When to visit Amsterdam
Spring
March /April for Easter, Spring breaks and of course a visit to the tulip fields. The second weekend in April is National Museum Weekend when most Museums are open free of charge.
30th April is Koninginnedag - Queen's Day, when Amsterdam puts on its party shoes. The entire city is filled with fun, music and street vendors. The streets are packed and the canals are filled with boats of all sizes filled with people dancing and having fun, many dressed in funny costumes of orange, red, white and blue. On this day there is nothing else to do but join in!
May / June to stroll over the Flower Market, walk along the Canals and sit at a sidewalk café. The Holland Festival takes place for three weeks in June. This festival features special programmes of dance, theatre, music and opera all over Amsterdam.
Summer
July to party in one of the many nightclubs and picknick in the Vondel Park where you can also enjoy Open Air Theatre, concerts and cabarets. Take an evening cruise through the canals when all the bridges are lit up and dine alfresco. One ray of sunshine and every café and restaurant has its tables out on the terraces and pavements.
August to see the Gay Parade which takes place on the Canal the Prinsengracht - a one minute walk from Aemstelhuys. Also the Prinsengracht Concert, an open air concert of classical music which takes place on the same canal. The concert is in the evening and is free of charge but you need to get there early to find a place to sit and take enough food and wine to last you through the evening. During 9 days in mid August, the Grachtenfestival offers you the chance to enjoy classical and modern music performances, centered around the canals and the harbour.
Autumn
September - to see the Bloemen Corso (Flower Parade) on the first Saturday of the month. Beautifully decorated floats and cars parade from Aalsmeer to Amsterdam. In early September you get to peek inside historic buildings which are not normally open to the public. (Open Monument Days)
October - Sail or walk along the canals or stroll through the many parks to see Amsterdam in its autumn glory! Make a visit to the Albert Cuyp street market where fresh fish, cheese, flowers and exotic vegetables are sold next to fake designer bags and watches. Don't miss a visit to the Flea Market situated at the Waterlooplein, just five minutes walk from Aemstelhuys.
Winter
November to see the arrival of Sinterklaas, the Dutch Father Christmas. He sails up the Amstel River (past Aemstelhuys!!) by steamboat, accompanied by lots of other boats, big and small, with entire music bands and lots of naughty Zwarte Pieten!
The first Saturday in November is Museumnacht (museum night) when most of the cities Museums are open until deep in the night and provide tours and special activities.
December - Amsterdam is in festive mood. Shop in the beautifully illuminated stores and markets, or skate on the rinks set up in the centre of town, drink hot chocolate and visit the annual Christmas Circus in Theatre Carré (just opposite Aemstelhuys). On New Year's Eve take your glass of champagne outside at midnight and join in the celebrations on the Magere Brug as you watch the firework displays over the Amstel River.
January / February- for walks along the river, the theatre, visiting the markets and the Sales. Chinese New Year falls in this period and the celebrations of the large Chinese population include dancing and fireworks, centered around Nieuwmarkt.
Walk along the 9 streets (negenstraatjes) a beautiful small area bounded by canals and filled with small antique shops, unusual boutiques, second hand 50's and 660's clothing, cafés and restaurants.
Walk along the Kalverstraat, Amsterdam's main shopping street which is pedestrians only, and nip in to see the Begijnehof, a small circular garden with a tiny English Church, surrounded by houses dating back to the 15th Century.
Take a drive in a horse and carriage, cross the city by tram or sail over the canals in the daytime or by candlelight in the evening. Or hire a bike and cycle along the canals.
What to see
Daily Markets: (not Sundays) The Flower Market and the Albert Cuyp street market and the Flea Market at Waterlooplein.
Saturday Market: The Farmer's Market on the Square in front of the Northern Church - MUST SEE! Walk back along the Prinsengracht and visit the "9 STREETS", the small streets linking the 3 main canals. Filled with unusual shops, boutiques and caf'és.
Monday Market: Textiles at the Square in front of the Northern Church.
Amsterdam has many museums including the Rijks, Van Gogh, van Loon, Willet Holthuysen, Jewish Historical, Hermitage and Amsterdam Historical Museum.
NEMO Science Museum
Visit the Shipping Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum) which always has interesting exhibitions and NEMO, the new Science and Technology Museum built on the harbour where you can snack on the roof with incredible views over the city.
Visit the Anne Frank House and Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, the Hortus Botanicus and the Zoo.
Take the ferry from the Central Station across the water, where you will find yourself in an authentic Dutch village. Here you can walk along the dike and stop for a drink and a bite in the very old cafe before taking the short sail back.