Locals Share Their Favorite Things to Do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam’s reputation for being a marijuana paradise with relaxed escort laws surely precedes it. But what you’ll see if you visit is that these two elements are almost afterthoughts compared to the stunning beauty and friendly personality of this unique, capital city of the Netherlands.

In Amsterdam, you’ll find that the Dutch approach to life is easygoing, friendly and full of comforts. You can find locals nestled in one of the city’s hundreds of “brown bars,” drinking beer and laughing over a basket of fried snacks. Snacking — especially with cheese — is a way of life. And when cycling is your main mode of transportation, you deserve all the snacks you can get.

To get a colorful, well-rounded take on this historic city, we spoke to three local experts to give you some tips on experiencing Amsterdam the right way next time you visit.

Gezina Plumb is a native Ohioan who, after completing a four-year pastry education in New York City, moved to Amsterdam to work in the city’s restaurant scene. Tristan Spits is a native Amsterdammer, born and raised, and he’s the CEO of bright and beloved local brewery and tap room Oedipus (pictured), located in the hip neighborhood of Amsterdam Noord. 

Last but not least, Nate Abernathy is a Texas expat living in Amsterdam with his dog, Gypsy the corgi. He works in the Dutch craft beer scene with local breweries and importers alike, curating “super lekker biertje!” (Translation: “super tasty beer!”). 

Before we get to the Q&A with our experts, we wanted to point out that there are 1.3 bicycles per person in the Netherlands, and in Amsterdam, more than 72,000 people commute by bicycle during morning rush hour alone. So, you really need to hop on some wheels to get the feel of how most locals see the city.

Luckily, the city is the perfect size for this. It has everything you want from a big European city, like world-class museums, amazing architecture and culture, while still being manageable enough that you can easily walk or cycle from one end of the city to the other. There’s nothing better than meandering along Amsterdam’s famous 17th-century canal ring, which was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010, through neighborhoods like Jordaan, De Pijp, Oud-West, Oost and Zeeberg, all of which have their own quirky personalities. 

And yes, Amsterdammers absolutely do know how to have a good time. Even if the Red Light District or some special brownies at a “coffee shop” aren’t your thing, you’ll find 16 Michelin-starred restaurants, dozens of edgy music venues, a buzzing LGBTQ scene, dance clubs and chic wine bars when visiting Amsterdam. 

Quite simply, it’s a city that a traveler can visit and never, ever want to leave. And our experts will tell you why in their answers to our questions about the best things to do in Amsterdam…

Plumb and Abernathy immediately point to the Madame Tussauds wax museum in the historic (and touristy) Dam Square. Plumb says, “It just seems like literally the stupidest way a person could spend time in a beautiful old city,” while Abernathy has only two words: “Just, why?”

Spits would steer you away from the gimmicky and “sad” Amsterdam Dungeon, which is owned by Merlin Entertainment, the same owner of Madame Tussauds’ locations as well as a number of other tourist attractions in major cities. 

Plumb and Spits agree that taking in Amsterdam via the omnipresent boat tours along the city’s famous canals is one tourist activity that’s more than worth it. “The city looks totally different from the water,” Spits says. 

Plumb even offers a dreamy tip: “If it’s the weather for it, renting [a boat] and attempting to captain it (bringing along some wine, of course) is just about as fun as life gets.”

Abernathy, meanwhile, points out that, despite its “Disneyfication” — it’s packed with cheesy gift shops, tourist experiences and even families during the day — the city’s infamous Red Light District is a great part of the city for people-watching. More than a few Brits come to Amsterdam on the weekends to wild out on stag and hen parties, and you can be guaranteed an entertaining evening if you make it your mission to just “relax, sip a beer and pull up a seat on a terrace to watch the mayhem unfold.”