My Personal Travel Guide in

Introduction #

I recently spent four days in Amsterdam. We didn’t plan everything in advance, so the trip was quite spontaneous. We walked almost 20 km every day, visiting museums, markets, neighbourhoods and many other places.

Of course, we didn’t see everything. We skipped some famous spots, such as the Anne Frank House and the Johan Cruyff Arena, and the tulip fields will have to wait for another season. 🌷

All the photos here are my own, taken during the trip.

🗓 My 4-Day Itinerary #

Day 1: First Impressions #

We arrived in Amsterdam late in the morning. It was cloudy at first, but the weather quickly got better.

We walked through Dam Square, Oude Kerk and the historic centre, all the way to Begijnhof.

It was a lovely first look at Amsterdam, although we probably weren’t the quietest visitors there. 😅

After checking into our hotel in the early afternoon, we headed to the Rijksmuseum, one of Amsterdam’s most famous museums, with a large collection of Dutch art and history.

Going without an audio guide probably wasn’t the best idea, since we’re not exactly art experts. 😅 One painting that really stood out to me was The Threatened Swan — which I had always mistaken for a goose.

Day 2: Windmills and Van Gogh #

We started the day with a trip to Zaanse Schans, a picturesque village famous for its traditional Dutch windmills. We didn’t really focus on their history, but it was still nice to walk around and see the windmills up close.

In the afternoon, we finally visited the Van Gogh Museum. We almost missed it because we hadn’t booked our tickets in advance — so here’s a tip: book your tickets early!

Luckily, the day before, we managed to get two last-minute tickets. 😅

After our experience at the Rijksmuseum, we used the audio guide this time. It made a big difference and helped us understand the paintings and Van Gogh’s story much better. I also learned quite a lot.

After the museum, we took a walk through Vondelpark before heading back to the hotel.

Day 3: Beyond the Classics #

We started the day at the Moco Museum, a modern and contemporary art museum with works by Banksy, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

After the museum, we headed to Albert Cuyp Market, walking through the lively De Pijp neighbourhood along the way.

From there, we continued towards De Gooyer, one of Amsterdam’s few remaining windmills.

We then visited Artis Zoo, mostly because we weren’t quite sure what else to do with the afternoon. 😅

I had never been to a zoo before, so Amsterdam was the first place where I visited one! It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed it more than expected.

Day 4: A Modern Perspective #

We started our final day at NEMO Science Museum, expecting something more scientific, especially since we’re both mathematicians. Unfortunately, it turned out to be mostly aimed at children, so it wasn’t quite what we had hoped for. 😅

We then took the ferry across the IJ to Amsterdam Noord and headed to A’DAM Lookout, an observation deck with panoramic views over the city.

I actually enjoyed the afternoon much more. Exploring Amsterdam Noord felt more relaxed than the busy historic centre, with fewer people and a very different atmosphere.

Our final stop was the STRAAT Museum, and I was particularly curious to see it. It doesn’t have nearly the same hype as the Van Gogh Museum, but I really enjoyed it.

Seeing street art in such a large space felt very different from the more traditional museums we had visited during the previous days.

The museum is full of huge and colourful works, including some really strange ones — like an actual van hanging from the ceiling. 😅

🍻 Food & Drinks #

My first impression of Dutch food was that it was quite heavy: lots of meat and fried food. Not exactly my favourite kind of cuisine! 😅

Dutch Specialties #

• Stamppot – A traditional Dutch dish made with mashed potatoes and vegetables, usually served with sausage or other meat. It was filling and quite heavy.

  

• Raw Herring – One of the most traditional Dutch foods, especially popular at markets such as Albert Cuyp. I considered trying it, but I didn’t quite trust it enough. 😅

• Apple Pie & Gin – The apple pie was really good! I’m not much of a gin enthusiast, though, so the gin was less impressive for me. 😅 Still, gin is very popular in the Netherlands, so I had to try it.

  

• Dutch Meatballs – Dutch meatballs are a popular local dish. The ones we tried were very heavy, with garlic inside and a sauce for dipping. Definitely not light, but quite tasty.

  

  In the same photo, you can also see a Flammkuchen, a very thin and crispy flatbread topped with bacon. It’s not Dutch, but we came across it during the trip. 😅

Breweries & Brown Cafés #

• Brouwerij ’t IJ – A local brewery right next to De Gooyer. Amsterdam has a long tradition of jenever, while Belgium has had a big influence on Dutch beer culture. Naturally, we stopped for a beer. 🍻

  

• Café Hoppe – One of Amsterdam’s oldest and most historic brown cafés. It was a nice way to end the third day with a drink in a very traditional setting.

  

• In ’t Aepjen – One of Amsterdam’s oldest brown cafés, located in a historic wooden building.

  

🌙 Special: Amsterdam at Night #

De Wallen #

We ended up walking through De Wallen almost every evening during our stay. It is probably the most famous and controversial part of Amsterdam, known for its red-light district. Walking around the area at night was also a good way to see a very different side of the city.

✨ Final Thoughts #

Amsterdam was a great surprise. Every day brought something different, from world-famous museums to windmills, markets, street art and quieter neighbourhoods.

Four days were enough to get a good taste of the city, although there is still plenty I didn’t get to see. After walking almost 20 km every day, I think we definitely explored it in our own way. 😅

Overall, I’d give Amsterdam a solid 7.5/10. It’s a beautiful and interesting city, but I think the hype around it is a little too high. I enjoyed the trip a lot, although I wouldn’t quite put it among my favourite cities I’ve visited.