic opportunity unmissable and is best enjoyed by spectating from one of the bridges that cross the Prinsengracht Canal.

Tags:   Amsterdam · art · city break · red light district · Rembrandt · Vincent Van Gogh