Nine amazing reasons to visit Amsterdam this winter

Rodney Bolt
Updated
Artists from around the world contribute to the light installations featured at the Amsterdam Light Festival - Merten Snijders
Artists from around the world contribute to the light installations featured at the Amsterdam Light Festival - Merten Snijders

See this hub of art, fashion and food in a new light this winter, says our Amsterdam expert Rodney Bolt.

1. Go now

Just as the evenings are approaching their darkest, Amsterdam is lighting up. Artists from around the world (including Ai Weiwei) are contributing outdoor light sculptures and installations to the annual Amsterdam Light Festival (amsterdamlightfestival.com) which starts on Thursday and runs until Jan 21 2018. There is also a spectacular exhibition on The Dutch in Paris (1789-1914) at the Van Gogh Museum (vangoghmuseum.nl), and a rich collection of Golden Age art at the Hermitage (hermitage.nl/en). Connections from the UK are easy and frequent with British Airways (ba.com) and easyJet (easyjet.com). 

Amsterdam: City travel guide

2. Stay here

Rambling through 25 historic canal houses ranged between two canals, the Pulitzer (pulitzeramsterdam.com) (1) offers a combination of indoor elegance and classic Amsterdam views. Doubles from €290 (£260) without breakfast. Easier on the pocket is sleekly modern Motel One (motel-one.com) (2), with doubles from €72.25 without breakfast.

The lobby at Motel One in Amsterdam - Credit: ARNOLD VAN WEST PHOTOGRAPHY;-)
The lobby at Motel One in Amsterdam Credit: ARNOLD VAN WEST PHOTOGRAPHY;-)

3. Walk here

For an immediate touch of the spirit of Amsterdam, start at city hub Rembrandtplein (3), follow Reguliersgracht as it crosses the main canals, then turn right on to the grand Prinsengracht. At Nieuw Spiegelstraat turn left and wander through the antiques quarter to the Rijksmuseum (rijksmuseum.nl) (4), where there’s a fascinating exhibition on Johan Maelwael, one of the founders of Dutch painting.

City profiles: Amsterdam D

4. See this

The sumptuous interiors of the Royal Palace on the Dam (5) (built as a city hall to boast Amsterdam’s riches) are on view to the public unless the royals are in town. It’s quietest first thing in the morning (paleisamsterdam.nl). 

The Royal Palace at the Dam - Credit: AP
The Royal Palace at the Dam Credit: AP

5. Try this

Amsterdam’s low-rise city centre is seldom seen from on high, but the recently opened A’DAM Toren (adamtoren.nl) (6), pictured below, a viewing platform atop the erstwhile Shell headquarters, offers unparalleled vistas over the historic city (with a giant swing that sways over the edge for the brave) €12.50.

A post shared by Douwe van der Werf (@mrleetv) on Aug 27, 2017 at 12:59am PDT

6. Shop here

At X-Bank (xbank.amsterdam) (7) you can browse through the pick of Dutch fashion, design and contemporary art, and take home anything from sharp shoes to wacky tableware.

7. Drink here

Sip cocktails such as a Gobblefunk (bourbon, Earl Grey and lemon juice) beneath crystal chandeliers at Tales & Spirits (talesandspirits.com) (8), down an alley in the very centre of town. Cocktails from €8.50.

10 amazing things you probably didn't know about Amsterdam

8. Eat here

Joris Bijdendijk, a chef who surfs the crest of the culinary wave (coming up with such wonders as wild duck with sweet-and-sour fennel) is to be found just behind the Rijksmuseum at Rijks (rijksrestaurant.nl) (9). Expect to pay around €90 per person, including wine.

The Rijksmuseum - Credit: GETTY
The Rijksmuseum Credit: GETTY

9. Off the map

The Spaarndammer neighbourhood is a prime quarter to view the work of the early 20th-century architects of the Amsterdam School. Museum Het Schip (hetschip.nl) tells the story.