How to spend two days in Amsterdam

There are a lot of things the Dutch do well, and one of them is preparing the world’s favourite breakfast – pancakes. Start your day with a delightful array of melt-in-the-mouth pancakes at The Pancake Bakery. From delicious savoury pancakes including ham and bacon, to yummy sweet varieties with mocha sauce and mandarins. With a plethora of breakfast options, you’ll be eating for days before you’ve tried everything on the menu. 

Amsterdam boasts some of the most notable museums in the world and this morning, we’ll begin our exploration at Rijksmuseum. Founded in the late 18th century in Hague, the museum only moved to its current location in the early 19th century. With over 8,000 museum pieces on display, you can look forward to some of the best works of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Dyck, along with stunning antique items. 

Tuck into a farm-to-fork lunch at De Kaz. The menu here changes every week, based on the freshest available vegetables from their garden. Every meal is a wholesome surprise comprising plenty of fresh veggies and complemented by fish or meat. Enjoy a culinary adventure at one of the world’s first farm-to-table restaurants. 

Conclude your first day by visiting the most visited museum of Amsterdam, the Van Gogh Museum. Dedicated to the 19th century post-impressionist virtuoso, here you’ll have the chance to admire his many masterpieces as well as learn about their symbolism through an audio guide. The museum also hosts various interactive installations that take you deeper into the intriguing mind of Vincent Van Gogh. 

Dine in elegance at Jansz. Located within Pulitzer Hotel’s maze of canal houses, Jansz is the perfect combination of tasteful interiors and fine dining. The restaurant’s canal townhouse building was formerly owned by a 17th century merchant, Mr Folkert Jansz and housed a pharmacy. You’ll find traces of its medicinal past in the restaurant’s present day quirky décor. Enjoy simple yet beautifully crafted, and superbly delicious dishes inspired by classic European cuisine. 

 

Omelegg claims they make the best omelettes in town, and there’s only one way to find out if that is true. Made with fresh ingredients, the café serves a wide range of unusual omelette varieties, in addition to the universal classics. Dare to try an omelette with dates or banana and peanut butter? No matter what you order, Netherlands’ first ‘omeletterie’ is sure to impress. 

Visit the secret hiding place of Anne Frank, now a biographical museum dedicated to the young diarist, at Anne Frank House. Relive the years Anne and her family spent hiding from Nazi persecution through quotes, photos, videos and original items. Walk behind the hinged bookcase to enter the secret annex and explore the various museum exhibits that bring the years to life – the original red checkered diary gifted to Anne on her birthday, the height markings of Anne and her sister on the walls, and the various picture postcards plastered on the walls. 

Head to Netherlands’ first organic farmers’ market, Biologische Noordermarkt or Farmer's Market on Noordermarkt, to pick up a picnic lunch. From organic vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and herbs to bread, cheese, and honey, the market offers a range of delicious foods. Warm breads, coffee rolls, croissants, raspberry cakes, ice creams and cheese platters, you’ll be truly spoilt for choice. Pick your favourites and then head to Vondelpark, the largest park in Amsterdam. Find a quiet corner amidst the 47 acres of lush greenery, either under the cool shade of a tree or by the shimmering waters of the pond and enjoy a delightful al fresco lunch. 

After spending nearly 48 hours in Amsterdam, walking past the many canals of the ‘Venice of the north’, it is time to explore the city’s crowning glory. Undoubtedly one of the most popular Amsterdam things to do is a sunset canal cruise. Float past the various sights that you explored over two days and take pictures of them from a whole new perspective. 

Brown cafés are an integral part of Amsterdam’s culture, and some date back several centuries. A traditional Dutch pub, brown cafés acquired their name from their cosy dark wood furnishings. If you don’t mind a pub dinner, a brown café would be just the place to soak up the authentic Dutch life and mingle with the locals – from corporate lawyers in three-piece suits to struggling artists with sketch pads. Café Chris opened its doors in 1624 and to date is one of the most loved brown bars by locals and tourists alike. Amongst its many quirks is a toilet so tiny, the flush tank is placed outside it. Certainly worth a look, even if you don’t intend to use it.