10 Things To Do & Where to Stay in Amsterdam - Holland

21:03 Unknown 75 Comments

Amsterdam windmills Holland

Exploring Amsterdam:

In the North of Europe lies Amsterdam, the beautiful capital of the Netherlands or Holland (whatever you may feel like calling it) - one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen!  Amsterdam is a small peaceful city with lots of canals and beautiful weather. 

Beautiful canal view of Amsterdam at night
What to see and how to see?

Dam Square, also the centre of the city is the place one should begin with. This is the place where lots of tourists can be spotted at all times and mostly there are some shows going on at the square too! 

If you are interested in having pictures with the famous celebrities from all over the world, walk towards Madame Tussauds. Purchase the tickets from the counter and you will be welcomed by Barak Obama (oh, just his wax statue). The photographer will take a picture which you may purchase if required. 


madame tussauds amsterdam 2

We purchased the ticket on the spot so it cost us much higher than the online prices available. I would therefore advise you to purchase the ticket online, prior to your visit so you can save your Euros


iamsterdam Spending Two Days in Amsterdam - Holland

Other things that I would recommend doing in Amsterdam are to take pictures in front of iamsterdam, explore eateries and shops. Let me give a detailed explanation by what I mean by 'exploring shops' (but do it only if you are an adult and you do not have kids around - giggles)! The shops have some very adult stuff and items that are easily available and to my astonishment can be seen in almost all the shops! I found the activity quite amusing and was a good time pass in the extra hours we had. 

It is advised to purchase ticket from any tours operator because it is the best option to see everything! We opted for Tours & Tickets which cost us 45 Euros per person but I would highly recommend them because the tour guide was extremely jolly, the bus departs on time and goes well planned. 

There are many things that are covered in the tour that also includes the visit to the Dutch museum, Volendum cheese factory, Merkel through the ferry, shoe factory and seeing the amazing windmills.

Our tour actually started with the visit to the Dutch museum where we could see the Dutch history and culture. Since I had studied much about Holland earlier in school, I was really interested in it and enjoyed looking around things inside the museum.


Dutch museum

This was followed by a visit to a beautiful Dutch village which mesmerized the scenic beauty and the beautiful houses and cows. It was a small village and the residents there had their doors painted in different colours and had some lovely and cute window displays. 

If you are visiting Amsterdam, you ought to visit the beautiful country side too! 

Spending Two Days in Amsterdam - Holland 4

Next, we went to the Volendum Cheese Factory where we got to taste different varieties of cheese after a short demonstration of how cheese is made. The demonstration was done by a Dutch lady who was also an employee of the factory and I found extremely entertaining and informative. 

Cheese Factory Volendum Holland 1

volendum cheese factory amsterdam

After the visit to the cheese factory, we had a break of 30 minutes before heading towards Merkel through the ferry, and right opposite the factory were various ice-cream shops and eateries. Therefore, we decided to eat something and sit for some time until our tour resumes. The views we came across while commuting in the ferry were spectacular! 

Merkel through the ferry amsterdam
Our ferry can be seen right behind this statue sitting comfortably on the bench
That's my Smurf ice cone
Peeping inside the shop display counter near Volendum Cheese Factory
Once we reached Merkel, we were taken to the Shoe Factory where the host gave a demonstration of how the Dutch made wooden shoes and told us about the history and facts related to it. 

Shoe factory Amsterdam Holland
Shoe factory Amsterdam - Holland
The last part of the tour was seeing the beautiful windmills of Amsterdam. The place was very peaceful but it was chilly because of the cold winds and a river. 

How to travel? 

Tram is the best means of travelling in the city especially if you are a woman or with a group of women. Get hold of the city map which you will easily find at the tram station from where you can also purchase a day pass or a two day pass, depending on your stay. 

Snapped it while waiting for the tram at the Dam Square
Otherwise, cycle is the most used mode of transportation in Amsterdam and you will find cyclists everywhere! You may be surprised to find proper tracks only for cyclists but make sure not to walk on their path or you might get hit. The Netherlands has proper rules & regulations for the cyclists and they are given priority when it comes to cars. 

Many often one also gets to see women cycling with the baby on a small carriage attached to the cycle. 


Amsterdam Centraal Amsterdam Holland
The main train station of Amsterdam 
Where to stay?

Make sure to book a hotel near the tram stop. This is important because this way, you won't have to walk much for commuting. My husband and I stayed at Ibis tiles. The room size was okay, but the wash room was quite small. I felt the wash basin inside was small and there was no bath, just a shower cubicle. We did opt for breakfast and the variety was fine.

I am actually used to the luxury and the buffet breakfasts served in Dubai, maybe that's the reason why I felt it lacked certain things, but I guess that's how it is in the European countries, the Middle Eastern lifestyle is quiet different. 



What to eat?

There is a lot of food variety but for the Muslims, Halal food is available easily and if you are a spicy food fan - that is also available easily! Dam square is the centre of Amsterdam where you will find everything and just a few steps from Madame Tussauds there is an Indian restaurant that serves Halal food. 

I loved eating the Dutch Cheesy Frites with Miranda

Where to shop?

If you are looking for souvenirs, then Dam Square is the best place to explore. 
Right opposite Madame Tussauds, there are a few shops where you may find good stuff at good prices. 

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I did all this during my 2 day stay in Amsterdam! Have you visited Amsterdam or any city in Holland? I would love to read any tips you might want to share in the comments below. 

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75 comments:

  1. This is on the top 5 places for us to visit ( someday ). Your article only motivated to visit it soon. Beautiful place !

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    1. It is beautiful indeed! I still have many more beautiful pictures that I will post soon :-)

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  2. Amsterdam is ne of my must-see locations :) It seems like such a gorgeous place!

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    1. Yes Kristina! I was completely mesmerized by the beauty of the city!

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  3. i never been there...but will go one day... :)

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    1. You should plan a visit to Amsterdam. Let me know if I can be of any help in guiding you. Will be posting more blogs on my visit to Holland soon.

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. Thank you! :-)
      Amsterdam is a very beautiful city. I am sure you will love your visit to the city too!

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  5. I visited madame tussauds in Prater-Vienna , where we live, and it was so awesome. I would like to see amsterdam. My sister was there and really enjoyed

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    1. That's great! They have Madame Tussauds in various cities worldwide! :)
      Glad to know you enjoyed!

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  6. Added Amsterdam to my wishlist. I just can't wait to visit the place. Thanks for sharing this post.

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    1. Thar's great! I would advise you to plan a visit in the coming summers so you can enjoy outdoors and admire the beauty of the place.

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  7. My boyfriend is Dutch and we've been talking about visiting! I had no idea there was an abundance of spicy food there! That makes everything better :)

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    1. All types of food is available in Amsterdam. Don't worry. You will definitely find the food of your choice.

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  8. Never been, but hope to go insha'Allah. Thanks for sharing

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  9. This is one holistic guide to Amsterdam! Looks gorgeous subhanAllah :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by. Hope it is helpful for you.

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  10. Travel is fun if only we are always flowing in cash and have a stand by mahram.

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  11. I would love to visit oneday Inshallah

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  12. If I run away from university and leave for the Netherlands I'll blame it on you ! This place looks beautiful !

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    1. Haha! Running could be worth the trip but you can always plan a trip during holidays! ;-)

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  13. Such beautiful pics! Lovely post... I totally agree to Umm Bilal's comment... so true! :D

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  14. Great review, and lovely photographs!

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  15. This is such a helpful post. Amsterdam is one of the places in my list to e visited. I'm going to book mark this page.

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    1. Hey Veena!
      Glad you found it helpful. Amsterdam is very beautiful and the best time to visit the city is during summers, the time when the weather in the Middle East is blazing hot so maybe you can plan a trip next summer and chill for some time. Let me know if you need any guidance in planning the trip. Would be happy to help.

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  16. I use to live in Holland, and have visited Amsterdam. Miss the Netherlands ☹



    www.themuslimahguide.com

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    1. Aww. I can understand why you miss this beautiful country.

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  17. Would love to go there inshaAllah one day! I've heard so many beautiful things about Amsterdam!

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    1. Oh yes. Good luck for your trip. I hope you get a chance to visit Amsterdam soon.

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  18. hey Fatima,
    your post kindle my love for Netherlands. The countryside is really lovely.


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    1. It is lovely indeed. :-)
      Glad you liked the post.

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  19. Sounds great! I was amazed by the fact that cycling is preferred here. This should leave its citizens healthy and city clean.

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    1. Yeah! I found more cycles than cars there and the cyclists have proper road rights too.

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  20. Oooo the countryside - the green fields and animals; I would love to spend a lot of time there just drinking in the scenery, breathing in fresh air, day dreaming and writing.

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    1. Wow! Your comment is making me want to visit the city again! :-D

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  21. Looks like a lovely place to visit! Thanks for your tips

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  22. Amsterdam looks like a wonderful city to visit. Will add it to my list :)

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    1. Indeed it is a lovely city. I am sure you will enjoy your trip to Amsterdam. :-)

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  23. Fatima, Amsterdam is on my bucket list. I enjoyed your review, and loved the pictures. Thank you for sharing this post.

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    1. Hey Roy! Thanks for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed reading the post.

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  24. This post makes me want to go and visit Amsterdam. It seems beautiful and amazing.

    I'll have to write about someone from Amsterdam on my blog. www.falution.com

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    1. You should definitely visit Amsterdam. Its one of my favourite tourist destination.

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  25. i could never think beyond tulips whenever it comes to Amsterdam. Very informative post.

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    1. Oh yeah. I remember studying about the tulips in Amsterdam back when I was at school 😊

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  26. I have always wanted to go there, even more so now! My husband is in the cheese business I will have to tell him about that for sure.

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    1. Your husband should definitely develop links with their cheese industry. It's huge!

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  27. Amsterdam is actually on my bucket list I want to go so bad 😫

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    1. Haha. I hope you are able to visit Amsterdam soon.

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  28. Very interesting post! I will be visiting Amsterdam in the near future and will keep your pointers in mind! Cool pictures as well! I bet you had a great time!

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    1. I had an amazing time. Although I did a a lot more things there, I will be posting about some in the second part of this post but I have to skip a few.

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  29. Looks like you had a fun trip. Amsterdam is in my bucket list. Have pinned your post for my future reference. Thanks for sharing this post with us!

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    1. Oh YES! I had a lot of fun in Amsterdam. The place is SO beautiful! :D

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  30. Have had no luck with Amsterdam or Holland yet. But loved your review. I can also understand your comment on the size of the hotels in Europe felt that when I visited Switzerland etc. in India too we are used to king size hospitality and rooms

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    1. There you go! That's actually what I was referring to. :D

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  31. I have never been but I really want to if only to go to the cheese factory and eat all the food including that smurf Ice cream cone. You did so much in two days!

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    1. Yes, my husband had planned the trip very well. That's the reason why we were able to cover so much in 2 days. :-)

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  32. holland is definitely on my list! absolutely love this!

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    1. Hey Suchitra! I really hope you are able to visit Holland soon.

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  33. I'd like to see Amsterdam one of these days. Based from the pictures you showed, my wife and I would really love the time there. Oh by the way, the food pics you took in Merkel, are those street foods? They look like it but dont know if it is.

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    1. You both will definitely enjoy your trip. Yes, you think right. The food pictures are of Merkel food street. :-)

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  34. I'd love to visit Amsterdam. My wife and I would enjoy our time there. Btw, are those pictures from Merkel street type foods?

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  35. I have always wanted to go to Holland. It looks like such a beautiful country!

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    1. Hey Lynn! You should definitely visit Holland. The countryside is beautiful indeed.

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  36. I have family and friends in Holland but really never decided to go and visit! After your photos I started thinking about it!

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    1. You must definitely visit them this summer then. There is so much to do in Amsterdam.

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  37. I would love to visit The Netherlands, one of the few European countries I didn't quite manage to fit it. Lovely photos, it looked fun filled.

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    1. I would love to go their again. It is such a beautiful place. My husband had gone again recently but we couldn't accompany him as he had to go for work.

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  38. I love this post! Amsterdam is still on my list of places to visit but I didn’t really have any clue where to start. Now I do

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