Amsterdam awaits - Canals, Culture, and Cuisine 🇳🇱
Amsterdam awaits - Canals, Culture, and Cuisine 🇳🇱
Lena Müller
Since I've been little, I've gone to the Netherlands on vacation every year. It is probably my favorite country in the world, with its beautiful architecture, quaint little towns, endless aesthetic shops, millions of bikes, and some of the best treats out there (looking at you Stroop waffles, Poffertjes, and Tony's Chocolate 🧡).
This is a small guide to Amsterdam with some of my favorite places around the "Venice of the North", including:
☕️ Cafés & Bakeries
👩🏻🍳 Restaurants
🖼️ Museums & Culture
🚲 Activities (incl. food activities)
🏨 Hotel Recommendations
🚂 Tipps on Transportation
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Cafés & Bakeries
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LOCALS Specialty Coffee
@thegoodlandbeyond
LOCALS Specialty Coffee is a cozy coffee shop known for its exceptional coffee blends and expert baristas. It's a great place to enjoy a cup of coffee while soaking in the local Amsterdam cafe culture.
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Selma’s (centrum)
@thegoodlandbeyond
Nordic bakery - coffee and cinnamon & cardamom buns (incl. vegan options)
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De Koffieschenkerij
@thegoodlandbeyond
such a fun café in an old church. We went on a sunny day and sat in the garden. The coffee and cake was super good!
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Toki
@thegoodlandbeyond
Toki is a trendy café and coffee shop offering a selection of high-quality coffee, delicious pastries, and a welcoming atmosphere. It's a popular spot for locals and visitors looking for a caffeine fix.
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Restaurants
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LOCALS All Day Brunch
@thegoodlandbeyond
LOCALS All Day Brunch is a café specializing in all-day breakfast and brunch options. They offer a range of delectable dishes, making it a fantastic spot to start your day or enjoy a leisurely brunch.
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The Craftsmen Kitchen
@thegoodlandbeyond
The Craftsman Kitchen is a restaurant known for its artisanal approach to food. They serve a variety of dishes using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, creating a unique culinary experience.
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Staring at Jacob | Amsterdam
@thegoodlandbeyond
We had breakfast here and it's super good. Combine it with a stroll through Vondelpark & the surrounding neighborhoods.
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Shiraz Jardin des Vins
@thegoodlandbeyond
Shiraz Jardin de Vins is a wine bar and restaurant, well-regarded for its extensive wine list and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. It's an excellent place for wine enthusiasts and those looking for a cozy dining experience.
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Café 't Smalle
@thegoodlandbeyond
Café 't Smalle is a historic canal-side café known for its traditional Dutch ambiance. It's a charming place to enjoy a beer or a jenever (Dutch gin) by the water.
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Foodhallen
@wanderingduo
A super fun, modern food hall with delicious bites. Be prepared to hunt for a table. We went on a Saturday and it was worth the wait, they had a DJ and everything! The bao buns were particularly good.
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Mana Mana - De Pijp
@thegoodlandbeyond
Mana Mana is a popular vegetarian and vegan restaurant located in the De Pijp neighborhood of Amsterdam. They offer a diverse menu of creative plant-based dishes.
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Museums 🖼️
Anne Frank House
@thegoodlandbeyond
The Anne Frank House is a museum dedicated to the Jewish girl Anne Frank, known for her diary written during World War II. The museum is located in the house where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis.
____
Least crowded at night, recommended since it's a small space. Make sure to get your tickets way in advance as it books up quickly.
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Van Gogh Museum
@thegoodlandbeyond
The Van Gogh Museum is home to one of the world's most extensive collections of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and artworks, making it a significant destination for art enthusiasts.
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Make sure to get your tickets way in advance as it books up quickly.
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Rijksmuseum
@thegoodlandbeyond
The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands and is renowned for its vast collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including works by Rembrandt and Vermeer.
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Food Activities
- cause what better way to get to know a city than to snack your way through?
Manneken Pis Damrak
@thegoodlandbeyond
Because you cannot leave Amsterdam without trying some of the iconic fries. I like to get the ones with onion on top and the speziaal sauce
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Tony's Chocolonely Superstore
@thegoodlandbeyond
If you haven't heard of Tony's Cocholonely chocolate, let me enlighten you. It's my favorite chocolate doing their best to prevent slavery and child labor along the supply chains of chocolate manufacturing. At the store you can create your own chocolate bar for 8 Euro and pick it up two hours later. Such a fun activity!
There are long days during the day so I recommend coming first thing in the morning.
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Poffertjes Albert Cuyp
@thegoodlandbeyond
Poffertjes are little fluffy pancakes served with butter and powdered sugar. A must to try when in the NL.
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👀 Tipp: For Stroopwafels, don't get it overpriced at a special place in the city. Simply walk into Albert Hejn or another Dutch supermarket and get the ones there. I could not taste a difference and they are so much cheaper. Also, makes for a nice little gift to bring home to friends & family.
Activities
Vondelpark
@thegoodlandbeyond
Vondelpark is Amsterdam's most famous and largest public park. It offers a peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle, with scenic paths, ponds, and sculptures. It's a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike for leisurely walks, picnics, and outdoor activities.
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Zevenlandenhuizen
@thegoodlandbeyond
A number of houses that all represent the architectural style of a different European country.
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Bloemenmarkt
@thegoodlandbeyond
The Bloemenmarkt is the world's only floating flower market, situated on the Singel canal. It's a colorful and fragrant place to buy flowers, bulbs, and other botanical products.
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Property Of...
@thegoodlandbeyond
A travel shop that sells personalized travel luggage, backpacks, accessorize, and other goodies such as coffee table books and travel guides. We spent a lot of timing talking to the sales woman who was so kind and even made us a (really good) cappuccino for free.
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Freedam Tours
@thegoodlandbeyond
Free Walking Tour. Ours lasted from 14-16:30 and was very interesting. The group was not too big and the guide was super funny and targeted a younger audience. Optional tips of 15-30 euros are recommended.
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Accommodations
The Hoxton, Amsterdam
@thegoodlandbeyond
Fun little tip: They have a vintage photo booth on their property.
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Conscious Hotel Vondelpark
@thegoodlandbeyond
A sustainable, eco-friendly boutique hotel near Amsterdam's Vondelpark, offering eco-conscious amenities and a convenient location for nature and city exploration. - not super central but has a fun, local neighborhood. We stayed here and really liked it.
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TWENTY EIGHT
@thegoodlandbeyond
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👀 Tipp: Amsterdam can get very pricey when it comes to accommodation. You might want to check for accommodations in Haarlem and other surrounding cities. If you enjoy the seaside, you can also stay in Zandvoort. Both are just a short train ride away from Amsterdam central station and the tickets are less than 10 Euro roundtrip.
Transportation
To reach Amsterdam, you can take a direct international flight to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) from major airports around the world. Alternatively, you can hop on a high-speed train, like the Thalys, Eurostar, or ICE, if you're traveling from nearby European cities, or drive by car using well-maintained highways and road networks connecting Amsterdam to neighboring regions.
I can highly recommend taking the trains, they are fast, mostly reliable and cheap when you get them a bit in advance. The last two times I went to Amsterdam, I only paid around 40 Euro round-trip from Cologne (Germany) to Amsterdam.
If you are coming with the car and are only visiting the city for a day, you might want to save some money and opt for a Park & Ride. Here is some official information:
Luggage
If you want to store you luggage, you can do so at the the Amsterdam Centraal train station starting at 8.50 Euro a day.
Amsterdam Centraal
@thegoodlandbeyond
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If you are only looking to store you luggage for a couple of hours, I recommend checking out Luggage Hero. Stores around Amsterdam (and the world) participate in this service and you can leave your luggage for as cheap as ~1 Euro/hour.
Have a great trip & make sure to subscribe to my travel shop and save my guides for future trips!
Love, Lena 👋🏻
I believe having good coffee and conversation is one of life's simplest and most beautiful pleasures, which is why I am always on the lookout for new cafés, not only in places I travel to but also in my own Cologne neighborhood.
Cologne does not disappoint when it comes to great coffee roasts and making sure you're never far from the next place to get caffeinated and loaded with good ol' German pastries and bread.
Have fun exploring the Domstadt & let me know if you enjoyed any of these spots!
Coffee • Foodie • Design • People & Culture • Sustainable/Eco • Slow Travel
Free
In 2017, I studied abroad in Palma de Mallorca for a semester and spent a lot of my time studying in coffee shops around the beautiful old town. I go back at least once a year and find new little gems every time. Here are my favorites for your next visit to the Balearic Islands. ☕️🥐
Architecture • Art • Budget • Foodie • People & Culture • Slow Travel • Coffee
Free
Welcome to Copenhagen, the enchanting Danish capital that seamlessly blends rich history with contemporary charm. Whether you're strolling through the colorful streets of Nyhavn, indulging in a cup of world-class coffee at a cozy café, or savoring the delectable flavors of the local cuisine, prepare to embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of Scandinavia, where tradition meets innovation and aesthetic knows no bounds.
This travel guide contains 60+ places around Copenhagen for you to make the most of your next trip to the Danish capital, including:
⚓️ Where to go for free aerial views of the city
🥐 Where to find the most delicious cardamom bun
☕️ Endless cafés to enjoy a cup of freshly roasted coffee
🍲 A number of great dinner spots to treat your tastebuds
🍸 Bar recommendations for your night out
👗 Vintage, Book & Concept Stores tucked away in little side streets
🚲 How to get around the city
🏨 A hotel recommendation for a lovely boutique hotel
Most of these places, I have tried myself. The rest are recommendations of a Danish friend I made while hiking in Patagonia, Chile who lives in Copenhagen. I have marked my favorite food places with a little ✨. For some additional information, peek at the little notes I left. 📝
Architecture • Art • Boutique • Foodie • History • Shopping • Design • People & Culture • Romantic • Slow Travel • Photography • Coffee
Free
Property Of...
@thegoodlandbeyond
A travel shop that sells personalized travel luggage, backpacks, accessorize, and other goodies such as coffee table books and travel guides. We spent a lot of timing talking to the sales woman who was so kind and even made us a (really good) cappuccino for free.
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* * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lena Müller
Welcome to my travel shop. 👋🏻
I'm Lena, originally from Germany but have called California, Mallorca (Spain), and Chile temporary homes over the years.
When I don't travel, I like to spend my time with landscape photography, digital product design, baking, and drinking overpriced coffee.
My goal here on Thatch is to offer you more than travel guidance. I'm dedicated to bringing value to your future trips by sharing my carefully curated itineraries, expert tips, and, most importantly, the priceless locals' perspective.
Why should you work with me? Because I've lived it. I've walked the cobblestone streets of Valldemossa, Spain, set out to find the best cardamom bun in Copenhagen, and hiked the W-Trek in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. Because I've made mistakes, taken detours, and found hidden gems. I've learned from every step of my journey, and I'm here to share those lessons with you.
Love,
Lena
P.S. Connect with me on Instagram or check out my blog @thegoodlandbeyond, where I share even more travel tales and tips!
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