Amsterdam Things To Do

Even if you’ve read the tale of this young teenager who went into hiding from the Nazis, visiting the canal house where it all happened can whack you right in the gut. Plan to go late in the day to avoid the long lines to tour the cramped rooms her family shared for two years.

Although the main building is under construction until 2010, there’s a very worthy collection of the best of Dutch art – from masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals, and Steen – in the Philips Wing.

The works of this deeply troubled genius (including Sunflowers, The Bedroom, and Self Portrait with Felt Hat) are on splendid exhibition in this building by noted Dutch architect Gerrit Rietveld. Special cultural events take place Friday nights. The main exhibit is divided into five chronological periods, and the exhibition wing of his contemporaries is housed in Kisho Kurokawa's titanium-roofed creation.

Under a strict Protestant regime (back when Amsterdam wasn’t so tolerant), Catholics were forced to worship in “clandestine” churches like this one.

This gracious, 140-plus-year-old park on the south side of town is perfect for an afternoon with the kids, a leisurely bike ride, a concert at the open-air theater, or events at the Film Museum.

This intimate courtyard was once a cloister for nuns; inside you’ll find the oldest wooden house in the city as well as some unexpectedly handsome churches. The beautifully restored buildings date back to the 1400s.

One of this city’s great and myriad ironies that its oldest standing building (1306), also one of its holiest, is in the Red Light District. Check for times of services or take in one of the frequent art exhibits here.

Nearly adjacent to the Anne Frank House, this church is where you'll find Rembrandt's grave. Visitors today can climb its 272-foot tower (the tallest in Amsterdam) for the city’s best views and a look at the bells Anne Frank heard while in captivity.

Think a museum of antique technology sounds dull? Hold on to your hat! You don’t just look at the gas lamps, electricity transformers, and elevators here; docents will fire them up for you in this former power station for the city’s trams.

Taking advantage of one of the world’s most dynamic architecture scenes, Architecture Center Amsterdam operates engaging tours of the city’s contemporary architectural highlights.