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There's always ladies of the day then !  Boom-Boom ! ( Basil Brush laughing out loud )
This is my opinion, right or wrong, but compared to other major cities in Europe, there is relatively little to see in Amsterdam, unless you enjoy getting bogged down in less than interesting museums and are perhaps into art a lot ( which I'm not ). To me, Amsterdam is more about the on-holiday feeling, cafes and bars, the walking about/biking about. This is not to down Amsterdam at all, but to give context to my suggestion that you also think about outside of the city, remembering that those cafes, bars, the streets and their vibe or however you call it, are still there to come back to for the evening. In that regard, I have a couple of suggestions for day time excursions.
Do a bike tour in the country.
Yellow Bike, a long standing operator, know where the lovely riding is. You go out by public transport or maybe a van, pick up bikes from a lock up and spend half a day riding, broken by lunch in a lovely place and arrive back before tea time.
They also do city bike tours lasting 2 or 3 hours, if this is a first visit perhaps of use to you.
Link : Home Engels | Yellow Bike
See old industry, crafts, living and Netherlands heritage in one easy location.
Not plasticised Disneyfication at all, but the real thing, just on show in one handy place. This isn't boring, honest.
There are various places like this in the Netherlands but handy for Amsterdam is Zaanse Schans, a few minutes walk beyond a rail station just twenty minutes north from Central Station.
Link : Discover Dutch crafts, windmills and museums at the Zaanse Schans
There's other days/half days you can do out, especially given the extensive public transport system. But for a short visit like yours, these are the two I think have the most worth.
A few mentions in Amsterdam
Not an ultimate hot-list this, rather a few things that I either know about or I have come upon that look interesting for some day when I return. You can add these to consideration among those things you already had in mind or what the guidebooks list as top things to see.
- Anne Franks House.
Yes, such a cliché and yes can be busy. But, it really does make such an impression. Absolutely yes, do go. If you haven't even heard of it, just Google it and watch one of the several dramatisations of her diary, before you go.
Link : Anne Frank Museum Amsterdam - the official Anne Frank House website
- Hemp Museum
Apparently now in two nearby buildings, an interesting and eye opening story of not only the drug but of the material uses of the plant. You don't need to be into smoking weed to enjoy this at all and I'm not. There's more to it than many people realise and also the politics and silly legal nonsense around the world are of interest too.
Links :
listing : The Hash, Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam | Amsterdam.info
actual : Amsterdam
- Body Worlds
I came upon this by chance and it looked interesting to see when I one day go back to Amsterdam. Seems to be some kind of bodies inside-out type of how-it-works biological museum, or art show, or hybrid thereof. I'm wondering if this might have something to do with that weird German doctor who did the bodies show thing on Channel 4 a few years back. Another maybe is that there's another place similar to this in town, just possibly. I may be mixing that up with some other museum.
Link : Discover the secrets of Happiness and its effects on the body. An absolute must-see!
LOL, for better or worse, that looked interesting to me. Just a suggestion ! It certainly looks more interesting than some of the boring museums in the city. The maritime museum - what a disappointment and a bore. The big museums with all their art masterpieces - yuck, no thanks ! Pah ! Phooey !
- Oude Kirk ( old church )
Link : visit
Just to walk in and gaze and photograph. Its actually in the Red Light District, in close walking distance to other things there that may bring you to the area, such as the hash museum locations. If you're interested in approaching the professional sex angle of the area from an arms length position of studied curiosity, there is actually a Prostitution Museum close by ( I hate that damn word ) and if you Google it, there are actually walking tours of the Red Light District, of interest to the amateur anthropologist perhaps.
But yes, do get along to the Oude Kirk, despite where it is. There are many stunningly beautiful Catholic churches and cathedrals especially in places like Italy and France, but this is entirely different yet not much less stunning in its own way. It has a simplicity, reflective of its Protestant tradition, but so attractive in its own way. Check out the wood work, the roofing, the organ; its all really really pleasing.
That brings me to mention another worthy visitation in the Red Light District, again, not far from Oude Kirk,
Museum Amstelkring
Link : Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder
Its an old 17th century merchants house, maintained as would have looked then. Its interesting I think and better than a museum museum. It also houses a curiosity, for up in the attic level there is a secret Catholic church, from a time in Dutch history when it had to be because of the politics and dangers of the time.
- The Cat Boat " Poezenboot"
Here's a quirky one for you and no, this isn't a floating brothel !
Its a cat sanctuary and an old Amsterdam institution in various canal locations over the years. If you like pussy cats, go along and bring some donation, toys, fleecy blanket,etc. As you'd expect, characters will vary but there are always the ones who want attention. I suggest you maybe wear gloves, especially if they are of a material that the cats will enjoy, but also as a protection for you from nips or scratches by unpredictable strange cats.
Some do like to speak to you and if you cannot speak Dutch, there are a few who have learned some English, from a book.
Link : The Catboat | De Poezenboot
So there you go, just a short few things in the city itself and most of these close to one another. And it shows you, sex quite aside, it is worth going in to the Red Light District area for other things.
I hope you like my ideas for getting out of town during the day on a couple of your days at least.
ps
You asked about places to stay. IMO, you must must must stay in the inner canal ring. Just about everything you are going to visit is located here. No point in staying in some nice looking and well offered hotel in a business park somewhere in the suburbs. Especially on a short visit. There's so many hotels central there isn't going to be a problem getting something decent. Look at the map and find Centraal Station for a start and see how the inner canal ring areas and the various points of interest relate. You can see the various main streets fanning out underneath the station on the map and there are multiple tram lines making easy connection to points of interest a little further out if you need them, otherwise many thing are just walking distance if you are staying centrally.
By the way regular and fast trains come from the airport into Centraal Station too.
pps
While a cliché of Amsterdam, I do think it is nice to get on a canal boat cruise at twilight/night. Candle-lit, wine, choose different levels of food, some are cheese & wine kind of affairs, others you can dine more formally. No links/current knowledge to give you but these are common. Its really pleasant on the canals with all the twinkly lights switched on and stuff.
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2-12-2019 22:22:21
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