Page 3 - Amsterdam City Guide 2021

What to do in Amsterdam in Spring - When the flowers bloom Holland is well-known for its tulips and they all bloom once the winter is done. So, a great activity for Spring is to follow the tulip route and see the flowers fields. The most famous flower park Keukenhof opens its doors for only 6 weeks (from the end of March to the start of May) and it holds an impressive collection of flowers of all types. Especially tulips of all shapes, sizes and colours. Another way to enjoy the flowers is to follow its routes, which gives you the chance to explore the Amsterdam surroundings, such as Haarlem, Leiden and Dronten. Spring is also the season to get lost in the canals of grachtengordel (the golden bent) and the negen straatjes and discover the area protected by UNESCO as a cultural heritage. The four canals, Prisengracht, Keizergracht, Herengracht and Singel (the first one to be built), give a great background for pictures and the streets in between collect a variety of unique shops, from the Bril (Glasses) Museum to vintage little shops. Another thing to do in Amsterdam during spring is to explore Vondelpark, with all the flowers blooming and the trees in a vibrant green, the park truly comes to life. Make sure to find the hidden statues (There is a Picasso in the park) and stop by the cafes on the park. What to do in Amsterdam during Summer - When the terraces are in full swing The Amsterdam high season fills the city with millions of tourists. So it is time to explore the surroundings. Get a train – it’s a 30 minutes ride - and discover Zandvoort and Bloemendal. The two beaches very close to the city. They both feature bars by the shore, white sand and a calm ocean. Now if you don’t want to journey too far, exploring the outskirts of Amsterdam is a good call. Rent a bike and discover the beautiful Sloterplas lake in the new west, or go to the North east and discover Blijburg (check their agenda, as they have some pretty cool shows and festivals during summer) and Diemen Zuid, both great places to swim and enjoy the sun. Oeverlander in Amsterdam Zuid, Stenen Hooff at the IJ river and Gaasperplas in the South east are also fantastic options for swimming and an adventure. Finally, renting a boat and discovering Amsterdam from the canals is something you shouldn’t miss on. There are three main ways to do that, you can rent a small boat and be a captain for a couple of hours. You can also rent a private boat with a captain and a hostess and let them take care of everything. Lastly, you can choose a canal cruise, which is offered by many different companies.