Keizersgracht

The Keizersgracht (literal English translation: Emperor's Canal) is the second and the widest of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, in between the Herengracht and the Prinsengracht. It is named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Canals of Amsterdam

The more than one hundred kilometers of canals in Amsterdam, along with about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges, have led the city to being termed the "Venice of the North". Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

American Hotel

The fountain outside American Hotel.

Begijnhof

Dating back to the 14th century, this tranquil courtyard is surrounded by the bustle of Kalverstraat, Spui and the Nieuwe Zijdsvoorburgwal. The original facades were replaced in the 17th and 18th century, but 18 of the houses still have gothic wooden frames—one of which is still visible. The Begijnhofkapel, with its paintings of the miracle of Amsterdam, and the English Church remind visitors of the courtyard’s religious foundations.

Bicycle parking

Almost every resident of Amsterdam owns a bicycle. The 750,000 residents of Amsterdam together own around 600,000 bicycles. The city is filled with bicycles: cyclist on their way to school and work, on their way to and from stores, bicycle couriers, police on bikes, pedalos and naturally tourists on bicycles. For tourist cycling is an attractive and adventurous way in to which to discover the city.

Oude Kerk

The Oude Kerk ("old church") is Amsterdam’s oldest parish church, consecrated in 1306 by the bishop of Utrecht. It stands in De Wallen, now Amsterdam's main red-light district. The church covers an area of some 3,300 square meters. The foundations were set on an artificial mound, thought to be the most solid ground of the settlement in this marshy province.

The Nieuwe Kerk

This church was built at the beginning of the 15th century and in the following centuries it burnt down three times. Nowadays, the Nieuwe Kerk is used as a cultural centre, regularly accommodating exhibitions.

Canals of Amsterdam

The more than one hundred kilometers of canals in Amsterdam, along with about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges, have led the city to being termed the "Venice of the North". The three main canals, Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings.

The Keizersgracht

The Keizersgracht (literal English translation: Emperor's Canal) is the second and the widest of the three major canals in the city centre of Amsterdam, in between the Herengracht and the Prinsengracht. It is named after Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Canals of Amsterdam

Houseboat

The Magere Brug

The Magere Brug ("Skinny Bridge") is a bridge over the river Amstel. The Magere Brug is a bascule bridge made of white-painted wood. The present bridge was built in 1934. The first bridge at this site was built in 1691 as Kerkstraatbrug and had 13 arches. Because this bridge was very narrow, the locals called it magere brug, which literally means "skinny bridge". Use of the bridge has been limited to pedestrians and cyclists since 2003. It is however opened many times a day in order to let through river traffic. The bridge can be seen in a number of films, such as the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever from 1971.

Seven arched bridges

Houseboat

Vondelpark

The Vondelpark is Amsterdam's most popular park with ca. 10 million visitors every year, and a Mecca for the bohemian. Park facilities include: the Blauwe Theehuis ('Blue Tea House'), Rent a Skate, City Hostel Vondelpark, Café Vertigo, Groot Melkhuis café & restaurant, the Film Museum, Openluchttheater (open-air theater) and Centrum de Roos (rose garden with over 70 species).

Vondelpark

The Vondelpark was designed by garden architect L.D. Zocher (1865) and is a national heritage monument.

Vondelpark

Vondelpark

Vondelpark

Begijnhof

The buildings in the court are tall, characteristically Amsterdam-style town-houses, emphasising the court's relatively private character.

Begijnhof

Coffee shop in red-light district

The red-light district in Amsterdam consists of a network of roads and alleys containing several hundred small, one-room apartments rented by female sex workers who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights. The area also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, peep shows, an erotic museum, and a number of coffee shops offering various cannabis products.

Westerkerk

The Westerkerk ("western church") is a Protestant church built in 1620-1631 after a design by Hendrick de Keyser. The spire is the highest church tower in Amsterdam, at 85 meters (279 feet). The Westerkerk is located close to the Achterhuis (now Anne Frank House) where diarist Anne Frank, her family and others hid from Nazi persecution for two years during World War II.

Koninklijk Paleis

The former town hall of Amsterdam now serves as the Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace), on the Dam. The bells chime every half hour and a melody is played every hour (the tune changes every year).

Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or Rijksmuseum (English: State Museum) is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art.

Great view

Great view from the restaurant at the top of the famous Metz & Co department store.

The Amsterdam American Hotel

The Amsterdam American Hotel is located in the heart of Amsterdam: in the middle of the Leidseplein, the famous square with great restaurants, bars and theatres. Built in 1900, the Amsterdam American Hotel is a listed art nouveau monument, and some architectural features can be traced back in the famous Café Américain and guest rooms.

The Amsterdam American Hotel

The fountain outside American Hotel.

Sea Palace Chinese restaurant

Sea Palace has fascinated and intrigued both visitors and residents by its appearance from the start. Founded in 1984, it is the first floating restaurant in Europe.

National Monument – Dam square

In 1956 the National Monument was erected in commemoration of the victims of World War II. Remembrance Day takes place here every year on 4 May.

NEMO

In 1997, Queen Beatrix opened the Netherlands’ largest science center. In so doing, she opened a unique place in Amsterdam comprising five floors packed with scientific and technological things to do and discover. For more than 10 years, NEMO has been proving that science is captivating and fascinating. Science center NEMO is the place to discover science and technology in a fun and educational way.