AMSTERDAM

Welcome to my Amsterdam guide!

I'm so happy you've found your way here. In this guide I'll share some of my favorite places to eat, including a special farm-to-table option, neighborhoods to stroll though and museums to enjoy. If I had one day in Amsterdam, I'd visit the Van Gogh museum, eat at Ceppis, get matcha and afternoon cake at Yuzu and stroll through Vondelpark or the Botanical Garden.

I have so much love for this city. Out of unforeseen circumstances I was able to spend more time here in my final year in the Netherlands, while dog and housesitting in different neighborhoods. This unique experience opened the door for me to more slowly explore this city and live in a few different corners.

I love that it's a capital but also only 800,000 people, feeling much more manageable and approachable than London or Berlin.

However, that being said, it's also a lot more tightly packed. I think this ends up being a benefit as well. You can spend the morning in one area of Amsterdam and within 30 minutes on the tram (or less) be completely on the other side exploring a new musuem or café. Amsterdam is approachable and the incredible public transportation is the cherry on top.

My second biggest tip is to avoid the center of Amsterdam (or the area around the Dam). I personally think where Amsterdam shines (in ways other than coffeeshops and tightly packed chain shopping streets) is on the outer ring of town. Whenever I would arrive at the central train station (Amsterdam Centraal) my immediate first step was to get on a tram or a bike towards either the left or the right of the station, and not down the middle. Again, personal preference but most of the cafés, restaurants and stops in this guide follow my general goals in traveling.

Amsterdam weather can be funky, which is no big surprise. I've included hopefully a good mix of both indoor and outdoor activites depending on the season and weather. For example, a rainy day could call for a visit to the Van Gogh museum followed by cozy ramen upstairs in the Dun Yong grocery store and an evening movie at the stunning Tushinski Theather. On a less wet day I would stroll Vondel Park with a coffee from Luuk's or visit Noordermarkt on a Saturday for fresh produce or interesting vintage items.

I've included a few different links to Google Maps lists organized by food and thrifting (my general areas of focus) which I recommend saving to your phone in order to find the nearest location to you wherever you may be in that moment.

Last thing - There's a sample three-day itinerary at the bottom! 👇

How to Get Around

The best and most accessible mode of transport (besides by foot) is the tram and train system, called the OV system (OV or = public transport system). Since only recently, you do not need to purchase an OV chip card to use the public transport system but can simply tap on and off with your debit or credit card (make sure it is the same one).

I personally do not recommend biking in Amsterdam if you a) don't know the streets well and b) aren't very comfortable on a bike. Even as a pedestrian, make sure to watch out for the red-paved section of the streets as these are designated bike paths and fast commuters will not expect you to step into their lane). There are some unwritten rules of how to bike in Amsterdam and I don't think it's worth trying to learn them (or risk your life) for a few days trip. Moving to the Netherlands? That's a whole different story and we can chat then.

To visit other cities within the Netherlands I also recommend using the well-connected train system, no need to rent a car. Cities like Leiden, Utrecht, the Hague and Haarlem are easily acceesible within less than an hour from Amsterdam. If you are traveling with a Dutch friend who has an OV card with a subscription, make sure to get a ticket with a discount for traveling with them. This can all be selected at one of the ticketbooths within the train stations.

First things first, food.

Where to Eat & Drink Coffee

A Google Maps guide to all my favorite food and coffee places: AMSTERDAM - Where to Eat · Josephine Henze

Tip: add the Google Maps guide to your phone and then whenever you're hungry or in need of a coffee you can locate the nearest pin!

Restaurants:

• Pata Negra (spanish tapas)

  • one of my favorite places to grab authentic spanish tapas and enjoy the liveliness of this restaurant

• Ceppis (Italian, great for lunch too)

  • Had one of the best pasta dishes of my life here! A ragu with ricotta salata cheese on top

• Jansz (pricier but Dutch local cuisine, need to make reservations beforehand)

• Williams Farmhouse (similar to Jansz)

• New Dutch Amsterdam (great brunch place by a canal)

• nNea Pizza (new Neapolitan award winning pizza in Oud West)

• Salvatorica (small homemade pasta place where you can sit at a few tables)

• Chez Nina Brasserie (kinda pricey but famous vegetarian brasserie)

• Ramen at Dun Yong Asian grocery store (upstairs, get there early bc a line does form)

  • A very small menu but delicious ramen on the top floor of an Asian grocery store

  • Go right in and take the elevator upstairs

• De Kas (quite fancy but amazing farm to table restaurant slightly outside of town)

  • Incredible farm to table dinner and dining experience

  • Make sure to not miss the dessert, it's always amazing

• Bird (great Thai food!!)

• Twee Prinsen

  • natural wines, beers and snacks

  • This place was right around the corner from my office and I loved stopping here after work for a glass of wine

• De Tros

• Bar Babar

  • another great wine bar

• Carmen

• Brasserie Margaux

• Brasserie Lolita

• Esh Pitabar (for amazing fresh pita and hummus)

• Papillon Bakery & Café (in Noord, a fun bike ride over)

Cafe’s (not coffeeshops hehe):

• YUSU

• BOCCA

• Rum Baba

• Luuk’s

  • My favorite decaf latte in town!

• Fort Negen

• Screaming Beans

• Uncommon Ams

  • Near Vondelpark, great to stop in for a coffee after walking through the park

• De Koffieschenkerij

  • A small cafe inside a courtyard of a church

  • Incredible apple pie here!

• Saint Jean

  • Known for their vegan pastries, great to stop here while shopping at the Nordermarkt

• Winkel 43: best apple pie in all of Amsterdam

  • often very long lines, but likely worth the wait

• Rum Baba

• Baking Lab

• De Deli Plantagebuurt

  • Right across from the Zoo or Micropia museum, great to grab a bite before or after visiting!

• The School of Life

  • great co-working place

• Coffee Company (a chain but great!)

  • get their chai latte !!

• Lanskroon Bakery (for stroopwafels)

• Haku Speciality Coffee

• Good Tea Stories (vegan boba)

  
  

What to See

Areas to walk around:

• the Jordaan

• the Vondelpark (my favorite nearby coffee place Uncommon Ams) —> this is next to Van Gogh

• Museumplein is where most of the big museums are located

  • don't miss the Rijksmuseum free garden on the side

• 9 streets area (small shops that are super fun)

• De pijp (lots of cute restaurants and cafes and Sarphatipark)

• Saturday Morning Market: Noordermarkt (lots of yummy fresh vegetables, vintage items, fun to get a feel of normal Amsterdam life)

• Lindengrachtmarket

• Westerpark

• Vondelpark

• Sarahatipark

Museums:

• Van Gogh (favorite!!)

• Rijksmuseum

• Micropia (really interesting about bacteria and microbes, next to the Zoo)

• Museum Van Loon

• Eye Filmmuseum (Film)

• Foam (Photography Museum)

• Fashion for Good

• Wereldmuseum of art from non-Western cultures

• Anne Frank House (book in advance!!)

• Cheesemuseum

• Houseboat Museum

• Rembrandt House Museum

  
  

Other (but worth it!)

• Do a boat tour and see the city from the water!

• Shop around in a Dille & Kamille

  • my favorite home goods store which truly embodies how Dutch culture is able to make indoor-living more pleasant during the many dark, rainy nights

• Watch a movie at Theater Thuschinki on a rainy day!

Where to Thrift

Google Maps guide to all my favorite thrifting in town:

AMSTERDAM - Where to Thrift · Josephine https://maps.app.goo.gl/j1KV1CBHkjXcL35WA?g_st=i

1. We Are Vintage

Kinkerstraat 193, 1053 DR

2. Bin Ons Vintage

Reestraat 13

1016 DM Amsterdam

3. Penny Lane Vintage

Eerste van der Helststraat 11

1011 HE Amsterdam

4. Episode (this one specifically)

Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 61

1017 DD Amsterdam

5. Kilo Store (vintage sold by the kilo)

Albert Cuypstraat 94, 1072 CX

6. Vintage 2.0

Spaarndammerstraat 34, 1013 SW Amsterdam

All on Haarlemerdijkstraat:

7. Zipper

8. Rumors

9. Vintage Outlet

10. Betty Jane (where I got my favorite summer strawberry dress!)

11. Studio Onrust

What to Bring Home (my personal favorites to bring home as souvenirs)

• Kitchen items from Dille & Kamille

  • loose leaf tea

  • cooking items

  • adorable cards

• Delftsblau pottery (make sure to get the original)

  • We love our beautiful large vase or Christmas tree ornaments or small Dutch houses as candleholders

• Stroopwafels

• Vintage thrifted items

• Plastic tulips (there are some really real looking ones and we have a set sitting in a Delftsblau vase at home)

• Skincare and beauty products from Rituals (a relatively afforable and classic Dutch store for when you want something to treat yourself, or a loved one back home)

Sample Three-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Exploring the Jordaan, 9 Streets area & evening boat trip

Morning

• Start at Noordermarkt (Saturday only): Enjoy the vibrant local market atmosphere, grab a pastry or coffee from Saint Jean while wandering stalls of vintage, produce, and street snacks.

• Stroll to Winkel 43 for their famous apple pie (get there early or expect a queue).

• Walk through the Jordaan neighborhood—peek into boutiques, small galleries, and canal-side views.

Lunch

• Ceppis – Perfect lunch spot for incredible pasta (don’t miss the ragu with ricotta salata).

Afternoon

• Explore the 9 Streets (De 9 Straatjes): Pop into Screaming Beans or BOCCA for coffee, shop small Dutch and vintage stores.

• Visit Museum Van Loon for a quieter, off-the-beaten-path museum in a canal house.

  
  

Dinner

• Pata Negra – Tapas and wine in a cozy, casual atmosphere.

Evening

• Sunset canal boat tour (especially lovely in golden hour).

Day 2: Museums, Vondelpark and De Pijp

Morning

• Coffee at Uncommon Ams (near the Van Gogh Museum).

• Visit Van Gogh Museum (book tickets in advance).

• Walk through Museumplein gardens next to the Rijksmuseum (optional: visit the museum too or just enjoy the free sculpture garden).

• Walk through Vondelpark.

Lunch

• Cozy ramen lunch at Dun Yong Asian grocery store

Afternoon

• Walk through De Pijp: explore Sarphatipark, vintage shop at Kilo Store or Penny Lane Vintage, and pop into Dille & Kamille.

• Stop for a pastry or coffee at Rum Baba or Luuk’s.

Dinner

• nNea Pizza – Award-winning Neapolitan pizza in Oud West (make a reservation or go early).

Evening

• Catch a film at Theater Tuschinski, a stunning Art Deco cinema—perfect for a cozy ending.

Day 3: Botanical Garden and East Amsterdam

Morning:

• Matcha and pastries at Yusu to start the day

• Explore East Amsterdam

• Visit the Botanical Garden

• Visit the Wereldmuseum of art from non-Western cultures

  
  

Afternoon

• Pick up final souvenirs at Dille & Kamille.

Dinner and Evening

• For a final dinner, book Chez Nina Brasserie for a splurge-worthy vegetarian meal or head slightly out of town for a memorable dinner at De Kas (reserve ahead!).

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