guardian travel amsterdam

Amsterdam welcomes decline of nuisance tourism after ‘stay away’ drive

Some locals say number of stag party-type visitors is down after campaign targeting young Britons

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“Brits on tour!” laughed Devon Bennett, finishing her English breakfast at the all-day brunch restaurant Greenwoods. The 23-year-old from Brighton was in Amsterdam with 20 old school friends, attracted by the city’s reputation for freedom, fun and frolics. “If weed wasn’t legal,” said her friend Chloé Bishop, “people wouldn’t come here just to get high.”

But there is some evidence that high times are ending for partying Britons, whose stag and hen nights have become a byword for tourist nuisance in Amsterdam’s red light district.

Earlier this year, the municipality made headlines with an extraordinary “dissuasion” campaign targeting British men aged 18 to 34. A search for terms such as “stag night” or “cheap hotel Amsterdam” was a trigger for dire government adverts warning that a messy night taking drugs and getting trashed in the Dutch capital could lead to a €140 fine, a criminal record and permanent health damage.

Although many Dutch pundits were critical of the campaign, research by the travel industry analyst ForwardKeys based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) ticketing database suggests it may be working: flights between the UK and Amsterdam fell by 22% between 2019 and this year, while there were rises in destinations such as Paris and Athens. Amsterdam council says its own figures, based on World Travel & Tourism Council analysis, show a “light drop” in UK travellers in the period.

Bert Nap, a long-term city centre resident who is truly fed up with partygoers screaming at the top of their lungs and vomiting on his house, is seeing a difference . “We’ve noticed that the number of stag party-type visitors is less than before,” he said. “Just after Covid it came back full force. Then came the ‘stay away’ campaign and we have indeed noticed a decrease in the kind of visitor who goes absolutely wild.”

He added: “It was mostly British young visitors coming here in groups, on flights for less than a round of beer. Alcohol is often involved and foreign visitors, especially the English and Irish, start drinking early in the morning. People are very welcome in Amsterdam but we are not a playground for misbehaviour.”

Alongside cities such as Barcelona and Venice, Amsterdam authorities are taking dramatic measures to stop nuisance tourism, even if it means tourists staying away: in the spring they introduced earlier closing times for brothels and bars in the red light district, banned cannabis smoking on the streets and started the “stay away” campaign.

“In recent years, the municipality has taken various measures and run campaigns to limit the growth in tourism and nuisance,” a council spokesperson told the Guardian. “It’s important to stress that this is not only aimed at Britons but general measures aiming to counter a worldwide growth in nuisance tourism. So the council looks hopefully at these figures.”

Not everyone is quite so hopeful. This summer, Amsterdam did not issue a single fine for tourists breaking the ban on outdoor cannabis smoking, and while the police presence was greater on the streets when the Guardian visited, many stress that prevention is key. “It is better to combat nuisance than to be preoccupied with visitor numbers,” said Maarten Bruinsma, of the B&B association Amsterdam Gastvrij, who points out that local hosts do not want partying excesses either.

Businesses are not sure anything has changed. Theodoor van Boven, the founding director of the Condomerie shop in the red light district, quoted a WhatsApp group of owners. “One flower business has less nuisance, a chic restaurant says ‘now all you have are the absolute lowlife from England’ and another says ‘the English are the best because they always pay their bills’,” he said. “I don’t notice a big difference myself.”

Others believe the “stay away” campaign has even damaged Amsterdam’s reputation as a historic place of shelter and hospitality. Marco Lemmers, the chief executive of Conscious Hotels, points out that plans to target other countries have not yet happened, stigmatising the Britons. “People are saying that it’s a success,” he said. “But is it a success if you have made your country sound unwelcoming? From that perspective, you could certainly say they have achieved something.”

It is unusual for a country to destimulate tourism, says David Tarsh, a spokesperson for ForwardKeys, who notes that while flight restrictions at Schiphol are having an effect, ForwardKeys data does not represent cheap carriers such as easyJet, while Ryanair capacity from Manchester and Edinburgh to Eindhoven has increased. “Nearly every country in the world wants tourists,” he said. “Tourists come and spend foreign currency, it’s the easiest export revenue you can get and it’s hugely valuable for the economy and a spread of jobs.”

Lars Duursma, a communications expert who produced an alternative campaign depicting rich Britons staying away in pique, points out that Amsterdam is raising tourist taxes next year. “If the steering force at Amsterdam municipality is to have fewer tourists, a lot of people will say: watch out because they bring us a lot of money and we have financial problems right now,” he said.

The Dutch have also done nothing to tackle their own problem young men, whose hooliganism is equally notorious internationally and who are, according to Nap, “the hardest to talk to”. One travel expert believes it’s convenient to blame a group now unprotected by EU freedom of movement rights post-Brexit. “When things don’t go well, it’s basic human nature to look for someone to blame,” he said. “Maybe that’s what’s going on here to a certain extent and it usually plays well with the domestic audience because people tend to be tribal.”

On the streets of the red light district on Thursday night after Ajax had lost to Brighton in the Europa League – there were few signs that the party had abated. Rob Buckwell, 50, from Brighton, visiting with his son Ben and two friends, was in the city for an old-fashioned good time and thinks it is a shame a few idiots give Britons a bad image. “We haven’t done drugs – it’s pure adrenaline,” he said amicably. “We’re high on life!”

• This article was amended on 12 November 2023. An earlier version of a picture caption said that an image showed police officers but it shows enforcement officers.

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With every justification, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s top short-break destinations. It’s a compact, instantly likeable city, that’s appealing to look at and pleasant to walk around. An intriguing mix of the parochial and the international, it has a welcoming attitude towards visitors and a uniquely youthful orientation, shaped by the liberal counter-culture that took hold in the 1960s. Also engaging are the buzz of its open-air summer events and the intimacy of its clubs and bars, not to mention the Dutch facility with languages: just about everyone you meet in Amsterdam will be able to speak near-perfect English, on top of their own native Dutch and often French and German too. If you are looking for a place to stay in Amsterdam you may find our expert’s guide to the best area’s to stay in Amsterdam helpful on deciding where to visit next.

City canal tours

Royal revelry.

Amsterdam has three world-famous sights, the Anne Frank Huis , the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum , with its wonderful collection of Rembrandt paintings. In addition, there is a slew of lesser known places to visit, from the Resistance Museum through to the Royal Palace on the Dam, though for many tourists the city’s canals are its main draw – take a cruise or a stroll around the Grachtengordel and you’ll see why. Beyond the sights, Amsterdam also boasts an unparalleled selection of drinking places, be it a traditional, bare-floored brown café or one of the city’s many designer bars and grand cafés. The city’s nightlife and cultural events have a similarly innovative edge, with offerings that are at the forefront of contemporary European film, dance, drama and music. In addition, Amsterdam boasts one of the world’s leading classical orchestras, a platoon of great clubs, and one of Europe’s liveliest and largest gay scenes.

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No one could say the Amsterdam tourist industry doesn’t make the most of its canals, with a veritable armada of glass-topped cruise boats shuttling along the city’s waterways, offering everything from quick hour-long excursions to fully-fledged dinner cruises. There are several major operators and they occupy the prime pitches, either the jetties near Centraal Station on Stationsplein or beside the first part of the Damrak. Despite the competition, prices are fairly uniform with a one-hour tour costing around €14 per adult, €7 per child (4–12 years old). The big companies, for example Lovers ( t 020 530 5412, w lovers.nl ), also run a lot of different themed cruises – candlelight cruises, cocktail cruises, etc – with tickets costing in the region of €32–35, though dinner cruises will rush you about €75. All the basic cruises are extremely popular and long queues are common throughout the summer. One way of avoiding much of the crush is to walk down the Damrak from Centraal Station to the jetty at the near end of the Rokin, where Reederij P. Kooij ( t 020 623 3810, w rederijkooij.nl ), which also has a jetty beside Centraal Station, offers all the basic cruises at cheaper prices. For other types of canal transport.

After the abdication of Queen Beatrix in favour of her son, Amsterdam saw its last Queen’s Day on 30 April, 2013. Traditionally the city’s biggest party with up to half a million people packing the streets and canals, it remains to be seen whether King’s Day (27 April) will rival it. Knowing the Dutch, the orange wigs will be dusted off, the sound systems cranked up and the city will become one big waterside disco again in April 2014 (just book ahead if you want to be there).

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written by Keith Drew

updated 26.04.2021

A former Rough Guides Managing Editor, Keith Drew has written or updated over a dozen Rough Guides, including Costa Rica, Japan and Morocco. As well as writing for The Telegraph, The Guardian and BRITAIN Magazine, among others, he also runs family-travel website Lijoma.com. Follow him @keithdrewtravel on Twitter and @BigTrips4LittleTravellers on Instagram.

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Amsterdam travel guide: Best things to do and where to stay for a 2023 city break

As attractive as it is edgy, from cobbled canalside streets to a vibrant art scene, the dutch capital remains perenially popular for a reason. shilpa ganatra shares the best ways to explore, article bookmarked.

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Y ou’ll know when you’ve arrived in Amsterdam . The constant ring-ring of bicycle bells , the wonderfully oddball Dutch humour, its mighty museums filled with eclectic treasures, cute-as-a-button canals and the occasional waft of legal marijuana single it out as a special destination within Europe.

It's a brilliantly walkable city, delightful when just strolling past the gabled buildings – similar to something out of a Wes Anderson film – but also heavy with green spaces. Plump for barbecues in Rembrandtpark and open-air theatre within Vondelpark. Eating spots creatively span traditional to super-modern, whether you're after snacks or fine dining, and there's no shortage of places for drinks, from cocktails to local beers.

Amsterdam is one of Europe's most popular city break destinations, and a little extra planning goes a long way – so here’s our guide to getting the most out of a visit.

Museums, galleries and exhibitions

It’s rare to turn a corner in central Amsterdam without hitting what might be the main attraction in lesser cities. The most famous trio are the Heineken Experience , the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House , as suggested by the impossibly large queues at peak times. Niche offerings stretch to a museum dedicated to hidden attic churches with the delightful Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder , and even an interactive microbe exhibition, Micropia . At the bigger attractions, including the Rijksmuseum (adjacent to Van Gogh), booking timed tickets in advance is a must.

Read more on Netherlands travel :

• Follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps on an off-the-beaten-track Netherlands tour
• The best cheap hotels in Amsterdam: Where to stay on a budget
• The green guide to visiting The Hague

Lounge around at A’dam Toren

A free ferry ride away from Centraal Station is the A’dam Toren , a music-themed 22-storey multi-use building in which to eat, drink, party and sleep. It’s for daredevils too: the rooftop bar, which often features live DJs, features a swing that propels you off the building.

For those who choose to, Amsterdam is the place in Europe to imbibe cannabis legally. As the longest-running coffee shop, The Bulldog is a popular hangout, as is the Grey Area : the Amsterdam coffeeshop of choice for Snoop Dogg, Woody Harrelson and Willie Nelson. Owners are accustomed to novice smokers, so seek a few words of advice before getting stuck in (and opt for a pre-rolled joint rather than attempting it yourself).

Hang out at NDSM

Very much the Shoreditch of the Dutch capital, NDSM is a reclaimed industrial wasteland now filled with street art, cafes, event spaces and even a beach – because hipsters need to catch the sun, too.

Explore the canals

The classic excursion for seeing the waterways is to go on a canal boat tour – again, booking in advance will help preserve your sanity – but if you prefer to feel in control, opt for hiring a pedalo instead and take yourself on a self-guided tour.

Where to stay

A decently priced option is The Albus , a budget design hotel that’s well-located and offers great service, including a welcome drink. Rooms are functional for a short break, especially with triple-glazed windows blocking out any traffic noise.

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Hotel Amenities

Health & wellbeing.

Ecomama is a funky hostel that looks like a member’s club on entering. In addition to private rooms and basic but functional dorms, those used to festival life can crash in the teepee or sleep pods, just off the reception area.

For something uniquely Amsterdam -esque, Sweets Hotel is a city-wide series of 28 transformed bridge houses, where staff once manually controlled the canals. Now, guests use a passcode to electronically enter their unique suite, with beautiful canal views and modern amenities.

Or swap the convenient location for a better price at Volkshotel . With dedicated workspaces, a raft of social goings-on and a rooftop hot tub and sauna, it’s one for those looking for a temporary community.

An outstanding premium option is The Dylan , in the 9 Streets area. It’s a homely 40-room boutique hotel with impressive attention to detail; the inviting open-fire lounge and Michelin-starred restaurant are appealing enough to delay guests from exploring the city outside (at least temporarily).

Where to eat

Bakers & Roasters is the go-to place for breakfast. They don’t take reservations, but show up, get your place in the queue, and wander around for an hour or two while checking the website to see your progress. Once inside the cramped space, dishes are generous and contemporary. Alternatively, try Dignita , which has a number of locations around the city and whose all-day menu includes their version of brunch classics.

Pancakes Amsterdam is close enough to Centraal Station to be disregarded, but its prime location on the banks of the IJ and unending range of pancakes – try the apple and cheese toppings for the traditional Dutch style – are a treat. De Kas is a former municipal greenhouse that now serves a daily fine dining set menu of divine dishes. A daytime visit highlights the airy, glass-encased space.

Need a nibble? For the sweet-toothed, Van Wonderen serves top-quality Stroopwafel, freshly caramelised while you wait, with chunky toppings like mixed nuts, Oreos and speculaas. For savoury munchies, nearby Vlaams Friteshuis Vleminckx offers a premium style of chips with an extra-long list of toppings.

For dinner, Harmsen is great for modern European cuisine, while the country’s colonial history means Indonesian restaurants are popular, and the rijsttafel (small bowls of curries served with rice) is a must-try while in Amsterdam. At Blue Pepper , owner and chef Sonja Pereria’s modern takes include excellent vegan and vegetarian options; occasionally, the kitchen moves into a canal boat for a dinner cruise – an efficient use of time for the weekend visitor.

Where to drink

On a cold day, a takeaway hot chocolate from Urban Cacao hits the spot – they use 15g of chocolate drops in each cup, and the choice of 60 per cent, 70 per cent or milk cocoa is yours. Die-hards can take a tour of the factory too. Excellent tea options are found at T’s . It’s out of the way in the De Baarsjes suburb, but can’t be beaten for lovingly prepared brews for supping on site, or bags of loose-leaf tea for enjoying later.

Beer aficionados will adore the In De Wildeman , which offers hundreds of Dutch, Belgian and international beers by the bottle and a good selection on draft. If you take a shine to craft beer brand Walhalla , the taproom in Amsterdam Noord offers tasting flights of four brews.

The Flying Dutchman is an always-popular diminutive drinking den that hits the holy trinity of impressive service, innovative cocktails and great atmosphere. A stylish alternative is Satchmo , a hotspot found in the depths of a former tobacco HQ dating from 1647. Forgo the restaurant upstairs in favour of drinks and bites at the cocktail bar, where their signature espresso martini – including Patron and white chocolate liqueur – is just one of the well-balanced concoctions made to order. For drinks with a view, the W Lounge is a pricier but sophisticated rooftop bar with 360-degree views of Dam Square and beyond.

Where to shop

Visitors who get a kick out of browsing supermarket shelves should make a beeline to one of the many Albert Heijns around. Otherwise, the first place to check out is the 9 Streets , an area between the central canals with a range of independent and boutique stalls that sell everything from locally made gifts to elaborate hosiery (the latter is Nic Nic ).

De Hallen is another cluster of independent traders, this time under the shared roof of a former tram depot. The cafes outside catch the morning light perfectly, so enjoy a coffee before wandering through the stalls selling black garlic, handmade jewellery, funky stationery and wall art. At lunch, the Foodhallen is a mix of street food stalls circling a bar – this is the place to get burritos and bao.

Nearby, Ten Katemarkt is an outdoor street market selling foods and nick-nacks. It’s less touristy than the Albert Cuyp Markt but just as captivating. On a rainy day, Magna Plaza is a decent mall in a stunning building that was Amsterdam’s former main post office. Browse international brands like Lacoste and Mango alongside specialist fashion and gift shops. Open until 7pm daily, or 9pm on Thursdays.

For designer shopping, don those Louboutins and take a walk along PC Hooftstraat, home of labels like Dolce & Gabbana, Tiffany, Rolex and Gucci.

Architectural highlight

Unending rows of super cute canal houses – tall and narrow from the outside, steep staired from the inside, and occasionally sunken on one side – are the hallmark of Amsterdam. Find out their history and unique features at the Het Grachtenhuis Canal House Museum , open 10am-5pm.

What currency do I need?

What language do they speak.

Dutch, but English is widely spoken.

Should I tip?

Service charges might already be included. If not, a 10–15 per cent tip is appreciated but not necessary.

How should I get around?

Much of central Amsterdam is walkable, but if not, the tram network is easy to navigate, especially with apps like Citymapper on hand. If you’re confident enough, rent a bike and travel as the locals do.

What’s the best view?

Madam is A’Dam Toren’s panoramic bar, and features information about the city, plus a great view of Centraal Station.

Read our guide to the best hotels in Amsterdam

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There’s Never Been A Better Time To Visit Amsterdam’s Breathtaking Gardens

By Liam Hess

Wandering through the cobbled streets of Amsterdam’s historic centre, one of the most striking features isn’t just the narrow townhouses with their traditional Dutch gables, or the city’s idyllic canals, but the greenery that lines each and every one of them. You’ll find yourself passing under the lush canopies of the thousands of elm trees planted along the banks, or spot bridges that have been extravagantly decked out with baskets of brightly-coloured pink and white geraniums.

Of course, there are few cities in the world whose history is as closely entwined with the botanical world as Amsterdam . With its notoriously flat topography and temperate climate, there are plenty of geographical reasons why the Low Countries became a world centre of flower production. But the primary reason for its diverse botanical culture was that Holland served as a crossroads for traders in the 16th century. (Indeed, Holland’s most famous flower, the tulip, was first cultivated in Persia, only reaching the giddy heights of Amsterdam’s “tulip mania,” during which the cost of a single bulb could equal the same as that of a canal house, in the 1630s.)

This year, there’s a particular wealth of green-fingered delights to be had in the city, in no small part thanks to the return of the Floriade Expo, an international horticulture exhibition which takes place every 10 years, this time situated in the nearby town of Almere. And while the kaleidoscopic fields of the Bollenstreek (the flower-growing region just south of the city) and the breathtaking tulip gardens of Keukenhof are undeniably at their best during the spring, there’s a case to be made for the city as a year-round destination for horticulturalists.

Today, Amsterdam continues to be one of the greenest cities in the world – in both senses of the word. Much of this has to do with the preferred mode of transport being cycling, naturally, but also the local government’s efforts to provide extensive recycling and their aim to become the first European city to go completely zero-emission by 2030. But with a new guard of restaurants offering inventive takes on farm-to-table and seasonal cooking – many drawing almost entirely from their own kitchen gardens – the city’s food scene has equally never felt more verdant.

Here, we round up all of the best things to see, places to stay, and destinations to eat at for the ultimate immersive trip into Amsterdam’s rich flower culture.

If you’re visiting Amsterdam in the two months of the year when the Keukenhof Gardens are open – timed precisely to coincide with the full bloom of tulip season – you’re in for a treat. The vast grounds of this garden near the neighbouring city of Lisse attracts over 1.5 million visitors every year, but even on a busy weekend it’s impossible for it to feel crowded. The star of the show here is the extraordinary tulip planting. The flowers are arranged in dazzling, multicoloured patterns that must be seen to be believed. Keukenhof bills itself as “the most beautiful spring garden in the world,” and after a day spent wandering its winding pathways, you’ll find it hard to disagree.

Every 10 years, the horticultural world descends on the Netherlands for the Floriade Expo, a sprawling fair dedicated to gardens (and gardening) that this year centres around a theme of “growing green cities,” considering the future of urban green spaces, and how the city and nature can coexist. A small warning: upon visiting in late April two weeks after opening, much of the Floriade park was unfinished due to delays prompted by the pandemic. There were still plenty of highlights to enjoy – the Japanese pavilion exploring satoyama village forests, the “Green House” exploring greenhouse horticulture, and a good old cable car ride – but it may be worth managing your expectations this year all the same.

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam

In the heart of Amsterdam, overlooking the Nieuwe Herengracht canal, sits the city’s Hortus Botanicus, or botanical gardens; one of the oldest in the world. It was established in 1638 to provide medicinal herbs to supply pharmacists and doctors. With its network of vast greenhouses and tropical hothouses, there’s plenty to enjoy here come rain or shine – although most striking of all is its early 20th-century brick and glass “Palmenkas,” which houses towering palm trees, ficuses, and cinnamon trees in a gorgeously romantic setting.

Amsterdam Tulip Museum

Just up the road from the Anne Frank Museum on the Prinsengracht sits the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, a small but perfectly formed window into the history and significance of the tulip to Dutch culture. Featuring photographic displays illustrating the mind-boggling variety of tulip species, as well as deeper insights into both the history of “tulip mania” and the painstaking process of cultivating tulips that continues to this day, you’ll find any burning questions you might still have about the city’s flower production here. (And of course, it’s also the perfect place to pick up any tulip-themed paraphernalia you might want to take back home with you.)

Tulip Experience Amsterdam

While it’s another spring-specific recommendation, if you do happen to be in town during the height of tulip season, the Tulip Experience Amsterdam is more than worth checking out. Launched this year by the Pennings family, who have been in the tulip business for three decades (their company, W.A.M. Pennings, specialises in rare bulbs), it provides a comprehensive overview of the tulip growing process in a museum-like setting, as well as a show garden that contains over 500 different species. The emphasis here is on ensuring the region’s tulip industry can continue to thrive – it was launched in part as a response to tourists coming to take photos in the fields and thus destroying them. It’s a fascinating window into the art of growing tulips, both past and present.

Where to Stay

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

Few properties in Amsterdam can boast the same grandeur and historical cache as the Waldorf Astoria, which consists of six mansions from the 16th and 17th centuries that have been seamlessly adjoined within. Even fewer, however, can boast the city’s largest private grachtentuinen, or canal garden – an impossibly rare oasis that has been thoughtfully landscaped to provide plenty of quiet nooks to enjoy a glass of wine or read a book in on a warm afternoon.

As you might expect, service is impeccable, and the hotel’s dining options are impressive too. Make haste for the two Michelin star Spectrum, which offers playful riffs on classic Dutch cuisine. After the end of a long day, there are few places more alluring than the hotel’s Guerlain spa, which features a pool, sauna, and steam room along with a wide array of treatments. But the hotel’s understated elegance and overwhelming sense of calm are the real draws here – you’d never guess you were mere steps away from the hustle and bustle of the Rembrandtplein, but it’s nice to know the buzz of the city is a mere stone’s throw away all the same.

Hotel Pulitzer

If you’re looking for something a little more offbeat, Hotel Pulitzer checks all the boxes. Situated in the heart of the city’s lively Nine Streets district, which is packed to the rafters with an eclectic range of fashion boutiques and popular eateries, the hotel itself occupies the best part of an entire block, with canal frontages on either side. Consisting of 25 Golden Age canal houses in total, here, the ramshackle links between them are celebrated with changes of flooring and paintwork, while each of the 225 rooms and suites has its own individual charms.

A favourite with creative types staying in the city – its music collector’s suite is particularly popular with touring pop stars – the Pulitzer is still as refined as any other five-star offering in the city, especially when it comes to its signature restaurant Jansz, where you can tuck into unexpected twists on Dutch cuisine. (The shrimp croquettes, an updated version of the classic Dutch snack food of ground veal kroketten, are a particular delight.) Still, at the Pulitzer, it’s the surprisingly serene garden, which serves as the communal area between the two sides of the block it shares, that stands out. A celebration of the city’s history that’s still plugged into its energy today, the Pulitzer offers the best of both worlds in Amsterdam.

Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky

The Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is both a property that enjoys one of the richest historical backstories of Amsterdam’s many hotels, while also being the new kid on the block. The latter is the result of its recent acquisition by, and refurbishment thanks to, the Bangkok-based Anantara hotel group, who have revived this grande dame of the Amsterdam hotel scene to its former glories. As far as locations go, it doesn’t get much better: situated smack bang on Dam Square, with showstopping views of the Royal Palace, you couldn’t be more in the action if you tried.

And yet, within the Krasnapolsky itself, all is impressively calm – even in the palatial environs of its 19th-century “winter garden,” now used as a breakfast room, which was the brainchild of the hotel’s eccentric founder, Adolf Wilhelm Krasnapolsky. A friend of Thomas Edison, Krasnapolsky built an adjoining power station specifically to dazzle the room’s visitors with that newfangled thing the lightbulb, while also decking it out with palm trees and lavishly painted panels featuring abstracted tropical scenes. The Anantara brand also places a particular emphasis on experiences, which you can take to mean that the hospitality here truly goes above and beyond, with a wide array of tailored trips outside the city on offer. There’s also a spa, an inventive cocktail bar paying homage to Krasnapolsky’s origins as a tailor, and a Michelin star restaurant, The White Room. If you’re looking for a very central base in Amsterdam, the Krasnapolsky is the one for you.

Conservatorium Hotel

The Conservatorium Hotel is situated in the genteel Museumplein district close to the city’s cultural hubs, including the treasure trove of Dutch Golden Age art that is the Rijksmuseum and the impressively comprehensive Van Gogh Museum – as well as Amsterdam’s much more low-key equivalent of Fifth Avenue, Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat. It’s an ideal location for the Conservatorium, an architectural wonder that was once a prestigious music school. Here, a palpable sense of luxury is balanced with details that nod to the property’s previous life as a cultural institution.

Its original Art Nouveau interiors – evidenced best in the endless array of beautiful, hand-painted tiles lining its corridors – were reinvented in the early 2010s by the Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni, who introduced an enormous glass housing across the courtyard, a leafy outdoor area for balmy summer lunches, and a palpably luxurious décor scheme centred on hardwood floors, carefully-sourced marbles and leathers, and tasteful neutrals. Altogether, it achieves a perfect harmony between the historical and the modern.

When it comes to amenities, the Conservatorium also shines. Its Akasha holistic spa is by far the best in Amsterdam, including not just an underground lap pool, hammam, and sauna, but also a state-of-the-art gym and yoga studio. The cherry on top? Its in-house restaurant, Taiko – housed in the percussion room of the old music school and thus named after the Japanese word for drum – serves a pan-Asian menu whose highlights include melt-in-the-mouth otoro sashimi and barbecued duck with a zingy plum glaze. For sheer sensory pleasure alone – as well as its proximity to the city’s greatest cultural gems – the Conservatorium is hard to beat.

Where to Eat

To reach De Kas, you have to venture a little further afield, but once you arrive, it’s more than worth the journey. Situated in the suburban Park Frankendael – surely one of Amsterdam’s most picturesque green spaces, in a city that’s full of them – the restaurant inhabits a historic greenhouse and is run by the friends Wim de Beer and Jos Timmer, with the majority of the food that lands on your plate either coming from its on-site kitchen garden, or its much larger farm half an hour north of the city in Beemster. As a result, the menu changes at least weekly – sometimes more often – depending on what is landing on the chef’s counter each day.

If you think that might lead to the food feeling improvisational in any way, you’d be wrong. Visiting in late April, the menu ran the full gamut of spring fruits and vegetables – snow peas, kohlrabi, strawberries, beets, leeks – with inventive twists that felt impressively assured at every turn. With a Michelin star under its belt (and probably more importantly to de Beer and Timmer, a Michelin green star too), De Kas’s very reasonably priced set menus, which also come with vegetarian and vegan options, naturally, should make it top of your list.

Back in 2010, chef Luc Kusters launched Bolenius in an unexpected corner of Amsterdam: the city’s financial district. Sure, it may not necessarily be unexpected for an ambitious chef to launch a restaurant in a moneyed area like Zuidas, but given Kusters’s progressive philosophy, it’s easy to see how it might seem, on paper, like an unusual fit. Step into the hushed, atmospheric environs of his restaurant, though, and all of those questions are immediately answered. This is wildly inventive cooking – emphasis on the wild, given the bulk of his dishes come from his kitchen garden nearby, or are salted and preserved to be used months down the line – that is as fascinating as it is flavourful.

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Before we even get into the menu proper, bread is set on the table. Not just any bread though: the star is a wafer-thin flatbread studded with herbs and mandolin-thin slices of vegetables, like fossils set in amber. A course showcasing the offerings of this week’s kitchen garden consists of vegetables all cooked just-so – who knew a lightly steamed button mushroom could have that kind of springy, savoury tang? – while a “spaghetti” of asparagus is served in a coupé glass with cockles in a heavenly blend of herby freshness and umami. If you want to experience some of Amsterdam’s most inventive cooking with vegetables – and plenty of flowers, too – Bolenius is hard to beat.

And now for something a little different. Located in the trendy area of De Pijp, Yamazato became the first traditional kaiseki restaurant outside of Japan to be awarded a Michelin star all the way back in 2002. Since then, its quality has never waned. With a set menu of authentic Japanese dishes including a sashimi course, delicate grilled seabass, and mouthwatering, thinly-sliced Wagyu steak with burdock, there’s also a vegetarian alternative that is equally impressive.

Just as enchanting as the food, however, is the restaurant’s ambiance. The interiors are decked out in pale Japanese wood, while its staff wear traditional dress. It’s hard not to feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a ryokan somewhere in the countryside outside Kyoto. For that, you also have Yamazato’s magnificent Japanese garden to thank, starring cherry trees and a Koi pond. It creates a backdrop for your lunch or dinner that is just as green and serene as the food.

RIJKS not only has an impressive culinary pedigree, but a cultural one too: the restaurant is situated in a wing of the Rijksmuseum, the great museum of Dutch Golden Age art (and much more beyond) where you can take in the masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Still, RIJKS wears these highbrow associations lightly. Despite the elegant trappings of its dining room, there is a relaxed feel to the proceedings, which are specifically designed with the idea that you might need to kick back a little after traipsing around a museum for hours.

Still, the food is as refined as you’d expect from a Michelin star restaurant, offering an inventive take on Dutch cuisine that places a strong emphasis on local and seasonal produce. You’ll certainly find here some of the prettiest-looking dishes in Amsterdam – both the barbecued cabbage with a sauerkraut vinaigrette and the string beans with ajoblanco look just about good enough to be hung on the walls of the neighbouring museum – meaning that all of the ingredients coming from local farmers and suppliers is just the cherry on top.

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Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans

Gerrit Vandenberg

Gerrit shares his love for the Netherlands from his home near Amsterdam, helping thousands plan unforgettable trips to the lowlands. Discover his inspiring journey "From a critical health scare to celebrating Holland's charms" . If you want to send Gerrit a quick message, you can contact him here .

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Hi, I'm Gerrit

I enjoy sharing useful tips about the beauty of this county.

Are you wondering how to get from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans?

Then you’re in the right place. I’ve visited Zaanse Schans countless times in my life, with customers, with overseas friends, and by myself.

The last time I was at Zaanse Schans was in April 2024. It’s a great day trip from Amsterdam.

This article is all about how to get from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans . If you’re looking for things to do in Zaanse Schans , I have written this article for you.

There are six different ways to take a day trip to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam:

• Organized Tour (including my recommendations)
• Bus (Public Transport)
• Zaanse Schans by train
• Car (including tips)
• Bicycle (really a fun option; details in the post)
• Private Tour (by me)

The benefit of a tour is that everything is taken care of. There are no transport tickets to buy and no worries about getting off the wrong bus or train stop.

With a group tour, you get on the bus, and they will do the rest. Plus, you get commentary and a host whom you can ask questions. With a private tour, you enjoy the privacy of a car and a more personalized trip.

But it’s also easily doable on your own and I’ll explain in this article how to do it.

I secretly enjoyed my recent trip with a tour company. It was included in my Amsterdam Go City Pass (it’s a steal; here is my full review) .

But public transport will be cheaper and more flexible than a tour. Thus, keep on reading if that is of interest to you. 

Also, don’t rule out going by bike. I know I advise against bike rental in Amsterdam (it’s dangerous), but outside of the city, it’s lovely. If you have an e-bike, its distance is easy to cover, and there are pleasant routes you can take. More about that is below.

Of course, if you have a car, you can get to Zaanse Schans quite quickly. But parking is not cheap, so it’s not worth renting a car to go here. But if you plan on visiting more nearby places and making Zaanse Schans one of your stops, then a car is perfect !

Short on time ? This is what I recommend:

If you’re okay with set travel times, I recommend this organized tour (the one I was on) . Or I would take the bus (or train) if I want to be in charge of my own time. 

But keep reading for more tips.

PS: The Zaanse Schans area is a super touristy place , but at the same time, it’s a lovely open-air museum to see windmills. It’s the closest place to Amsterdam to see Dutch working windmills. Most are historic windmills.

And there is a lot more to see and do. You can see how clogs are made (and buy a pair while you’re there). Or why not try a traditional Dutch Stroopwafel (syrup waffle) or pancake?

You can also visit the cute first Albert Heijn store, which was a small general store before becoming a huge supermarket chain in the country. It’s the l argest supermarket chain in the Netherlands , but the store where it first began is in Zaanse Schans.

And best of all, the Zaanse Schans is small and super easy to walk around .

It’s a beautiful spot to learn more about the history of the Netherlands , one of the top places to visit, and chosen by 2 million visitors a year. 

I wrote a complete guide on what to do in the Zaanse Schans , including tips like why not to buy cheese here.

Table of Contents

1. pros and cons choosing a zaanse schans tour.

You might wonder why go on a Zaanse Schans tour if it’s so easy to get there by bus or train on your own time instead. What is the added benefit?

That is a good question, and the answer is: If you want complete flexibility over your day, I would recommend traveling on your own by bus or train . But…

There is a convenience to a tour company that can’t be beaten. You don’t have to worry about getting off at the right stop. Everything is taken care of for you. There is a tour guide on board giving you more background information and is there for you to answer questions.

A benefit for the Zaanse Schans is that the free cheese and clog demonstrations can fill up quickly, while a tour company always has pre-booked demonstrations just for them. Direct entrance is guaranteed.

When I was on a guided Zaanse Schans tour last summer in 2023, I felt the balance between free time and group activities (the two demonstrations) was good. The demonstrations took less than an hour, and we had about 2 hours of free time to walk around.

That is enough time to visit a windmill, take photos, shop, and eat. And that is what most people come here for.

But that’s also the downside. There is much more to do at Zaanse Schans Park , like museums, if you want to do it all, you need more time. If that is the case, getting there by public transport, bicycle, or car is a better choice.

My private tour could be a good option if you want to see more of the country and enjoy more privacy.

What’s Included in a Tour?

• Transportation to and from Amsterdam
• Short Guided tour of Zaanse Schans
• Demonstrations at Clog workshop
• Cheese-making demonstration (read shops for both)

How Long Does It Last?

The tour lasts 5 hours.

How Much Does It Cost?

I recommend this half-day Zaanse Schans Windmill tour . It cost around €30-€35, and it’s the tour I was on myself and enjoyed a lot. The tour guide, Fleur, was terrific.

PS: this tour is also included (and thus free) with the Go City Amsterdam Pass (get a pass). When you plan more activities in Amsterdam this pass is a steal! A true money saver. This is my Go City Pass review .

Tip: Consider a full-day tour.

This Charm of Holland tour (full-day) is the most complete day trip I know and includes a visit to the Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken, and Edam.

Volendam and Marken are two iconic fishing villages , and the boat tour is included. Edam is known for its cheese-making. And it’s super cute.

What’s Included?

• Guided tours of Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken, and Edam
• Lunch at a local restaurant in Volendam (I had lunch here (at full price) and enjoyed it a lot)
• Boat ride between Marken and Volendam

Expect to be out for about 8-10 hours. It’s a full day.

Cost and Booking

This tour costs €99 and includes everything: transportation, tours, boat ticket and lunch! You can book this Charm of Holland ticket here .

PS : These tours often sell out in the primary tourist season (April-September)— book in advance to secure your spot .

Prefer a Private Tour to Zaanse Schans?

You can also book a private tour with me as your personal tour guide. Please visit my private tour page to learn more and make a booking request.

Off the Beaten Track

Enjoy this off-the-beaten-path tour, where we visit Medieval Amersfoort and the former fishing village of Spakenburg.

• Meet at your accommodation
• Pre-tour call included
• Duration: 6 hours
• Visit Amersfoort and Spakenburg

Classic Countryside

The all-time classic is Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken, and Edam. As a private tour instead of a tour bus. Including hidden gems.

• Duration: 10-12 hours
• The classic Dutch Countryside

Tulips and Giethoorn

See the famous Netherlands tulip fields outside. We’ll go to the real production fields, not the tourist fields around Keukenhof.

• Tulips as far as the eye can see

2. How to Get from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans By Bus

Direct bus 391 from Amsterdam is a convenient and low-cost way of traveling to the Zaanse Schans Windmills. The line was also referenced once as the industrial heritage line, but you can quickly forget that since there is no reference elsewhere.

Buses depart frequently and are safe. The downside is they take longer than the train, but the upside is the stop is at the village entrance, while by train you need to walk 15 minutes.

Buses leave 4x an hour . The bus takes 40 minutes. Check the screens to see from which platform your bus departs.

In summer, there is also express line 891 : there is no extra cost, but you’ll get to Zaanse Schans 20 minutes faster since it’s direct. Bus 891 departs less frequently than the regular buses (391), but you can plan for that.

All buses depart from the Amsterdam Central Station bus station (at IJ-side), the station’s north side, towards the ferry and the water, not the city center exit. Buses depart from platform E or L, but check the screens for the specific location since it changes.

Cost and Tickets

Contactless Payment: You can pay for your fare with a contactless debit or credit card (Google Wallet and Apple Pay also work). Even overseas cards work. TIP: Make sure to remember to tap when you enter and when you leave! The cost is about €5-€6 for a one-way ticket.

Travel Pass: I recommend using the Amsterdam + Region Travel Ticket (ARTT) instead. This is a one-day or multi-day ticket that covers all bus, train, and metro journeys in the Amsterdam region . If you plan to explore more than just Zaanse Schans, it’s a steal. It also includes transport in Amsterdam on GVB, like trams and the metro, and local trains, for example, to and from the airport! Prices start at €21. 

PS : The I amsterdam Card (Amsterdam city card) only provides free transportation in the city of Amsterdam with the city operator called GVB. This does not include regional transit to the Zaanse Schans.

3. Travel By Train from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans

Why Choose the Train ?

I prefer to take the train . It’s faster and more direct, there is a toilet on board, it’s cheaper than the bus and you can move around. Traveling to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam by train takes less than 20 minutes. 

The downside of taking the train over the bus is that it is a 15-20-minute walk from the train station to the Zaanse Schans park.

I prefer this compared to sitting on the bus for 20 minutes longer. But if you don’t like the idea of an extra walk , then the bus is a better alternative.

Direct train services run every 30 minutes, and the train ride takes between 17 and 20 minutes. 

Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans Train Price

A one-way train ticket from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans costs €3.70 in 2nd class (2024 price).

TIP: You can use your contactless card just like the bus. But if you book a few days in advance on the railway’s website, you can sometimes get an early booking discount on these prices if you travel off-peak (after 9 a.m. and not between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and the entire day on weekends). Tickets can be booked directly on the railway’s website here.

PS: booking can be a little confusing, here are some tips, more in my article here :

• First, you search for the route (Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans)
• Then select a random train around the time you want to go.
• If you choose a train during off-peak hours and book at least four days in advance, you might see a discount fare.
• Tickets are not connected to a departure (even though you selected a train on the screen). You can take any train, but if you have an off-peak discount, you must travel during off-peak hours. That is the confusing part.
• Once booked, you can quickly load the ticket in the NS app to use it.

Trains depart from Amsterdam Central Station. Look for trains heading to Uitgeest and get off at Zaandijk Zaanse Schans station .

Here is more information about train travel in The Netherlands .

PS : The Amsterdam + Region Travel Ticket (ARTT) is also valid on this train journey. So, if you plan to travel more, this is a steal compared to a single ticket.

4. Travel to the Zaanse Schans by Car

Why Choose to Drive ?

If you’re traveling just between Amsterdam and Zaanse Schans, traveling by car makes no sense . There are plenty of more convenient travel options available.

But if you love the freedom to explore at your own pace and visit multiple destinations on the same day or plan a multi-day trip, then driving to Zaanse Schans makes a lot of sense.

It’s perfect when combining multiple nearby villages like Volendam, Edam, Marken, go to the beach, and more.

How to Get There

The drive from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans is pretty straightforward. You take the S116 road to the A10 ring road from Amsterdam, followed by the A8. The journey takes 20 minutes.

Google Maps is an easy tool to navigate. You don’t need a separate GPS. But ensure you have a local data package for your phone to use the internet. 

I recommend getting an eSIM card . They’re super affordable, can be used on most modern phones, and avoid high roaming charges or travel packages from your home provider. This allows you to use the internet on your phone much more cheaply!

Here is my article on eSIM cards and which one I recommend for whom. 

I promise you will save a lot of money .

The Lowest Priced And Most Flexible eSIM cards (incl. tethering)

Stop searching for WI-FI; get an affordable eSIM for the Netherlands. From just $4.50 for 1GB, but I recommend at least 10GB . TIP: Get the App for easy top-up.

Once you arrive, park your car at the large parking area near the entrance. Parking fees are between €11 to €15 for the day, depending on the season. If you see €10 rates on other sites, you know they have outdated information.

Please don’t park for free in the nearby town. It’s quite a walk, and locals will be less than thrilled if you do this in their streets, harassment is not uncommon. Be mindful of where to park.

Car Rental: If you don’t have your car, rental prices start at around €50-€100 per day, depending on the model. I always recommend checking out rates at Rental Cars and Discovery Cars . I usually find the best deals at Rental Cars, but check them both!

5. Can you bike from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans?

Surprisingly, yes, this is a pretty good idea. The distance is doable on any bike. It’s 20 kilometers (13 miles) one-way. But I recommend renting a comfortable bike with gears, preferably an e-bike.

You might have seen my post where I say don’t rent a bike in Amsterdam . And I do stand by that advice. The city center is too busy for comfort. But taking a trip to the countryside is a great idea . You’ll experience your surroundings much more.

You have multiple options. If you use Google Maps , you’ll get a boring, direct route through build-up areas that are not pretty.

A cool route is to go west via the free ferry at Hembrug, and you’ll pass the Dutch Kissing Couple Statue XXL. This is an enormous statue of the famous Delft Blue souvenir where a boy and a girl kiss.

Nearby, you have Boer Geert for the best sandwiches in the country .

Another route is via NDSM (take a free ferry, also free of charge for your bike or scooter) from Central Station to NDSM and then cycle north via the nature area ‘t Twiske. Offering you great Dutch countryside views and stopping points along the way.

A consultation call with me can help fine-tune this itinerary (and the rest if your itinerary). With a screen share, I can show you the exact route I take, and I can give you more tips along the way.

Cycling will take an hour and a half . With stops a little bit more. Plan a full day if you want to do this.

Where to Rent

I recommend checking out bicycle availability and prices here, especially if you book in advance. It saves significant money . Popular bike rental places in Amsterdam , like MacBike, offer less convenient bikes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest way to get from amsterdam to zaanse schans.

The fastest way to the Zaanse Schans is the express bus 891 in summer. The journey will take 20 minutes. Traveling by car can be just as quick, but traffic in Amsterdam can be all over the place, so it’s very likely the trip will take (much) longer. The train is also fast. That takes less than 20 minutes, but you must walk for 15 minutes to get to the Zaanse Schans. Outside of summer, the regular bus (391) takes 40 minutes.

What is the easiest way to reach Zaanse Schans?

The easiest way to get there would be traveling on a half-day tour from Amsterdam on a tour price. This is the Zaanse Tour that I would recommend .

What is the distance from Amsterdam to the Zaanse Schans?

The distance is about 11 miles (18 kilometers), depending on where in Amsterdam you depart. But it’s close. The journey from Amsterdam takes between 20 minutes and 40 minutes, depending on the mode of transportation you choose and how much traffic there is. That is why it’s so easy to visit the Zaanse Schans.

What is the Zaanse Schans Address?

Zaanse Schans Schansend 7 1509 AW Zaandam The Netherlands.

Find A Place To Stay In Zaandam

Find accommodation in Zaandam for the lowest prices on your favorite platform. What's great about this map is that it shows both Hotels , as VRBO rentals (AirBNB but then cheaper).

Update your (intended) travel dates for accurate prices . TIP: Zoom out on the map (-) in the bottom right corner. This will show more options and availability.

I hope this post has helped you plan your trip. It’s an easy day-trip destination from Amsterdam . For tips on what to do once you get there make sure to check out my other page on things to do at Zaanse Schans .

You might also be interested in my day trip to Volendam post , which you can find here.

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Does All Of This Feel Overwhelming?

Planning a trip well is a lot of work and can feel overwhelming. Know I’m here to help when you need assistance with your Netherlands vacation.

I offer Itinerary Consultations , where I help you improve your itinerary and make your trip planning much faster and less stressful.

Even if you already have a plan, I have local insights you don’t get from a guidebook. Is that truly a nice restaurant? Is your plan efficient or even doable? What to do once you’re inside a museum. The Rijksmuseum is massive. A call is also great if you doubt which options to choose. I can genuinely personalize my advice to you.

How are traveling to the Zaanse Schans?

I’d love your thoughts: Did this post changed your opinion? . Please share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s start a conversation 💬.

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