Attractions aplenty in Amsterdam
The Dutch capital of Amsterdam has a wealth of attractions tucked away in its historic city centre and boasts enough sightseeing options to fill many a group itinerary, as Kerry Bailey discovers.
Groups visiting Amsterdam, the capital city of The Netherlands, for the first time will be overcome with the number of attractions spilling out of its compact city centre. World class museums such as the Van Gogh Museum entwine with modern pavement cafes and shops, botanical gardens, bustling markets and historically significant attractions such as Anne Frank House.
And, with bicycles and trams the only traffic to contend with in the heart of this flat city, groups will find navigating their way from venue to venue relatively easy.
Groups that are planning to do plenty of sightseeing during their break should consider purchasing iamsterdam cards, which can be pre-booked via the dedicated website www.iamsterdam.com in advance of a visit or purchased from any tourist information centre in Amsterdam on arrival. The card offers free use of all public transport in the city including trams and the metro in addition to free admission to many of the museums and visitor attractions detailed in this feature and more. These can be purchased for a duration of 24, 48 or 72 hours.
Getting around
If your members prefer a gentle pace, why not neglect the metro and tram in favour of a more traditional method of getting around the city?
Amsterdam began its days as a small fishing village built on the water in 1250 and today, its intricate maze of canals and waterways provide an excellent way for visitors to familiarise themselves with the city.
The Canal Bus Company offers three different routes that stop at major visitor attractions in Amsterdam. The basic sightseeing cruises depart every 40 minutes from Central Station and offer a commentary on Amsterdam’s history and sights. Groups that purchase the Day Pass, however, can hop on and off vessels at various points around the city all day. GTOs can also privately charter vessels and pre-book meals and refreshments onboard.
Bicycling, meanwhile, is a way of life for the Dutch and Mac Bikes, especially, offers good group discounts on bicycle hire. Its outlets can be found at central locations such as Leidseplein and Central Station and GTOs can also pre-book one of the company’s bicycle city tours for their members.
A maze of museums
With over 50 museums in the centre of Amsterdam alone, it seems as though there is a significant venue to visit around every corner and groups looking to follow a cultural vein on their trip will certainly be spoilt for choice. Here are just a few highlights.
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of The Netherlands and a good place to start. Founded in 1800, it contains extensive collections of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age – from the late 1500s to the early 1700s – when Dutch art was amongst the most acclaimed in the world. A real highlight of visiting is the opportunity to see the extensive collection of Rembrandt paintings. Pre-booked groups receive discounted entry and the option of a guided tour.
The house in which Rembrandt lived between 1639 and 1660 can be found a short walk from here. Rembrandt House Museum is laid out exactly as it would have been during the artist’s occupancy with personal items displayed alongside a collection of his works. Pre-booked groups
of 15 or more receive discounts and fast-track entry. Guided tours are also available on request.
The largest collection of works by Vincent Van Gogh in the world can be found at the nearby Van Gogh Museum, meanwhile, where groups must pre-book. Here, the core collections are comprised of the Dutch artist’s best-known landscape, self-portrait and still life paintings.
Continuing the art theme, Impressionism, Cubism and Expressionism are all documented at the neighbouring Stedelijk Museum with works by artists including Matisse, Picasso and Warhol amongst its permanent collections. Groups of 15 or more receive discounted entry.
For an emotive glimpse into history, groups can pay a visit to Anne Frank House, where the ‘secret annex’, in which Anne Frank and her Jewish family hid during the World War II German occupation of The Netherlands, remains largely untouched. The moveable bookcase that concealed the entrance to the annex is still in place as are the postcards of film stars that Anne pasted onto her bedroom walls. Audio, film footage and items that once belonged to the occupants help to illustrate the stories of the people who hid in the building and groups can also pre-book exclusive introductory talks on arrival.
To learn more about the persecution of Jews during the Second World War, groups should visit the Jewish Historical Museum, which is a short walk from Anne Frank House and also documents the role of religion and tradition in Jewish culture. Pre-booked groups receive discounted rates.
Built in 1687 by wealthy merchant Albert Geelvinck, meanwhile, the canal-side Geelvinck Hinlopen House is a fine example of a 17th century Dutch mansion and is well worth a look. The extensive gardens are a particular highlight in addition to the period Chinese Room, which is lavishly decorated and furnished and was considered the height of fashion in 17th century Amsterdam. Groups must pre-book.
For a look inside a slightly different kind of Dutch house, groups can visit the Houseboat Museum, an authentic houseboat permanently moored on the Prinsengracht Canal. Although it is no longer lived in, the vessel’s sleeping bunk, sizable living room, kitchen and bathroom are all intact and furnished. Pre-booking is essential for groups.
A more official residence, the Amsterdam Royal Palace is located in the centre of the historic Dam Square and is one of the Queen of Holland’s three official royal palaces. Groups are welcomed and receive discounted admission, a free audio tour and the option of a pre-booked guided tour.
Whilst not a museum, Amsterdam’s De Hortus Botanicus- or botanical garden – is described by locals as ‘the jewel of the city’ and is certainly worth a visit. An oasis of calm in the midst of the city bustle, it was established in 1638 as a herb garden for doctors and pharmacists. Over the centuries it has evolved into a live museum with over 6,000, sometimes unique, plant varieties on show from all continents. Groups are offered one free place in every 20 and can pre-book exclusive evening openings.
Iconic images
A trip to Amsterdam would not be complete without sampling a few of the iconic delights of the city.
The Netherlands is synonymous with windmills and, surprisingly, groups need not travel out of Amsterdam to find one. The working Sloten Windmill is located on the outskirts of the city and welcomes groups by guided tour only, during which the miller demonstrates how the mill cap is turned in order for the vanes to face the wind. Out of hours openings are also available when pre-booked. The attraction also houses The Coopery Museum, where groups can see traditional methods of building wooden casks, which were once used for the transport and storage of products such as fish, meat, cheese and beer.
Heading back into the city centre, groups can learn about the beer brewing process of Heineken – brewed in Amsterdam since the 19th century – at the Heineken Experience. Although no longer produced on the premises, groups are introduced to the history of the company before being invited to explore the original brewing room and even peer inside historic hop boilers. Pre-booked groups receive discounted admission, which includes all-important samples.
Since the 15th century, Amsterdam has also been renowned for its diamond industry and groups can visit the Gassan Diamond Factory, located in its original 1878 building in the heart of the city. Here, during a free one-hour guided tour, visitors can watch rough diamonds being cut, polished and then mounted in addition to viewing a large collection of jewellery. A free beverage is also offered at the end of the tour. Groups must pre-book.
Tulips are another iconic attraction of The Netherlands and groups should definitely make a stop at The Floating Flower Market, believed to be the only one of its kind in the world. One of the most fragrant parts of Amsterdam, the Market is located on the Singel Canal and displays and sells all sorts of tulips, narcissus and other bulbs and flowers across several houseboats. Entry is free.
And now for something completely different …
If you are looking to add an entertaining element to your programme, Amsterdam is full of fun attractions that will appeal to your members.
Deep in the heart of the city and buried beneath the paving stones is the Amsterdam Dungeons, which brings hundreds of years of The Netherland’s history to life with the use of live actors. Here, groups can learn about the likes of the 16th century Council of Blood, which condemned 18,000 city dwellers to death for religious treason, and the Great Plague, which decimated Europe in 1347. Groups of 15 or more receive discounted admission and must pre-book.
Over 130 waxwork models of famous personalities await groups visiting the neighbouring Madame Tussauds Amsterdam including artists Rembrandt and Vermeer, who can be found sitting alongside a recreated canal of 300 years ago. Members in your group may also enjoy the opportunity to lie on a bed with pop star Robbie Williams or climb aboard ‘The Black Pearl’, Captain Jack Sparrow’s ship of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ fame, where many model characters from the film can also be found. Pre-booked groups receive discounts and fast-track entry.
Artis, meanwhile, was founded in 1838, making it the oldest zoo in The Netherlands. It boasts over 700 species from all over the world ranging from polar bears and lions to wolves and vultures. Highlights include the African Savannah, where groups can see zebras, mongoose, gazelles and all manner of birds in a recreated natural habitat in addition to the Zoological Museum and the Geological Museum, both of which house interesting artefacts and exhibitions relating to the natural world. Groups of 20 or more receive discounted admission. Behind the scenes tours are also available when pre-booked.
A must for groups in search of light evening entertainment is Boom Chicago, a comedy show in English presented by professional comedians. Playing at the Leidseplein Theatre every night, the show is different every evening, offering a mix of scripted material and improvisation with plenty of audience participation. Groups can dine throughout the show with a range of exclusive group menus and packages available to be pre-booked.
If live comedy is not to your taste, the very central Muziektheater is home to both The Netherlands Opera and The Dutch National Ballet. Each year the Dutch National Ballet presents eight different productions in 115 performances, of which 70 take place at the Muziektheater. During the day, the theatre also offers behind the scenes tours exclusively to groups although these must be pre-booked.
How to get there
Amsterdam is easily reached by air from the UK with a flight time of just one hour and departures from 17 regional airports. Operaters include British Airways, easyJet, Transavia Airlines, Air France, bmibaby and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
As the city is located on water, river cruising and ferry travel are other popular ways to reach Amsterdam.
DFDS Seaways operates two overnight crossings per day from Newcastle to Amsterdam, during which pre-booked groups of 10 or more can enjoy discounted accommodation and meal options.
Stena Line, meanwhile, has recently unveiled two newly refurbished vessels ‘Stena Britannica’ and ‘Stena Hollandica’, which offer one sailing each from Harwich in Essex to the Hook of Holland per day; one is a daytime sailing whilst the other is overnight. Following the £70 million investment, new facilities onboard each vessel include two bars, two restaurants, refurbished cabins and a cinema. The ‘Rail and Sail’ package allows groups to sail from the UK to Holland and then climb onboard Stena Line’s ‘dutchflyer’ train service to Amsterdam. Group discounts are offered.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions
PO Box 30783
London WC2B 6DH
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7539 7950
Fax: +44 (0)20 7539 7953
E-mail: info-uk@holland.com
Web: www.holland.com