And why four visits to Amsterdam is just not enough.

I’m going to get technical for just a second. As a part of my masters program in International Tourism Management, we often spoke of a destination’s sense of place as it’s ability to bring to mind a specific image or idea of that place. Think of it as an emotional manifestation of everything you associate with that place - in short, this is essentially a city’s brand identity. Of all the European cities I’ve visited, Amsterdam’s sense of place is by far the most absolute.

Amsterdam is a feeling.

After four visits over nearly ten years, my remembrances of the city have evolved from the obvious (canals, bicycles, and sex-drugs-and-rocknroll) to something much more all-encompassing and nostalgic. To describe the city in a poem, I’d use words such as storied, retro, cozy, and cobblestoned. In a painting, I’d portray it in deep reds and blues with pops of tulip-pink-and-green. On a vision board, I’d tack photos of golden wheels of cheese, leather boots on bicycle pedals, alternative cafés, and makeshift gardens on bows of houseboats. There’s so many unique elements that come together to create this iconic city.

A small big city.

I think Amsterdam’s size makes it one of the most approachable cities in Europe. Compared to its competitor capital cities of Paris, London, Rome, and Barcelona, Amsterdam feels like a quaint small town. It’s easily explored on foot, and even more efficient by bike. Why does this matter?

Picture your last trip to a big city. How much time did you spend on the metro, or taxi, and how much of the city did you miss in-between stops? I LOVE a walkable city, because there’s no better way to find local gems than by stumbling across them along your way. Not to mention, walking cuts out the logistical stress of navigating rideshares and public transportation.

The local culture.

I absolutely love the Dutch people and mindset. The local Amsterdam culture is a fascinating blend of open-mindedness, creativity, tradition, and tolerance. These tall and bright-eyed cyclists are friendly and welcoming, and their English language skills make them all the more inviting. One of the first friends I made in Europe is from Eindhoven, a city in the south of the Netherlands. Rens and I quickly realized that our cultures shared a similar sense of humor and a laid-back approach to making new friends. Don’t get me wrong; they’re still effortlessly cool and stylish - just not standoffish. On my last trip to ADam, I took the 3-hour train from Paris and the contrast between the two cities was quite endearing - suddenly, English was everywhere and smiles were abundant.

The food scene.

I won’t spend too much time here - just know if you’re looking for something, you’ll find it in Amsterdam. It’s worth mentioning a few of MY favorite foods that I associate exclusively with Amsterdam.

They are:

*fries done the “Special” way: a combination of mayo, curry ketchup, and diced onions
*stroopwafel, a gooey caramel-waffle cookie whose unrelenting scent calls to you from across the city
*Maoz, my favorite falafel joint with an endless topping buffet
*cheese…… the BEST cheese, everywhere, and ready to bring home
*Tony’s Chocolonely, a dutch chocolate brand with a DIY chocolate bar factory in central Amsterdam
*and BEER! So many different brands that put American breweries to shame (De Biertuin is the best place to try them all, paired with delicious food, alongside the locals

So much to do… or not.

I can’t imagine a time where going to Amsterdam wouldn’t be a brilliant idea. It’s both hopelessly romantic AND family friendly, debaucherous yet elegant, and offers endless activities at an unhurried pace. You can experience Amsterdam with a fully stacked itinerary that will keep everyone busy for a week, or you can wander around with nothing particular in mind, and find delight after delight.

There’s the typical Amsterdam must-do’s:

The canals tell the story of Amsterdam. Call it touristy, but I do this every single time I’m in the city. Bonus points if you book a private experience with an onboard cheese and wine tasting!
You’ll definitely need to book this in advance!
When in ADam, it would be wrong not to pay tribute to some of it’s iconic painters. The Vincent Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum are classics.
Many venture outside of the city to Zaanse Schans, a famous city with traditional Dutch windmills.

And my favorite not-so-typical gems:

“Amsterdammers” are the kings and queens of making vintage look oh so good. You can easily spend an afternoon biking to vintage markets and shops around the city.
It’s cool, retro, and one-of-a-kind!
Once the sun goes down, you’ll have your pick of live music genres - catch jazzy local acts at Jazz Cafe Alto or go Euro-experimental at Garage Noord. Check out Paradiso or Melkweg to see if one of your favorite artists is in town!
It’s worth going outside of the city center a bit for Michelin-starred restaurants, independent boutiques, vintage stores, art galleries, breweries, and award-winning wine bars.
The Botanical Gardens feel very Amsterdam - you’ll notice avid stoop gardeners throughout the city. This is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world and it’s cafe is PERFECT for warm weather.

Botanical Gardens

Jazz Cafe Alto

Episode, a vintage store in the city center

One foot in Amsterdam, the other in Europe.

So, I’ve established the reasoning behind my affection for the city. The reason I go back time and time again? It’s too easy not to.

Though it has everything needed to be a destination on its own, this is one of the best cities to pair with a broader Europe trip. Its small size makes getting a good grasp of the city achievable in three days or so. When flying into Amsterdam Shiphol airport, the taxi or train to the city center takes just 20 minutes. When rail is more convenient, you’ll debark at Amsterdam Central Station in the actual heart of the city.