Aimee's Weekend Trip To Amsterdam

Join Aimee on a 48-hour rollercoaster through Amsterdam's vibrant canals, tulip-strewn streets, and coffee shop culture. From windmills to waffles, she uncovers the city's secrets, one stroopwafel at a time. Get ready for a whirlwind tour of Dutch delights!

Journey there

Who did you fly with?
We flew with KLM from Inverness Airport on a direct flight

Did you get any connecting transport from the airport?
From Schipol airport, we made our way to the central station on the train. The train station at Schipol Is located under the airport making It very easy to find. From the airport to central Amsterdam is about a 15-minute journey

How was the journey?
Everything went well with the journey. We enjoyed a great flight with KLM with drinks service during the 1-hour 20-minute flight

Hotels

Where did you stay?
Stayed at the Sir Adam Hotel in the north of the city. We accessed the hotel via a free ferry service that operates 24 hours a day. The journey takes less than a minute

Were there any special features?
The hotel is part of a multi-entertainment venue; the highest swing In Europe is located on the top floor, there is a revolving restaurant and bar located on floor 20 for amazing views over the city and every room in the hotel has a record player and you can choose your favourite records in the hotel reception. Do you love karaoke? Why not have a sing-along in the lift to your room?

What was your stay like? Did you enjoy it?
We were greeted at check-in with a glass of fizz and had a really great stay at the hotel. The Nord of Amsterdam has had a lot of money invested into it, it's well worth a trip over even If you choose to stay In other parts of the city. 

Activities

Where did you go?
I purchased a 'I Amsterdam' card before travel and it was well worth the money. It includes tram travel around the city, as well as free or discounted entry to lots of tourist attractions. We pre-booked some of our museum entry times before travel

What did you see/do?
Saturday - We took the train to Haarlem to visit the Corrie Ten Boom museum - an actual house used for hiding Jews during the Second World War. We also visited the local market and took a canal tour around Haarlem (included in our card) In the evening we visited 'Our House' a museum to take you on the journey through the history of electronic music

Sunday - We visited the Foam Museum - exhibitions of upcoming and well-known photographers. We also visited the Moco Museum - This museum was my favourite, there were lots of iconic works celebrated by modern and contemporary artists like Banksy and Damien Hirst. We went to the A'dam lookout for a shot on the highest rooftop swing in Europe. We also pre-purchased some drinks for the rooftop bar.

On Monday we headed out of the city and headed to Zaandam Schans to see the windmills and museum ( also free when using your I Amsterdam card)

What was the weather like?
Very warm! 27 degrees for the whole weekend!

Any recommendations?
For your first visit to Amsterdam, I would always recommend pre-booking Anne Franks' house. This sells out weeks in advance. The tram system is a great way of travelling around the city, and very inexpensive

Food/Drinks

Did you go to any local restaurants/cafes?
On Saturday night we ate at Jottum Tapas restaurant - this had been recommended to us by a local.
Food Hallen In Amsterdam West is a must - a market with more than 20 different food types on offer - from Mexican - seafood and Vietnamese to burgers. The poffertjes (small Dutch pancakes) for breakfast Is a must. I had mine with strawberries and Nutella, but they do offer savoury options too.

Conclusion

Would you recommend this holiday and who to?
Amsterdam really does have something for everyone. If you are looking to learn about art and history there are lots of museums. Foodies will love the range of international dishes on offer, I struggled to choose where to eat! There are lots of ocean and river cruise ships in port during my stay – why not have a few nights in Amsterdam before embarking on a cruise?

If you would like to book your next city break to Amsterdam, get in contact with Aimee;
[email protected]
0808 169 8208