Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands.
As of 1 January 2026, it had a population of 941,873 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Worth seeing
Amsterdam has one of the largest historic city centres in Europe, with about 7,000 registered historic buildings. The street pattern has been largely unchanged since the 19th century—there was no major bombing during World War II. The centre consists of 90 islands linked by 400 bridges, some of them beautifully lit at night. The inner part of the city centre, the Binnenstad, dates from medieval times.
Things to do
The locals spend their summer days in Amsterdam uncorking bottles of red wine in the Vondelpark. Every district in Amsterdam has at least one park, but the Vondelpark stands out for its size and convivial atmosphere. The neighbourhood best known for its trees and gardens is the Plantage.
Where to eat
Amsterdam's culinary scene boasts a vibrant tapestry of flavours, offering a rich variety of dining experiences. The city unfolds as a treasure trove for those craving Asian cuisine, albeit catered to the milder local palate. Adventurous taste buds, fear not – it's not impossible to find spicy food.
Getting around Amsterdam the local way
- Get inThe nearest ferry port is IJmuiden, where ferries from Newcastle upon Tyne dock.
- Get inDFDS Seaways offers daily overnight ferry services from Newcastle upon Tyne (more specifically, North Shields) in the United Kingdom.
- Get inOther ferry services dock at Rotterdam Europoort (ferry from Hull) and Hook of Holland (ferry from Harwich).
- Get inFor the Stena Line ferry to Harwich: from Rotterdam Centraal, change for Rotterdam Metro Line B direct to Hoek Van Holland Station where you will be able to walk onto the Ferry.
- Get aroundThere are several ferry services across the IJ river, between the city centre and Noord, the most frequent runs every 7 minutes.
- Get aroundAll ferries are free of charge and provide nice views of the harbour and skyline.
- Get aroundFerries leave every 30 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal and from the NDSM-werf.
- Get aroundYou can also hop on the ferry to Buiksloterweg, and then make a short walk to the EYE Film Institute for its architecture and free exhibition in the basement.
From Wikivoyage: Amsterdam, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Janwillemvanaalst (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
