Amsterdam doesn’t need a long activities list to fill a weekend — the city itself is the activity, and a slow morning walking the canal ring will do more for you than most ticketed attractions. But the active part of the trip is where the city’s stranger side shows up: a swing off the back of A’DAM Tower at 100 metres over the IJ, the WONDR Experience near Marineterrein, a Brouwerij ‘t IJ windmill tour, a guided street-art walk through NDSM Wharf, a canal swim at Sloterplas in summer. This curated list collects the Amsterdam Local Gems venues built around doing rather than looking: rooftop swings, immersive art experiences, distillery and brewery tastings, themed walking tours, and bike-friendly outings within and just beyond the city limits.
749 places
Bakery · De Pijp
Rudi's Original Stroopwafels is a traditional food truck located in Amsterdam's Albert Cuyp Market that serves freshly baked stroopwafels made with a family recipe…
Opening status unconfirmed
Landmark · Binnenstad
The Houten Huis, located in Amsterdam's Begijnhof courtyard, is the oldest surviving wooden house in Amsterdam, dating back to approximately 1420.
Opening status unconfirmed
Restaurant · Rembrandtplein
Secret Garden in Amsterdam is a restaurant that offers an exotic and vibrant atmosphere where guests can enjoy Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese…
Opening status unconfirmed
Museum · Plantage
Het Museum van de Geest heeft twee vestigingen; één in Haarlem en één in Amsterdam. In Amsterdam zijn tentoonstellingen te zien met outsider art,…
Opening status unconfirmed
Café · De Wallen
Café Dijk 120 is a café located in the Jordaan neighborhood of Amsterdam, serving coffee and snacks with picturesque views of the Prinsengracht canal.
Opening status unconfirmed
Café · Centrum
Café de Wetering is a charming brown café in Amsterdam located near the Rijksmuseum that offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere with a wood-burning…
Opening status unconfirmed
Pub · Jordaan
Dark wood and a billiard table give this Bloemstraat café its brown-bar character.
Opening status unconfirmed
Wine bar · Centrum
Oocker, located in Amsterdam, is a highly-rated wine bar known for its extensive selection of over 350 wines available by the glass and its…
Opening status unconfirmed
Restaurant · Centrum
Kapitein Zeppos is a cheerful restaurant in Amsterdam that offers Mediterranean dishes, outdoor seating, and a full bar.
Opening status unconfirmed
Entertainment venue · Centrum
A picturesque canal house at Reguliersgracht 36 featured as Tiffany Case's residence in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever, near the iconic…
Opening status unconfirmed
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