The only big park in the city centre is the Vondelpark – a very lively place, where people go to sit and relax, take part in sports like running and cycling, and occasionally get high on a magic mushroom or two. No, seriously.



For those who feel like tilting at a few windmills, it’s actually quite difficult in Amsterdam. There are plenty of windmills around, but only one is open to visitors: Molen van Sloten. It’s very interesting inside, though, and well worth a visit.

Plenty of companies offer one-hour canal boat cruises – there are so many canals and boats in Amsterdam that it’s really not difficult to find one. A quick trip around the city centre’s canals can be a great way to get your bearings and find more things to see and do, and it can be very affordable to boot. The chances are that the guy steering the boat will speak excellent English and be able to act as a very knowledgeable tour guide for you.

If you’ve got children with you, you could take a trip to Artis, a great little zoo. Tickets to the zoo also include entry to the planetarium and the aquarium, so it’s a good value family day out.

People who are willing to go a little further a field will find that the Netherlands’ beaches are only 20 minutes away from Amsterdam by train, if you go to the closest part of the coast. The beaches are very nice in the summer, and offer a good opportunity to escape the city for one day of your holiday.