The Amsterdam List 🇳🇱✨

I promised you guys an Amsterdam list, and it’s finally here! As always, no gatekeeping - I’m sharing all my favorite spots, including shopping with you.

To be completely honest, Amsterdam was never really high on my bucket list. I always imagined it as a city for a very specific type of person with very specific interests, but it completely changed my mind. Beyond the reputation it’s known for, Amsterdam has such a sweet, simple charm. It really can be whatever you want it to be - relaxed, lively, artistic, or a little bit of everything.

Walking along the canals at sunset with a friend honestly feels like magic. I’m not sure it’s a city I would personally visit completely solo, as I think it could start to feel a little lonely after a few days, but with good company, it can be so much fun. I would schedule 5 days for Amsterdam to cover the city!

Where You Should Stay

I stayed near the Museum Quarter, which I’d definitely recommend. It felt elegant, calm, and safe, while still being close to museums, cafés, shops, and public transport. It’s a great area if you want somewhere classy and a little quieter than the busiest parts of the city.

Things That Surprised Me

• Everyone is incredibly tall. I consider myself a tall person, but in Amsterdam, I felt completely average. The silver lining is that the shopping is heaven for a tall person like me - I walked into local Dutch stores and the pants were actually long enough!

• Dutch cuisine is basically built on snacks. That’s probably why everyone is so tall and slim; they cycle absolutely everywhere and just graze on snacks all day. My friend took me to a local spot called FEBO (apparently known to locals as a bit of a guilty pleasure). It’s literally a wall of little heated vending lockers where you tap your credit card and pull out hot Dutch snacks. So random, but so fun. The cheese pocket was my favorite - I wouldn’t bother trying anything else!

• The Dutch love a random trinket. There are endless boutique shops selling the most random things you could ever imagine - yet somehow, you feel entirely tempted to buy all of them. You will definitely leave with bags full of cute, random pieces. You have to visit to understand what I mean!

• Coffee shops are called cafes. Coffee shop is somewhere you should ask for lol.
  

Casual Lunch & Food Spots

• CHUN: You’ve probably seen this one all over Instagram. It’s a viral sandwich spot serving incredibly soft Korean milk bread toast. The line gets long, but it moves quickly and the food is worth the wait.

• Foodhallen: A vibrant indoor food market with a great vibe and amazing variety. There are also some really cute boutique shops tucked inside the hall to browse while you eat. (Grab some bitterballen here!)

• Ottolenghi: I had to go here because I love Ottolenghi! It was so good I wish I went more than once.

• FEBO: Perfect for a quick dutch snack (definitely get the cheese pocket - equivalent to Dutch cheese samboosa).

• A random local pub: Grab some traditional bitterballen at any local pub you happen to pass by! They’re almost like the Dutch equivalent of falafel - such a classic, everyday snack. You don’t need to search for a specific place; they’ll probably taste even better at a cosy local pub.

On my list, but didn’t have time to visit (let me know how they are if you go!):

• Maijard Smashburgers: for great burgers

• Bagel Boy: right at the top of my list

• Toki: a specialty coffee shop

• Saint-Jean Bakery: for pastries

• Scandinavian Embassy: for specialty coffee and pastries

Cafés (Not "Coffeeshops" 😉)

• DAK Showroom: Really, really good. Do yourself a favor and buy a bag of their beans to take home with you!

• Coffee District (Willemsparkweg): A beautiful spot located right around the Museum Quarter.

• HAKU: A gorgeous, minimalist space with a fantastic brew.

• Friedhats FUKU: This one is a bit out of the way, but it’s an award-winning spot and the coffee is incredible. The barista here was amazing - they really know their craft and walked me through the different coffee processing washes.

Sweet Treats & Dessert

• Van Stapele Koekmakerij: A legendary bakery that only sells one thing: a dark chocolate cookie with a gooey white chocolate center, served fresh and warm straight out of the oven. There’s a queue outside, but it moves fast!

• Poffertjes (Dutch Mini-Pancakes): I love pancakes, and these were some of the best I’ve ever had in my life. Go for the half-Nutella, half-Lotus drizzle topped with fresh strawberries.

Museums and Galleries

Amsterdam honestly feels like one of the most art-filled cities I’ve ever visited. There are galleries scattered all around the city, and they seem almost endless. These two museums are absolute must-visits:

• Stedelijk Museum: a must for modern and contemporary art. While you’re there, take a little break at the specialty coffee spot on the first floor. You don’t often find genuinely good specialty coffee inside museums, and theirs was surprisingly amazing.

• MOCO Museum: bold, fun, and very easy to enjoy, with lots of contemporary and street art, including several works by Banksy.

• Van Gogh Museum: I personally skipped this one because I’m not a huge Van Gogh fan and have already seen a lot of his work in other museums. But if you haven’t, it’s probably still worth visiting.
  

Shopping

• Anna + Nina: The ultimate aesthetic spot for jewelry, home decor, and incredibly cute finds.

• HEMA: A Dutch high-street staple. Go here for random, surprisingly useful, and cute lifestyle stuff.

• Normal: So much fun just browsing around here!

• Fabienne Chapot: A gorgeous Dutch clothing brand featuring beautiful prints and tailoring.

• Astrid & Miyu: Cute and tasteful delicate fine jewelry.

• Puccini Bomboni: Yummy artisanal chocolate to take home with you!

Neighborhoods to Wander

• De Negen Straatjes (The 9 Streets): The ultimate neighborhood for boutique hopping, cozy cafés, and classic canal views.

• Jordaan: Often considered the most beautiful and cozy neighborhood in the city. It’s much less touristy, highly residential, and the perfect place to just get lost wandering.

• De Pijp: If you want to experience a more modern, trendy, and "local" side of Amsterdam, head straight here. It has a fantastic culinary scene and a lively energy.