Amsterdam is an extremely popular tourist destination in Europe. It is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands, and over a million tourists from other countries come to visit it on a yearly basis.
It was originally a fishing village in the late 12th century, and the name of the city derives from the dam known as Amstel, located within the city. There are a huge variety of museums, restaurants, and popular nightlife attractions that are renowned throughout the world within Amsterdam. Here are some popular tourist destinations that you should definitely consider when planning a trip to Amsterdam.
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum, located in the heart of the city, is a testament to the famous artist Vincent Van Gogh. He was an amazing artist who did not gain world recognition until many years after his death. Van Gogh is attributed with establishing and popularizing post-impressionistic artwork. With designs created in 1963 and the eventual completion of the museum in 1973, this is the one place to view public displays of Van Gogh’s famous art. There are currently over 200 painting, 400 drawings, and 700 letters created by Van Gogh for display within the museum.
The Nightlife
Amsterdam is famous for its exciting and diverse forms of nightlife. What attracts visitors from all over the world to Amsterdam is the relatively cheap Amsterdam lodging. Two-thirds of the hotels in Amsterdam are located within the city center. There is a variety of cannabis coffee shops and red-light districts available as well, which attracts many recreational drug and sex tourists. Amsterdam is one of the few cities that have a legal system of prostitution employed. Hotels and other lodgings can be found for prices starting at 20 Euro. During the summertime, cafes and bars have terraces that are filled with tourists and citizens drinking beer and wine. The two main nightlife areas in the city are Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. These areas contain the highest concentration of nightclubs, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
Festivals
Amsterdam is also known throughout Europe to be a city with constant festivals throughout the year. In 2008, there was a total of 140 different festivals in the city, many more than other popular cities in Europe. The Holland Festival is an annual affair, and capitalizes on the cities various performing arts. For gay and lesbian enthusiasts, Amsterdam Gay Pride is a yearly festival that provides activities for the LBGT community. Another festival, known as Uitmarkt, is a three day event held in the city center. It gives a preview to The Netherlands up-and-coming musicians and poets, who perform in front of audiences of over 5,000 people.
Amsterdam’s hotel beds were filled over 82% capacity in 2010, and more and more Europeans take the journey to Amsterdam. It’s a city that is able to provide a look into the history of European art, attract festival goers who enjoy live music, and also attract the younger party-going crowd with its various and enjoyable forms of nightlife.
It’s a city that will always be a stopping point for every traveler who goes through Europe.
