30 Most Fun & Unusual Things to do in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a city that offers you many different ways to have fun. From famous museums like Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, thrilling adventurous activities like Europe’s Highest Swing to a Heineken Experience, and a tour of the Red Light District, there is something for everyone to do here in Amsterdam. There is a beautiful tulip paradise at Keukenhof Gardens and a foodie’s paradise at Foodhallen. The city will enthrall with endless options of activities that you’ll want to do. So pack up and get ready to experience a host of different fun things to do in Amsterdam. Before heading out, remember to check Luggage Storage Amsterdam for all your luggage storage needs. Whether you want or need luggage storage for a couple of hours or days in Amsterdam, we provide the perfect affordable solution for all your luggage storage needs. Leave your bags with us, and start an adventure! Come back and collect your bags when you need them. Here is a list of things to do in Amsterdam.
1.A Boat Cruise with Pizza and Drinks
Kick start your Amsterdam adventure with a cruise along the canal with delicious pizza and lovely drinks. It is the perfect combination of relaxation, sightseeing, and dinner. It is a fun canal trip to embark on, whether alone or with family and friends, and is a great way to see Amsterdam. This is one of Amsterdam’s fun things to do. Enjoy your cruise as you pass through beautiful places and sights in the Dutch capital. Experience a different side of the city as you glide through some of the major attractions in Amsterdam, like the Golden Bend of the Herengracht, the Anne Frank House, and the Northern Market at the Prinsengracht, as well as the Homomonument at the Keizersgracht. So sit back, relax, and enjoy good views of Amsterdam with good food, good drinks, and good company. Admire Amsterdam’s top attractions from the water as you dig into your delicious pizza and lovely drinks.
2.Golf in the Dark
If you are in the city with your children, this is a fun activity to take them out to. This is a fun-filled activity not only for the children but the whole family will love it. Golfing in the dark is not actually pitch dark but illuminated with neon/UV lights giving an exciting effect to the course. Spend a relaxed Amsterdam afternoon playing a game of golf where the kids will not only enjoy the game but will love the bright neon lights that give the mini-golf course a crazy look. It is a perfect activity for families with children, and you can have an enjoyable time here. You can choose to go to any of the three Golf in the Dark places in Amsterdam – Aloha, GlowGolf Amsterdam, and Glow in the Dark in Jordaan at Marnixstraat 47.
3.Swing on Europe’s Highest Swing
Head to A’dam Tower if you want to experience a thrilling and adrenaline rushed experience in Amsterdam. Ride the elevator 20 floors up the tower to Adam Lookout. Adam Lookout is a sky deck where you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of the city. If you feel like a daredevil, then hop on the “Over the Edge.” It is a hydraulic swing located on Adam Lookout. Thrill-seekers swing back and forth over the edge of the tower 100 meters above the ground. It an exhilarating swing to experience in the world! It is Europe’s highest swing and is 330 feet high. Enjoy the best views of Amsterdam from the swing or from the Lookout deck.
4.The Amsterdam Coffeeshop Crawl
Amsterdam is known as the cannabis capital of the world. Although cannabis is not legal in the Netherlands, however, it is widely tolerated. The Amsterdam Coffeeshop crawl is a quintessential Amsterdam experience not to be missed! This is another one of Amsterdam’s fun things to do when here. Take part in a guided Amsterdam Coffeeshop tour. Do not confuse coffeeshops with regular cafés serving coffee and bakery goodies. A licensed seller of cannabis is always referred to as a Coffeeshop. In the Coffeeshop tour, you will learn about the local cannabis culture and how to roll your own joint. You will learn about its legalization and history and also visit Coffeeshops that sell the highest quality cannabis and the cheapest too. Your tour is complete with a bite of the homemade delicacies from the Coffeeshop, which, of course, is a cannabis delight!
5.Visit the Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. It first opened in 1885 and reopened in 2013 again after a 10-year long renovation and refurbishment. It has on display masterpieces of Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, and the works of hometown artist (and Dutch Master) Rembrandt. The Rijksmuseum is a magnificent Gothic and Renaissance building with the country’s largest collection of art and artifacts from 15 century to the present. Admire phenomenal creations of Dutch masterworks like the Milkmaid by Vermeer and the Night Watch by Rembrandt. Also, see beautiful dollhouses and an impressive collection of silverware, and more. There is also a library and a Michelin-starred restaurant and café on site.
6.Go to Vondelpark with family and friends
The Vondelpark is a public urban park in Amsterdam. It opened in 1865 and was originally named Nieuwe Park but was later renamed Vondelpark, after the 17th-century playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel. It is Amsterdams’ largest and most famous park. And if you require to store some bags for a few hours while visiting the park, find the nearest baggage storage for easy storage with Vertoe. Once your bags are sorted, you can spend a leisurely sunny day here and picnic or roller skate or enjoy the open-air theatre called “Openlichttheater” (Open light theater). The open-air theatre hosts music, theatre, and dance performances from May to September. There is a beautiful rose garden too, with more than 70 types of roses in the park. The park has the statue of the poet Vondel and a cast iron music dome. The park also has numerous cafés and restaurants like the Groot Melkhuis with a playground for children, the Blauwe Theehuis, Café Vertigo, Vondelpark3, and De Vondeltuin.
7.Visit the Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is a Dutch art museum dedicated to the works of Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries. It contains the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings in the world. It opened in 1973 and has a collection of over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 750 written documents. It has the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings in the world, as well as paintings by artists who influenced him, such as Monet and Gauguin. His masterpieces, Sunflowers, The Potato Eaters, and The Bedroom, are self-portraits which you can admire here. The Van Gogh Museum is one of the most popular museums in the world.
8.Explore the Albert Cuyp Market
The Albert Cuyp Market is a street market in Amsterdam. The street and market are named after Albert Cuyp, a 17th-century painter. Albert Cuyp Market is a beautiful market to spend some time in. It is Europe’s biggest daily street market and the largest market in Amsterdam. Store your bags with Vertoe Amsterdam and enjoy the shopping experience in the market. The market is open from Monday to Saturday, and you can find an incredible range of food, clothes, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. It is the most famous market in the De Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam. Wander around the market and discover vendors selling everything from fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, spices, chocolate, cheese, flowers, and plants to cheap clothes, jewelry, shoes, bike accessories, bedding, fabrics, and cosmetics. It is a great place to try out Dutch street food, like raw herring, fried potatoes, warm stroopwafels, poffertjes (small pancakes), and naughtily shaped chocolates.
9.Madame Tussauds Amsterdam
Amsterdam is home to one of the Madame Tussauds Museums in the world. When here, take the opportunity to come close to lifelike statues of celebrities and personalities. See your favorite personalities up close in wax and take memorable selfies with them. Dance with Lady Gaga, sing along with Justin Beiber, take a selfie with George Cloney, or strike a pose with Kate Moss, take your perfect picture with these incredibly lifelike representations of your favorite celebrities. From wax figures of movie stars like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, world-class athletes like David Beckham, Ronaldinho, politicians like Obama to Dutch Royalty, Madame Tussauds is sure to leave you starstruck! It is a fun activity for the whole family in Amsterdam!
10.The Ice Bar Amsterdam
Paris has one, and so does Amsterdam! If you have not had the chance to experience an extremely icy cold bar experience, here is your chance. Head to the Ice Bar in Amsterdam for a unique cold drinking experience. It is a really unique bar in Amsterdam. It is definitely the coolest place in town, with temperatures set to -10 degrees Celsius. It is a world of ice with everything made of ice. From your bar top, which is sculpted from 35 tons of natural ice to your drink glasses, you will be transformed back to the ice age, albeit a modern one. Enjoy three complimentary drinks with your entrance ticket and a jacket to keep you warm inside.
11.Rent a Bike
Amsterdam, like Copenhagen or Montreal, is a city of bikes. Amsterdam is a perfect city to bike around as the landscape is flat and the city itself has a good network of cycle paths. It is a good way to see the city and learn more about its places of interest. Amsterdam is one of the world’s most cycle-friendly cities. Rent a bike from any easy rental locations and cruise around the city exploring by yourself, or join any bike tours for a more detailed and comprehensive tour of the city. Bike to important landmarks and learn about Amsterdam’s history and discover Amsterdam’s backstreets and hidden gems. Just put on a helmet, follow the traffic rules, and use the bike path, and have great fun pedaling through the city.
12.Smell the Tulips at Keukenhof Garden
Keukenhof Garden is also known as the Garden of Europe and is one of the world’s largest flower gardens. It is widely known for its tulips, although it has other flowers like hyacinths, daffodils, lilies, roses, carnations, irises, and orchids. The garden is a huge 32 hectares of land with more than 7 million different flower bulbs. The garden is open from March to May every year when the tulips are in full bloom, and everyone can enjoy the spectacular beautiful sight of the tulip garden. So if you are in Amsterdam at that time, visit the Keukenhof Garden for a unique and unforgettable experience. For a more unforgettable experience, rid yourself of carrying around unwanted bags in the garden by storing your luggage at Amsterdam luggage storage locations. You can also enjoy spectacular flower shows, inspirational gardens, unique artworks, and wonderful events. Admire more than 7 million flowers in bloom. Children will also have a wonderful time with the treasure hunt, petting farm, maze, and playground. There is also a Miffy playground for little kids to enjoy.
13.Tour the Red Light District
The Red Light District is perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Amsterdam. Yes, this is the only place in the world where prostitution is legal, and scantly clad women are allowed to advertise themselves in the famous red-lit shop windows. It is the most curious area of the city, and a visit here is recommended to have a complete experience of Amsterdam. You can join a tour to hear interesting insider stories and access to a hidden world of Amsterdam. The tour actually gives you deep insight and lets you understand modern Amsterdam. This is definitely one of the things to do in Amsterdam. Some of the things to keep in mind when visiting the District are – not to take pictures or videos of the women at the windows, to watch out for pick-pocketers, to go in groups, and not to buy drugs from dealers.
14.Go for a Heineken Experience
Another popular attraction in Amsterdam is the Heineken Experience. It is an interesting attraction, especially the best for beer lovers. The brewery was established in Amsterdam in 1864, and today, Heineken is one of the three largest beer producers in the world. Fans of the beer can take a tour of the brewery and learn about its heritage, brewing process, innovations, sponsorships. The beer experts will give a detailed guide of the beer-making process, from collecting water to bottling the beer. The tour comprises four levels of historical artifacts, product exploration and sampling, and interactive exhibits that employ the latest high-tech multimedia technologies. At the end of the tour, you will be able to enjoy two complimentary drinks while you relax in the bar. Non-alcoholic drinks are also available, and you can try your hand at drafting your own Heineken!
15.Visit the Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. The house is located on the canal called the Prinsengracht. The museum opened on 3 May 1960 and has preserved Anne Frank’s hiding place. It has a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Anne Frank, the war in Amsterdam, and the circumstances of the Franks and those who helped hide them until the annex was ultimately discovered and its residents were deported to Auschwitz. The museum also has an exhibition space about all forms of persecution and discrimination against the Jews during the war. It is the third most visited museum in the Netherlands. Quotations from her diary, historical documents, photographs, film images, and original objects that belonged to those in hiding and the helpers illustrate the events that took place here. Anne’s original diary and other notebooks are on display in the museum.
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16.Dine in the Dark at Ctaste
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to dine in a restaurant that is pitch black and in complete darkness. Experience a unique dining experience at Ctaste in Amsterdam as you learn to use all your senses in complete darkness. Experience food like never before with a 3-course meal served entirely by competent visually impaired waiters. All the waiting staff at this restaurant have been specially trained to serve meals in the dark who will guide you through your gastronomical experience. Heighten your senses and pleasure your palate during the best 3-course dining in the dark experience in Amsterdam. Experience new taste sensations and rely on your taste buds to imagine what you are eating. The experience takes you on a journey through taste, sound, and touch.
17.Explore Jordaan
Jordaan is the most charming neighborhood in Amsterdam. It used to be home to working-class immigrants back in the day. Today, it is dotted with independent art galleries, antique shops, electric shops, courtyard gardens, and atmospheric bars and restaurants. Most of the old buildings here have been maintained and carefully renovated and preserved. Wander along the narrow canals and streets of the now trendy Jordaan and discover indie boutiques, cozy pubs, and hip eateries. When there, besides the Anne Frank House, you can also head to Electric Ladyland, the world’s only fluorescent light museum. The glowing brilliant lights will transport you back in time. It is a fun thing you can do with your family. Explore the neighborhood and read the stone tablets above doorways that were carved to announce the profession that once occupied the house. It is a fun way to learn more about the neighborhood and its Amsterdam residents.
18.Eat at Foodhallen
Foodhallen is a classy indoor compact food market at De Hallen. It is certainly a to-do thing with friends in Amsterdam. Store your luggage in Amsterdam with Vertoe and keep your hands occupied with delicious food at Foodhallen. Foodhallen has about 20 different food stands and a centrally stationed large island bar flanked by plenty of tables and perches. The food here is the best selection of both local and international and you can choose from a diverse selection of food like wood-fired pizzas to Vietnamese summer rolls and Greek meze to artisanal burgers. Make your choice from Dutch bitterballen to dim sum, sushi, or Basque pintxos, top-notch tacos, gourmet doughnuts, kick-ass smoky barbecue, and much more. There are also four bars, so you’ll find your beverage of choice, whether it’s craft beer or a fancy gin & tonic. Foodhallen opened in October 2014 and since then has been serving up a range of high-end street food and beverages in historic surroundings. If you are a passionate foodie, then this place is a must-visit. It is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
19.Go shopping in the Nine Streets
Amsterdam’s Negen Straatjes district translates to the “Nine Little Streets.” This is the most popular and trendy shopping area in Amsterdam. You will find several beautiful boutiques, fancy cafés, galleries, and hotels. Check out the Nine Streets, walk around, and shop for fashionable shoes and bags from small fashion shops and vintage finds from vintage clothing stores. The Nine Streets have so much to offer. From designer clothes to vintage clothing stores, gift shops, antiques, bookshops, housewares, interior decoration stores, and cosmetics, you will surely find something to take back with you. If you would like to buy some unique souvenirs and gifts to take home, this is the place to shop. It is one of the best places to shop in Amsterdam. Chic and central, the picturesque cobbled streets of the Nine Streets offer beautiful views of the city. Shop in the Dutch capital’s fancy boutiques and drink and eat at the stylish cafés.
20.Take a Windmill Tour
One of the best things to do in Amsterdam is to go for the Windmill tours. Join any of the tours for a day trip just outside the city. Windmills have always been important in the Netherlands. Some still work while others have been converted to museums. Spend your day exploring the picture-perfect Amsterdam landscape, authentic wooden houses, windmills, charming fishing villages, and picturesque canals. The most popular villages to visit are Zaanse Schans, Volendam, Marken, Schermerhorn, Edam, and Alkmaar. Zaanse Schans is the most famous and only 13 miles northwest of Amsterdam. Enjoy a delectable fresh seafood lunch in the fishing villages and an opportunity to taste Dutch cheese. Snap beautiful pictures of the windmill against the backdrop of the idyllic villages and also learn more about traditional Dutch wooden clogs.
21.Go for a Swim to Blijburg Beach
If you are feeling like a good swim on a hot sunny day, head out to Blijburg Beach, which is just outside of Amsterdam. It is the best free fun activity to do with the family on a lazy afternoon. The water is clean, and the place has a very relaxed atmosphere. Go for a cool swim in the water, learn paddle boarding, or try your hand at surfing, there is plenty to do, and spend a relaxed day with your family. Grab a decent bite or two from the restaurants and cafés there or sip a cocktail or lick ice cream, it is a great way to spend some chilled out time away from the crowded city.
22.The Electric Ladyland
The Electric Ladyland is a one-of-a-kind museum and is the first and only museum dedicated to fluorescent art in the world. It is also Amsterdam’s smallest museum. The museum is based in a tiny basement room, and it is like a scientific and educational shrine to minerals, stones, and art that glows in ultraviolet light. The American artist, Nick Padalino, created this small museum devoted to his fascination with vibrant, fluorescent colors. He named the museum after Jimmy Hendrix’s 1968 album, Electric Ladyland. When you enter the small basement room-sized museum, you will experience a microcosmic, dark collection of fluorescent objects exhibited in a trippy, multicolored cave, with spaces full of vibrant, fluorescent colors.
23.Discover Our Lord in the Attic Church
As the name clearly suggests, Our Lord in the Attic Church is a church spread across the top three floors of a canal house. During the 17th century, religious reformation took place, and the Catholics were no longer allowed to practice their religion openly. Hence Our Lord in the Attic Church came into existence, hidden away in the attic of one of Amsterdam’s canal townhouses. Visitors can visit and see the church as it was about 300 years ago, complete with its beautiful Baroque altar and unexpected color scheme. The church has been beautifully preserved with several outstanding artworks. Tour its small rooms and discover a middle-class lifestyle through its well preserved and original artifacts.
24.Go Plastic Fishing with the Plastic Whale
One of the things to do when in Amsterdam is to go plastic fishing. Yes, you heard that right. Not fishing for fish but fishing for plastic! The Plastic Whale is the place to go to if you want to participate in plastic fishing. They are a Company dedicated to keeping the waters of Amsterdam clean of plastic bottles and other garbage. Keep yourself light before hopping into the boat by dropping off excess or unnecessary bags at baggage storage near you. Cruise Amsterdam in a unique way, learn about its history and architecture while cleaning up at the same time. The Plastic Whale collects the plastic waste and turns it into amazing products like office furniture and boats, including the one in which you will be plastic fishing. So hop on to their boats, take hold of that fishing net and save the environment.
25.Check out the Smallest House in Amsterdam
The Smallest House in Amsterdam is located in the Red Light District and is only 2 meters wide and 5 meters deep. It is also called Het Kleinste Huis in Dutch. The history of the house dates back to as far as 1738 and used to house a family of 5. The house is now a pretty, cute little tea house with a shop on the ground floor and tiny tea rooms on the second and third floors. Enjoy an afternoon of high tea in the tea rooms and enjoy traditional home-baked delicacies like apple pie, scones with jam & clotted cream, and Boterkoek (butter cake). The tea rooms can only accommodate a table each, so it will be a unique high tea experience in a real-life dollhouse. The shop downstairs is a tea lover’s heaven and sells organically grown loose tea blends in all flavors. They also sell ceramic accessories and sets, packaged tea, and several delicacies like fudges, honey, liqueurs, nougats, and chocolate.
26.Westergasfabriek
Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam was once a gas plant with a number of industrial buildings. The place was later revamped and it reopened in 2003 as a cultural venue. It is now Amsterdam’s most exciting and vibrant cultural hub. The place is a lively cultural village with bars, restaurants, clubs, music festivals, markets, a park, a kids pool, raves, many outside terraces, a coffee bar, an ice cream shop, and even a cinema. Home to a variety of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, there’s always something going on at Westergasfabriek. There are shops for shopping, a number of cultural events, exhibitions and festivals as well. Check out for any festivals happening at the time of your visit.
27. NSDM Wharf
Just as Westergasfabriek, the NSDM Wharf is also a revamped cultural hotspot in Amsterdam. It used to be a shipyard, but now it hosts many different festivals, performances, exhibitions, dance parties, and a wide range of other events in unique, post-industrial surroundings. It has fast become the place to go to in Amsterdam. You’ll find a lot many artists living in this area and see a lot of their artwork on the island. The place has transformed into a cultural hotspot with a vibrant artist community and an ever-expanding variety of bars and restaurants. It has now become one of Amsterdam’s prime spaces for creativity and development. Come here, check out the artwork, chill and relax in the many bars and restaurants, and have a peaceful time away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
28.Take a Torturous Trip to the Torture Museum
Visiting the Torture Museum is not for the faint-hearted and certainly not for the kids. This is an interesting and super weird but unique experience to see and do in Amsterdam. It is a small museum located in the heart of Amsterdam, near the flower market. It is included in the list of the world’s most unusual museums. You can easily find baggage storage with Vertoe before entering the museum. Leave your bags with Vertoe Amsterdam and enter the darkly lit museum where you will see engravings in different languages explaining the workings of the torture instruments, its background, and where it originated from. The torture instruments were used in Medieval Times for interrogations, punishments, and executions. There are life-sized human wax figures to demonstrate how the instruments were used in the past.
29. Begijnhof
After your morbid trip to the Torture Museum, head out to Begijnhof which is a hidden attraction in the heart of Amsterdam. Not many people know of it but it is a tranquil place and if you need some peace from the madness of the city, this is the place to visit. Begijnhof is a secluded garden and courtyard surrounded by a circle of houses called a hofje. These houses used to be inhabited by deeply spiritual women who lived like nuns without taking monastic vows. The area has a chapel, a Reformed Church, and Begijnhof 34, which is the oldest house in Amsterdam. Come here for a fascinating insight into a little-known aspect of Amsterdam’s religious heritage.
30.Brouwerij ‘t IJ
End your stay in Amsterdam on a high with a visit to Brouwerij ‘t IJ, a historic local brewery, and taste their local beer. Brouwerij ‘t IJ (the IJ Brewery) was started in 1985 by musician Kasper Peterson. He set up his Belgian-style brewery next to the De Gooyer windmill. The Brouwerij ‘t IJ is an award-winning artisan microbrewery, and you can participate in their guided beer tours. Sample some of their finest beer or enjoy a drink or two on their outdoor terrace and snack on traditional Dutch bar snacks like boiled eggs and raw sausage. Surely, beer tasting qualifies as one of the fun things to do in Amsterdam. The brewery produces a range of organic standard and seasonal ales. Take your pick and toast to good times in Amsterdam.
We have come to the end of our fascinating list of fun things to do in the city of Amsterdam. Take your pick or do all of them. Remember to use our luggage storage services to store your unwanted bags for a more enhanced fun bag-free experience in Amsterdam.
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