Amsterdam has blossomed since its start as a riverside fishing village. With criss-crossing canals, unusual tilted houses, and absurdly narrow streets, the Dutch capital revels in originality. Experience it and all its quirks from an open-air boat tour or while cycling through hidden lanes like a local on a bike tour. Find your own cozy nook to tuck into a creative foodie scene, or hop around museums harbouring some of Europe’s greatest masterpieces. However you explore Amsterdam, you’re sure to come back with a colourful tale or two.
Visit Amsterdam: get started
Make the most of a visit to Amsterdam, North Holland! Find an Amsterdam tour that includes a canal cruise and bike tour or opt for a sightseeing bus to take in the best things to do in a day or two. Don't miss out on essential places to visit in Amsterdam, like the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. Plus, day trips from Amsterdam take you to the Netherlands' iconic windmills! If you’re deciding where to stay, try a classic canal-side Amsterdam hotel or immerse yourself in the culture of the Museum Quarter.
Amsterdam travel guide
Destination facts
Language
Dutch
What to bring back
Colourful wooden clogs (full-sized or keychain-sized!), Dutch licorice (called drop), a bottle of jenever (a kind of Dutch gin), iconic blue-and-white Delft Blue pottery and prints or presents from the Van Gogh Museum.
What to eat
Bitterballen (fried meatballs popular at pubs), kibbeling (deep-fried pieces of fish), raw herring (served with pickles and onions), erwtensoep (Dutch pea soup, also known as snert), Dutch cheese (all the Gouda!) and tasty treats like stroopwafel (thin waffles with syrup) or poffertjes (small, sugar-powdered pancakes).
Fun fact
Move over Venice: 165 canals weave their way through Amsterdam, crossed by thousands of bridges; the oldest being the Torensluis Bridge (built in 1648) and the most iconic being Magere Brug. Look out for canal-centred events like the annual King’s Day, celebrating the king’s birthday with parties on colourful boats or Grachtenfestival for classical music around the canals. Parties and concerts aren’t the only things thrown on the canals—the city supposedly picks up about 25,000 bikes from the water each year!
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.
