Amsterdam rewards those that give it time with plenty of cultural and historic knowledge. From the Van Gogh Museum, to the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum and Rembrandthuis, the city offers a rich mix of art, history and culture to explore. In recent years, modern art has also found a strong following, with creative spaces such as Moco Museum, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and STRAAT Museum adding a contemporary edge to the scene.

Stop by Albert Cuypmarkt, the city’s largest outdoor market since 1905, in the heart of De Pijp and one of the best places in Amsterdam to try freshly baked stroopwafels. For organic treats, explore Noordermarkt and Boerenmarkt, or head to Foodhallen, set aside in a former tram depot for a mouth-watering spread of international flavours all under one roof.

Amsterdam’s skyline is peppered with the steeples of medieval churches like Oude Kerk and Westerkerk, but among its most intriguing religious sites lies hidden in plain sight. Ons’ Lieve Heer Op Solder, literally translating to “Our Lord in the Attic”, is tucked away in a 17th-century house. This “schuilkerk”, or clandestine church, once served Catholic worshippers who were not allowed to hold mass in public.

Behind the grand Royal Palace on Dam Square lie nine charming streets in the Unesco World Heritage Canal Belt. Framed by Golden Age architecture, the area blends fashion boutiques, vintage stores, gift shops, and art galleries like Galerie de Salon, set in a former barber shop and Mendo, a bookstore-turned-art gallery. A lively mix of cafes, bars and restaurants completes the neighbourhood, making it a pleasure to explore at any pace.

Most of its streets are named after painters: van Gogh, Jan Steel, Frans Hals, which sets the tone for De Pijp’s beatnik charm. There are plenty of things to do in Amsterdam’s coolest quarter, from watching an arthouse movie at the 1920s-era cinema Rialto and exploring Amsterdam School architecture, to wandering through leafy Sarphatipark and touring the Heineken factory.

NDSM Wharf, on the banks of the River IJ, has blossomed into a cultural hotspot for electronic music aficionados, street artists, yogis and bargain hunters, who enjoy a treasure trove of vintage and antique goods at the IJ-Hallen flea market. Shipping containers have been transformed into graffiti-clad cafes and an urban beach bar, which is the perfect place for sundowners.

No trip to Amsterdam would be complete without a boat journey down the canal. Pick from drive-your-own cruises to luxurious historic saloon boat tours or learn about the dark side of the Golden Age on The Black Heritage Tour of Amsterdam, which draws attention to the African diaspora in the Netherlands, highlighting the city’s colonial past.

Take a short 20-minute ride along the picturesque River Amstel to the historic polder drainage windmill that dates to 1636. The still-working mill was a favourite of Rembrandt’s to sketch. Avoid the orange rental bikes if you don’t want to stand out as a tourist and instead hire from independent cycling companies scattered around town.

Dutchmen in the 17th century fell so in love with tulips that they paid the same price for one bulb as an elaborate canalside mansion. The frenzy came to be known as Tulip Mania, and is known as one of the earliest recorded speculative bubbles. Today, a visit to Keukenhof Gardens, just a 45‑minute drive from Amsterdam, reveals why these flowers once inspired such extraordinary devotion.

Amsterdam’s parks have a long history and continue to play a key role in the lives of its residents. The most popular – Vondelpark and Westerpark – are known for their lively cafe terraces and bar scenes. Elsewhere in the city, you’ll also find hofjes: peaceful inner courtyards originally built as charitable housing and often hidden behind canal-house facades with beautifully kept gardens.