Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Amsterdam (with Map & Photos)

1. Canals of Amsterdam

Canals of Amsterdam - This is the symbol and its main attraction of Amsterdam. The city has over 100 kilometers of canals, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, Herengracht , Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht, were dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age.

The canals form concentric belts around the city known as the Grachtengordel. The famous canals were dug to control the waters of the Amstel River. Amsterdam's wealthy merchants soon found the canals to be ideal for showcasing their mansions and trade. It is a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering, urban planning and architecture. The canals of Amsterdam are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Canals of Amsterdam
Canals of Amsterdam, Attractions in Amsterdam

2. Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum is the National Art Museum dedicated to the art and history of Amsterdam and Holland . The museum is located in the Museum Square in the South Amsterdam area, near the Van Gogh Museum. The Rijksmuseum was founded in The Hague in 1800 and moved to Amsterdam in 1808, where it was first housed in the Royal Palace and later in the Trippenhuis . In 2013, it was the most visited museum in the Netherlands with a record 2.2 million visitors. 

The museum has over 8,000 pieces of art and history, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. 

Official website: www.rijksmuseum.nl/en

Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum, Attractions in Amsterdam

3. Van Gogh Museum

Located on the northwest side of the Museum Square, the Van Gogh Museum is home to the world's largest collection of paintings and letters from the artist, as well as paintings by his contemporaries. River Museum azmeschen four storey building, designed by Gerrit Rietveld in 1970, the museum is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Amsterdam. The chronologically placed work of the artist offers viewers a glimpse of the evolution of Van Gogh's style. In 2014, the museum was visited by 1.6 million tourists and it is the 2nd most visited museum in Holland. 

Official website: www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en

Van Gogh Museum
Van Gogh Museum, Attractions in Amsterdam

4. Begijnhof

The Begijnhof District, or courtyard, is another historic landmark in Amsterdam. The Begijnhof district occupies the central circle of land in Amsterdam's circular canal system. In the 14th century, the courtyard served as a residence for Catholic sisters. The Begijnhof is not a monastery in the traditional sense, because women were free. The Begijnhof district is one of the most beautiful places in Amsterdam, now it is a courtyard with typical Dutch style houses. 

Official website: www.begijnhofamsterdam.nl

Begijnhof
Begijnhof, Attractions in Amsterdam

5. Anne Frank House

The most visited attraction in Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House is located along the Amsterdam Prinsengracht Canal. The house where Anne Frank and her family once hid from Nazi authorities during World War II has been regarded as a Holocaust memorial since 1947, when Anna's father published a diary that Anna wrote while they were hiding from the Nazis. 

Official website: www.annefrank.org

Anne Frank House
Anne Frank House Amsterdam Landmark

6. Flower Market (Bloemenmarkt)

Located between Muntplein and Koningsplein on the south bank of the Singel Canal, the Bloemenmarkt (flower market) is the world's only floating flower market. Seven days a week, flower sellers load baskets of flowers onto barges and boats, from where they trade all day, the barges are moored to the embankment. Founded in 1862, Bloemenmarkt includes over a dozen different flower and garden shops as well as souvenir shops. To visit all the sights of Amsterdam, be sure to book a city tour.

Bloemenmarkt
Bloemenmarkt, Attractions in Amsterdam

7. Vondelpark

Vondel Park, or Vondelpark, is the largest city park in Amsterdam and of course the most famous park in the Netherlands with over 10 million visitors every year. Vondelpark is located in the city center south of Leidseplein and near the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum . 

Vondelpark is loved by both locals and tourists. It is always full of people enjoying the sun and silence, jogging, rollerblading, listening to music or just relaxing on the grass. 

Vondelpark
Vondelpark, Attractions in Amsterdam

8. The National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum)

Het Scheepvaartmuseum or The National Maritime Museum. Formerly a naval warehouse built in 1656, the museum has 18 exhibit and artifact halls. The museum includes a rich collection related to the maritime history of the Netherlands. The collection includes paintings, ship models , weapons and maps of the world. Two ships are moored near the museum, this is a historical icebreaker from 1900 and a sailing ship from 1749 restored according to drawings.

Official website: www.hetscheepvaartmuseum.nl

Het Scheepvaartmuseum
The National Maritime Museum

9. Red Light District (De Wallen)

De Wallen is the infamous red light district of Amsterdam, designated by the city government for legalized prostitution. The neighborhoods of the area cover several canals and alleys south of the Central Station. More than one hundred one-room apartments are rented to sex workers. 

De Wallen
De Wallen, Attractions in Amsterdam

10. Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam)

One of the three royal palaces in the Netherlands, the Koninklijk Paleis in Amsterdam sits on the west side of Dam Square in the city center. The building was originally intended for the City Hall, but was rebuilt into a palace during the Napoleonic Wars when Napoleon's brother Louis was crowned Louis I of Holland. The palace was built in 1655 in the style of Dutch classicism. 

Such a magnificent city in terms of attractions like Amsterdam requires a separate guide for the excursion.

Official website: www.paleisamsterdam.nl

Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam
Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam

Amsterdam Map