50 Hours in Amsterdam
The first time I visited Amsterdam I was 16. It was literally an “eye opening” experience when we took the canal boat ride. Amsterdam is the kind of cool place that was way ahead of its time in many ways. April 27 is the annual King’s Festival and is celebrated thourghout Netherlands. On that day, the entire city turns orange, which is the national color. There will be a lot of merry and drunk Dutchmen on and along the canals. April is also the tulip bloom season. The dutch’s obession with tulips could be traced back to 17th century. This tulip fever eventually led to the financial collapse similiar to today’s financial crisis. You may watch the movie <Tulip Fever>, which is set in Amsterdam, to get a glimpse of the city back in its glory days.
Website: I amsterdam is the local official guide. You can purchase the I Amsterdam City Card on this website which gives you access to multiple museums & attractions, canal cruise, public transportation and bike rentals.
Hotel: Conservarium Hotel @conservatoriumhotel $580/night. Set in a former music conservatory with a Neo-Gothic facade, designed by Milanese architect Pietro Lissoni.
Conservarium Hotel
Movie: <Tulip Fever> set in 17th century Amsterdam. Adopted from novel with the same title.
<Tulip Fever>
Friday
Friday Cafe: Back to Black Cafe @backtoblackcoffee
Back to Black Cafe
Friday Afternoon: Bike around the city like the locals. The dutch people love cycling. Most dutch bicycles are suited for the tall dutch people and being 5’6”, I struggled to get on and off the bike at red lights.
Friday Dinner: De Kas Farm to Table restaurant @restaurantdekas
De Kas
Friday Cocktail: LuminAir @uminair.amsterdam Rooftop bar
LuminAir
Saturday
Saturday Cafe: Café Américain @americainamsterdam Sits in an Art Deco building, Café Américain is the oldest grand cafe, founded in 1902. Its Art Deco interior will dazzle you with stained glass windows and pendant lamps.
Café Américain
Saturday Lunch: un.common coffee @uncommonams
un.common
Saturday Afternoon: It’s time for some art by the Dutch masters from the Golden Age.
The Rembrandt House Museum @museumrembrandthuis This is where the dutch master used to live and work.
The Rembrandt House Museum
Rijksmuseum @rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands.
Rijksmuseum
Saturday Dinner: Cafe De Klepel @cafe_de_klepel Dutch Cuisine.
Cafe De Klepel
Saturday Cocktail: Bar TwentySeven @twentysevenbar inside the luxury boutique Hotel TwentySeven. This is where you are transported back to the old world opulance.
Bar TwentySeven
Sunday
Sunday Cafe: Cafe Papeneiland @cafepapeneiland Your quintessential old school Dutch Cafe. Famed for its apple pie, this dutch cafe has a hidden tunnel that allowed Catholics to secretly walk to church during the Reformation. Papeneiland means “papists’ island,” referencing how the building was a sanctuary for Roman Catholics, who were also known as “papists” due to their allegiance to the Pope.
Cafe Papeneiland, Jordaan neighborhood
Sunday Lunch: De Plantage @deplantage. Restaurant by the Zoo. They have an outdoor patio that you may watch the pink flamingos from the zoo.
De Plantage
Sunday Afternoon: Watch tulips in full bloom at Keukenhof @visitkeukenhof. The tulip season is March 20 - May 11.
Keukenhof, Tulip Bloom March 20 - May 11
Sunday Dinner: Sluyswacht @de_sluyswacht. Used to be the lockmaster’s house, which later became a hardware shop and now it’s a cafe frequented by locals. It’s inside a tiny, historical house along a canal. Try the bitterballen—Dutch meatballs. Just steps away from the Rembrandt House, this cozy cafe is the perfect place for people watching.
Sluyswacht