Holidays in Amsterdam is an amazing opportunity to plunge into the culture of the Netherlands. The capital has a huge number of attractions: museums of famous artists, royal residences, old churches and castles. At the same time, the city cannot be called large. All sights can be visited in 1-2 days. If you want and have time, be sure to take time to visit interesting places located outside the city. You can get to them in a short time. They will definitely not leave you indifferent. It is quite possible to explore most of Amsterdam's attractions in 1 day on your own. In this article, we will talk about the most interesting places that you should definitely see when you are in the capital of the Netherlands.
What to see in Amsterdam in 1 day?
In fact, the capital of the Netherlands is a vibrant city that consists of seven large areas. Fortunately for tourists, most of the attractions are located in its historical center. Here is the famous Red Light District. The area itself is called Center. In turn, it is also divided into two parts: the old and the new.
In the historical quarter you can see the Oudekerk church. The border of the new part runs along a busy city highway. There are not only many cafes, shops and restaurants open, but also many attractions. For example, the famous Dam Square, where the Royal Palace of the reigning king of the Netherlands is located. The Grachtengordel district, known for its large number of water channels, surrounds the historical center. Tourists should definitely take a boat ride on them, because this quarter is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
If you want to have time to see Amsterdam in 1 day, it is best to use the services of experienced guides. They will not only quickly show you the most famous sights of the city, but they will surely take the time to visit the suburban cultural monuments. Arriving in the capital of the Netherlands, it is worth visiting the Royal Keukenhof flower park, where a huge number of tulips of different types and colors grow. You can admire the famous windmills in the open-air museum Zanse Schans. For lovers of Russian history it will be interesting to look at the House of Peter the Great in Zaandam.
And now we will tell you more about the significant sights of Amsterdam, which are definitely worth a visit if you arrived in the capital for only 1 day.
Dam Square
When thinking about what to visit in Amsterdam in 1 day, be sure to include a visit to Dam Square in the tour. This is the central place of the capital of the Netherlands, because it is not in vain that the Royal Palace is located here. Surprisingly, initially in the XIII century a dam was built on this site, restraining the water from the Amstel River. Gradually, the inhabitants of the city expanded it - until it became too big. Then at this place a real square spontaneously formed, which quickly became the center of city life. In addition to the royal residence, here you can see many interesting and ancient buildings. For example, the New Church, built in the XV century in the Gothic style. Or a National Monument erected on the square in memory of people who died during the Second World War. Next to her is also the famous Madame Tussauds Waxworks.
Many tourists, deciding what to see in Amsterdam in 1 day, often choose the area as a starting location. And not in vain, because it is a tourist center of the capital. In addition, the famous De Beyenkorf department store is open next to it.
Royal Palace
The royal residence is often included in the list of attractions that are worth seeing in Amsterdam in 1 day, as it is very conveniently located in the heart of Dam Square. The palace was erected in the second half of the XVII century, but the kings did not live here before. For a long time, the city hall was located in the building. Then Louis Bonaparte settled here. And only after the overthrow of Napoleon, the palace was transferred to the possession of the royal dynasty of the Netherlands. In 1935, the government nevertheless redeemed it, but members of the reigning family still have the right to live here.
The palace was built in neoclassical style. Its architect Jacob van Kampen was inspired by Roman cultural monuments when developing the project. The height of the building is 90 meters. It is built of yellow sandstone and marble.
Tourists really like the appearance of the palace, and for good reason, because after construction it was often called the "eighth wonder of the world." At the same time, travelers can admire not only the exterior, but also the interior decoration of the royal residence. Three floors are open for visiting, where majestic halls decorated in the style of classicism are located. An art gallery is opened here, where you can see first-hand the masterpieces of Dutch artists, for example, Rembrandt, Flink, Pain and others. The palace is open for visits on any day except Monday. However, it is worth noting that during official events of the royal family it is closed to tourists.
Rijksmuseum
If you don’t know which museums to see in Amsterdam in 1 day, feel free to go to the Rijksmuseum - the main state museum of the country. It is not only considered one of the most important sights of the city, but also one of the 20 most visited museums in the world. For guests, he opened his doors in 1885, but the building itself was built in 1808. At the same time, it was rebuilt many times, and the last reconstruction was completed recently - in 2013. Museum expositions are usually devoted to the history of the Netherlands since 1100. Here you can see paintings by famous artists, plaster sculptures, collections of antique furniture and utensils. On the second floor, the Glory Gallery is open, which is especially popular with tourists. They flock here to see with their own eyes Rembrandt’s masterpiece Night Watch. In total, the museum features 20 paintings by this famous artist. Incredibly, most of his paintings are only in the Hermitage - there are 26 of them.
An entire exposition is dedicated to Dutch artists in Rexmuseum. Here you can see the masterpieces of Vermeer, Hals and Steen. At the same time, the museum also displays paintings by world celebrities, for example, El Greco, Rubens and Goya. Tourists also enjoy visiting the collection of antique doll houses. The oldest of them was created in the XVII century. You can view the museum's expositions on any day of the week. The Rijksmuseum is open until 17:00.
Keukenhof Flower Park
Many tourists are interested in the question of where to go from Amsterdam for 1 day. The ideal option, of course, would be Keukenhof Park, which is located in the suburbs of the capital.
This is a huge flower park - its area is 32 hectares. Every spring, Keukenhof's workers plant about 5 million tulip bulbs here, so a magnificent sight opens before the tourists during their flowering. They often devote a whole day to a trip to the park. And not in vain, because it is so beautiful here that you can walk for several hours in a row and not get bored at all. In the park you can see not only tulips. Keukenhof is decorated with numerous water channels, sculptures and fountains. It is worth paying attention to the pavilion of the Queen of the Netherlands, where orchids are grown every year.
Keukenhof is an ideal place for those tourists who do not know what to see in Amsterdam for 1 day in the spring. Unfortunately, the park is open to visitors only during the flowering period of tulips - from March to May. Keckenhof himself is divided into several gardens. It is definitely worth a visit to the Historical, Musical and Natural. You can also look at the old windmill, built in 1892. It offers amazing views of the huge fields of tulips. Tourists recommend completing the tour either by boat trip along the Keukenhof canals, or by visiting a pet farm, which is located very close to the park.
Zanse schans
Country holidays in the Netherlands can not be imagined without visiting the open-air museum Zanse Schans, famous primarily for its many windmills. By the way, they are still in working condition and they grind grain almost every day. Tourists are advised to definitely look at this amazing process with their own eyes. The museum is also located in the suburbs of Amsterdam. Its visitors can visit a real farm located on its territory. Here workers make cheese and churn butter. The farm is decorated in a traditional Dutch style. Small old houses and workshops have been built everywhere, where they are engaged in the manufacture of national shoes. Her tourists can buy as a souvenir.
It is most convenient to get to the Zanse Schans Museum from Amsterdam by bus, but you can do this by train, taxi or even bicycle. The park is open every day until 17:00.
Meyderslot Castle
Sightseeing tours of Amsterdam often include exploring the surrounding area. For example, quite often guides offer tourists to look at the Meyderslot castle, which is 15 km from the capital. Its exact date of construction has not yet been established. However, it is considered one of the oldest medieval castles in the Netherlands, while completely restored. This is done so that tourists can personally see how the huge fortress originally looked. The first information about his whereabouts dates back to the 13th century.
The castle was built at the mouth of the Fechta River. It is considered a small castle, which supposedly housed customs. Its first owner, Earl Floris, collected tribute from merchant ships passing along the river. According to legend, he was killed by servants, and the ghost of the count still wanders around the castle.
The castle is surrounded by a small pond and a picturesque garden. All its facilities are open to tourists. They can look at the restored interiors of rooms of the XV century. For children, a medieval "amusement park" is equipped. Here you can watch a real falconry or visit the spice garden.
Oudekerk
When making a tour of Amsterdam in 1 day, pay attention to the Oudekerk church, which is considered the oldest surviving building in the city. The first wooden chapel in its place was erected in 1206, and the stone temple was consecrated in 1306. The church was built in the style of Flemish Gothic, however, due to numerous reconstructions, it acquired some elements characteristic of the Renaissance. For example, the bell tower erected in the 16th century belongs to this style. Now this ancient church occupies 3300 square meters. m., and also boasts the largest wooden arch in Europe. With its help, a unique acoustics is created in the temple, which is definitely worth evaluating for all tourists who come to Amsterdam.
Three bodies are located in Oudekerke, the oldest of which was brought here in the 17th century. Here is the oldest surviving bell in Holland. It is known that it was cast in 1450. On the church floor you can see numerous gravestones. For example, here lies the wife of Rembrandt and one of the founders of New York. The church is still an active temple in which services are regularly held. You can visit it any day. The exceptions are Christmas, Easter, and January 1st.
Vincent Van Gogh Museum
The route in Amsterdam for 1 day must necessarily include a visit to several iconic museums of the city. There are a lot of them open in the capital. But one of the most visited is a museum dedicated to the work of Vincent Van Gogh - the famous Dutch artist. The building, built in a modern style, contains not only a huge number of paintings, but also saved his songs. The museum offers tourists to see about 200 paintings by Van Gogh - this is about a quarter of all his works.
The idea of creating an artist’s museum was proposed to the government by his nephew. Initially, the exposition of paintings was located with the Rijksmuseum, but in 1973 it moved to a new building. The museum itself is divided into five sections, each of which tells about one of the most important stages of Van Gogh's work. The building also hosts exhibitions of archival and private collections. The museum offers to see the work of some of Van Gogh's contemporaries, his laboratory of creativity and the library. The facility is open daily; tourists can purchase a special audio guide at the entrance.
Anne Frank House Museum
If you are keen on history, then your trip to Amsterdam in 1 day should include a visit to the house of Anna Frank, who was later rebuilt into a museum dedicated to her short but vibrant life. It was in this building that a little Jewish girl, with her family, was hiding from the Nazis during the Second World War. Here she kept her famous diary, which, incidentally, is still kept in this house. Near the museum is a statue of a girl, locals and tourists lay flowers at her. The building also houses the Oscar, an award presented to actress Shelley Winters, who played the role of Anna in a film based on her diary. Here are numerous photographs of the Frank family. Tourists can look at the restored office of Father Anna, furniture and things of war. The museum is open daily.
Diamond factory
When examining Amsterdam on your own in 1 day, do not forget to look at the Bonfire Diamonds diamond factory, which is considered one of the oldest in Europe. However, she still works and is engaged in the processing of precious stones. Tours for tourists here are held almost every day. They can see with their own eyes all the stages of processing precious stones. After visiting the factory, visitors are invited to go to a luxury store, which presents a lot of jewelry. Also, tourists are offered to make rings according to individual sketches. At the same time, the factory tour itself is free of charge, as the factory owners hope to make a profit from the purchase of jewelry.
Thus, tourists can see many attractions in Amsterdam. If you have only one day to visit the capital, it is best to turn to an experienced guide who in a short time will not only show all the memorable places of the city, but also tell you about interesting facts and their history. Tourists who have a few days left are advised to walk around the city on their own with a guide. Amsterdam is a city with unique architecture, so even a simple walk along its central part will bring you a lot of pleasure.