Making the most of a rainy day in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city that thrives in all weather conditions. While the picturesque canals, bustling markets, and vibrant streets are appealing under sunny skies, the city has plenty to offer even when the clouds roll in. Here are some ideas for activities in Amsterdam when the weather turns gloomy.
Explore the museums
Amsterdam is home to a wealth of world-class museums, making it the perfect city for indoor cultural exploration. Dive into Dutch art and history with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh at the Rijksmuseum. The museum’s vast collections ensure that you will be entertained for hours.
Get inspired by the largest collection of Vincent van Gogh’s works, including famous pieces like “Sunflowers” and “The Bedroom”, at the Van Gogh Museum.
The Stedelijk Museum is the place in Amsterdam to discover and experience modern and contemporary visual art and design. Tickets are exclusively available online through their website.
A visit to the Anne Frank House offers a profound insight into the life of Anne Frank and the history of World War II. Here you can see the Secret Annex where Anne Frank was in hiding for more than two years and where she wrote her diary. The Anne Frank House can only be visited with a ticket bought online for a specific time slot.
For modern and contemporary art lovers, the Moco Museum is a must-visit. Featuring works by Banksy, Andy Warhol, and other contemporary artists, the museum’s innovative displays and interactive exhibits provide a thought-provoking experience.
The KattenKabinet is an art museum dedicated to works featuring cats. The museum’s collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, and other artworks by artists such as Picasso, Rembrandt, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The Cat Art Museum is housed in a canal house at Herengracht 497.
NEMO Science Museum is a fantastic place for both kids and adults. Engage with hands-on exhibits that cover everything from biology and physics to technology and engineering. The museum’s remarkable copper-green building is located near Amsterdam Central Station.
Learn about the city’s rich history and cultural heritage through interactive exhibits and fascinating displays at the Amsterdam Museum.
Explore a hidden Catholic church dating back to the 17th century, offering an interesting glimpse into Amsterdam’s religious history at Our Lord in the Attic Museum.
The National Maritime Museum (Het Scheepvaartmuseum) offers a journey through the Netherlands’ rich maritime history. Housed in the grand 17th-century arsenal building, the museum features a collection of nautical artifacts. One of the standout exhibits is a full-scale replica of the Dutch East India Company ship ‘Amsterdam’, docked outside the museum.
H’ART Museum (previously The Hermitage) presents temporarily exhibitions with famous works of art from around the world, located in a historical 17th Century building alongside the Amstel River.
Fabrique des Lumières
This digital art center is located in the Westergas, a former gasworks. The cultural venue offers a unique and immersive journey through art using innovative projection technology. The center features large-scale exhibitions that project famous artworks onto the walls, floors, and ceilings, creating a 360-degree visual and auditory experience. Past exhibitions have included works by iconic artists like Vincent van Gogh, Gustav Klimt, and Claude Monet. Fabrique des Lumières transforms classical and contemporary art into a multi-sensory experience. Afterwards have a drink or a bite at one of the many bars and restaurants in the vibrant Westergas area.
Cozy up in a brown café
Amsterdam’s traditional brown cafes are the perfect spots to escape the rain and enjoy some local flavor. These cozy establishments, known for their wooden interiors and warm atmospheres, are great places to sip on a coffee or a local brew with a hot Dutch snack like ‘bitterballen’. Popular brown cafes include Café Lowietje, Lokaal ’t Loosje, Café Sonneveld, Café De Blaffende Vis and Café Gruter.
Café de Sluyswacht has been one of the most beautiful spots on the Jodenbreestraat for years. Originally built in 1692 as a residence for the sluyswacht, the man who operated the adjacent sluice. Historic Amsterdam at its best.
Café ’t Smalle is a gem on Egelantiersgracht with genuine Jordanese charm and a beautiful terrace by the canal. You are welcome from 10 AM for a coffee, sandwich, bitterballen, or of course, a beer and jenever.
Café Hoppe on the Spui is one of Amsterdam’s oldest cafés. They offer snacks, a broad range of Dutch jenevers and a perfectly tapped beer but also breakfast and lunch. Café Hoppe is popular during the Vrijmibo, short for ‘Vrijdagmiddagborrel’ (Friday afternoon drinks). Colleagues celebrate the end of the work week and the start of a well-deserved weekend.
Winkel 43 on the Noordermarkt and Café Papeneiland on Prinsengracht are both famous for their apple pie, often considered the best in Amsterdam. The pie features a thick, buttery crust and a perfectly spiced apple filling, served with a dollop of whipped cream.
Café Bern, a cozy café with a great kitchen located on the square Nieuwmarkt since 1978, is known for its delicious cheese fondue. The Swiss wines perfectly complement the cheese.
De Hallen
Located in the Oud-West neighborhood of Amsterdam, De Hallen is a cultural and culinary hotspot housed in a beautifully renovated former tram depot. This bustling center offers an eclectic mix of attractions, including the Foodhallen, an indoor food market featuring a diverse array of international street food vendors. In addition to its culinary delights, De Hallen is home to another restaurant and bar, boutique shops, a cinema, library, art galleries, and creative workspaces. Whether you are looking to savor gourmet treats, catch an indie film, or explore contemporary art, De Hallen provides a dynamic experience that captures the creative spirit of Amsterdam.
Experience a traditional Dutch pancake and poffertjes
Treat yourself to a delicious Dutch pancake or poffertjes, a fluffy type of small pancakes, cooked in a special poffertjes pan, at one of Amsterdam’s pancake houses. The American pancake is thicker than the Dutch pancake, and the French crêpe is thinner than the Dutch pancake. Pancakes Amsterdam, MOAK Pancakes, The Happy Pig Pancake Shop and The Pancake Bakery are popular spots known for their wide variety of sweet and savory options. Poffertjes are usually served with just butter and powdered sugar.
Visit a tasting house
Amsterdam is a city renowned for its cultural richness and culinary delights. Tasting houses offer an opportunity to sample a variety of local flavors, from traditional Dutch spirits to gourmet cheeses and chocolates.
Established in 1679, Wynand Fockink is one of Amsterdam’s oldest tasting houses. This historic distillery and tasting room offer an authentic experience of traditional Dutch spirits. Sample a variety of jenevers (Dutch gin), liqueurs, and bitters.
The House of Bols, located near the Museumplein, is dedicated to Lucas Bols, the world’s oldest distilled spirit brand. The modern tasting room features custom-made cocktails crafted by expert bartenders.
Reypenaer is a renowned Dutch cheese brand known for its artisanal cheeses aged to perfection. Enjoy guided cheese-tasting sessions that are both educational and delicious.
Tony’s Chocolonely is a Dutch chocolate company committed to fair trade and ethical practices. Their Super Store near Amsterdam Central Station offers an indulgent tasting experience for chocolate enthusiasts. You can also make your own Tony’s Unlimiteds.
Explore a wide selection of jenevers, bitters, and liqueurs at A. van Wees, a family-operated distillery with a rich history dating back to 1782. Located in the Jordaan district, their tasting house provides an authentic Dutch experience.
At Brouwerij Poesiat & Kater Proeflokaal you will find all their beers and specials. The Tasting Room is the ideal place to gather with friends and enjoy delicious home-brewed beer.
Catch a movie
The Eye Film Museum is dedicated to cinematic arts and offers a range of film screenings, from classic movies to contemporary indie films. The museum’s stunning architecture and panoramic views of the IJ River make it a noteworthy visit.
The Movies is a small and cozy cinema on the Haarlemmerdijk, decorated in an Art Deco style, here you can watch art house films, documentaries and the better Hollywood productions.
The iconic Tuschinski Theatre has been named the most beautiful cinema in the world by Time Out magazine. Tuschinski is a wonderful blend of art deco and art nouveau, located nearby the Rembrandtplein.
FC Hyena is a boutique cinema and petit restaurant on the banks of the IJ in Amsterdam North. They screen a wide range of mainstream and independent films. Before or after the movie, you can enjoy a drink, snack, lunch, or dinner.
Indoor activities
At Aloha on De Ruyterkade you will find palm tree-lined bowling lanes and a snack & cocktail menu. All rooms at Aloha follow a theme, such as the “Pirates & The Sea” theme in the glow-in-the-dark mini golf, or the “Underground Bunker” theme in the laser tag arena.
Knijn Bowling on Scheldeplein is the city’s most famous bowling alley, opened in 1971. It has eighteen lanes, and every Friday and Saturday after 11 PM, you can enjoy Disco Bowling.
This is Holland offers a thrilling 5D flight experience that lets you explore the beauty of the Netherlands from a bird’s-eye view. Located in Amsterdam North, near the A’DAM Tower, this attraction takes you on a virtual journey across the cities, countryside and famous windmills. The entire happening consists of four parts: two informative shows about Holland, a 9-minute 5D flying experience and the opportunity to delve deeper into the Holland Lounge.
Amsterdam’s tasting rooms and brown cafes
Amsterdam’s historic heart: The Royal Palace
Every five years SAIL Amsterdam takes place. This means that in August 2015 a fleet of Tall Ships from all over the world will come to the IJ harbour and everybody is welcome to visit them. During the four day exhibition many other cultural events and maritime-themed entertainment will take place both on the water and on the wharfs.
Have you always wanted to look closely at an original painting by Rembrandt? Or to discover the world’s largest collection of works by Van Gogh? Amsterdam boasts an array of interesting museums, including many that are world famous. If you are thinking of visiting a couple of museums in Amsterdam, we would recommend that you buy a Museum Card (Museumkaart).
Water is inextricably linked with Amsterdam, to cross all these canals and rivers, the city has about 1700 bridges.
During September 5th - 15th, Amsterdam hosts the Dutch thespian event of the year, the Netherlands Theater festival, resulting in a retrospective summary of Holland’s ten best stage productions of the season. The festival also includes presenting the very prestigious Theater Prize for best production along with the Golden Cricket award for the best children's play. Coinciding with the Netherlands Theater Festival, the Amsterdam Fringe Festival supports all types of theater appreciators. This span of early September is where theatrical focuses intermingle and refined amazements appear each day.
Spring is in the air and you are invited to enjoy Amsterdam’s natural spring snow while on your leisure or business short stay. The annual Springsnow Festival runs from 21 April to 21 May, 2014 and lets you feel the Elm seeds as they fall from the trees.
Sample fine cuisine, learn from the pros, and browse the food exhibition at Taste of Amsterdam. This tasty al fresco event is on for 2014 from 15 to 18 May at Amstelpark which is near many of our Amsterdam apartments.
Start counting down to September 21st - 22nd and be one of over 55,000 participants testing themselves in one of the world's largest running events, the Dam tot Damloop - passing along the Prins Hendrikkade in Amsterdam’s center, through the IJ automobile tunnel, all the way onto the Zaandam. Each race in this series provides a strong connection with the city! Feel an extra surge in will pulsating outward from the 250,000 cheering spectators and the dozens of live music performances set up along the way. All are welcome to join; there is also a Mini Dam to Dam Run for the kids and more!
A travelling tent festival of theater and more, De Parade, happens among four major Dutch cities, transforming public spaces into lively summer, circus stages. These theater, dance, and music performances provide some rare artistic displays, such as antique whirligigs made of miniature wheels. Inventing light, exciting scenes for a charitable cause is the ultimate purpose of De Parade. There is even a day program given for kids. Lasting from August 9th - 25th in Amsterdam’s Martin Luther King Park, food stands line the park to offer culinary delights that complement the frolicking festivities. With 74 performances, 19 children shows and 35 bands, this event truly has something for all to value. So bring the kids along for a full family outing!
The Noordoostpolder, opposite the Markermeer bay from Amsterdam, contains more tulips than anywhere else in the Netherlands. From April 17 - May 5th, the annual Tulip Festival is a formal introduction to the super abundant tulip fields in the Noordoostpolder. Each spring a small migration of flower lovers saunters through a landscape of blooming bulbs, hand seeded a few months prior. Come admire the sheer outburst of organic colors arrayed forth in nectar scented petals.
