Amsterdam is a city with over 800 years of history, adorned by quaint cobbled streets. Whether going for a boat ride along its 165 canals or getting to know more about its architecture, exploring the city will be a unique experience. There are additional perks for art lovers and history buffs who can stroll around some of the most popular museums in the world – the Van Gogh Museum and the Ana Frank House. A cruise from Amsterdam will immerse you in Dutch culture and then show you around the beauty of the Baltic capitals.
When is the best time to cruise from Amsterdam?
The best time to travel to Amsterdam is anytime from April to October. Cruising from Amsterdam is possible year-round, thanks to the mild climate typical for Northern Europe. April to May and September to October are the two ‘shoulder’ seasons when tourism is low, and the weather is sunny.
Which cruise lines sail from Amsterdam?
Cruising from Amsterdam is popular among some of the best-known cruise lines such as Holland America, NCL, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Oceania. Holland America offers exclusive destination programming to help guests deepen their understanding of the places they visit, while Royal Caribbean has just introduced the bolder version of the world’s biggest ship, Wonder of the Seas, although you’re unlikely to be sailing on a ship of her size from Amsterdam.
Where do cruises from Amsterdam go to?
Cruising from Amsterdam will take you to the Norwegian fjords, Baltic capitals, and Iceland. The 1,100 narrow ocean inlets wedged between Norway’s coastal cliffs provide stunning landscapes. Many of them are accessible by boat – Geirangerfjord, to name one, was made popular by Disney’s Frozen animation as the stunning Seven Sisters waterfall can be found there.
A journey to the three Baltic capitals will take you on a walk through history. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Northern Europe. Riga has Latvia’s greatest Art Deco architecture, while Vilnius (Lithuania) is a fascinating hub of culture and tradition. Iceland is also a one of a kind destination with a dramatic terrain of volcanoes and geysers.
What should you do whilst you’re in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam has a lot of museums, shopping hubs, and theatres, but it’s also full of green areas, waterways, and parks. Cycling is the best way to get around as the city is famous for its bike culture. You can either rent a bike or take a guided cycle tour. Cycling is safe and allows you to see more of Amsterdam in a day while blending in with the locals. There are 400 kilometres of cycling paths crisscrossing the city and about 10,000 bike parking spots around Amsterdam Central Station.
Amsterdam’s House of Weights, known as De Waag, is one of the special monuments you must visit. It was built in 1488 as one of the city’s three gates and turned into a weighing house in the 17th century. This is where the Surgeons’ Guild would do the annual public dissection, also known as Theatrum Anatomicum. It was here that the 17th-century painter, Rembrandt, saw the scene he depicted in his famous painting — „Anatomical lessons of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp“.
Another impressive building known for its architecture is Felix Meritis. It is located in the middle of the Canal Ring and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. For over three centuries, the building has stood there as a symbol of intellectual freedom and tolerance.
Make sure to visit this tranquil oasis in the bustling central area of Begijnhof. It is a group of houses densely constructed around a garden built in the 14th century as modest homes for unmarried religious women. These women lived in a community under vows of chastity. This is where the oldest house in Amsterdam is to be seen, at Bagijnhof 34, the famous wooden house or Houten Huys.
Taking a guided cycle tour is a great way to see the city’s landmarks, such as the Canal Ring and central areas. Tours often include refreshments at one of Amsterdam’s authentic cafés.
Extend Your Stay?
A visit to Amsterdam would not be complete without a stop at the tulip gardens or traditional windmills. Spend some extra nights in Amsterdam for a day trip to one of the nearby attractions.
The tulip gardens are easily accessible in Spring and Summer, thanks to the guided cycling and walking tours from the Dutch capital. Learn about the Dutch tulip cult at the beautiful spring garden of Keukenhof, south of Amsterdam. The garden boasts about seven million blooms and is open for only eight weeks each year.
A true step back in time can be found in Old Holland, the region proud of the traditional Dutch skills the country first became famous for – fishing, shipbuilding, and cheese-making. This is the oldest industrial area in Europe, where wind and water had a crucial role. During the first half of the 18th century, the region was home to about 600 windmills.
