Amsterdam Vacation Rentals

Amsterdam vacation rentals include houseboats, spacious apartments, or turn-of-the-century dwellings. These unique holiday rentals can be a charming, fun touch for families and couples alike. Check out these tips for enjoying your stay.

Schipol Airport: Gateway to Amsterdam

For most visitors the most convenient way to reach Amsterdam is via Schipol Airport. It’s one of Europe’s busiest travel hubs with several flights a day to many international destinations. The single terminal design also means the airport is incredibly easy to navigate. Multiple trains an hour serve downtown Amsterdam, and the journey takes a little over twenty minutes to the central station.

If you’re arriving by train then your terminus will also be Amsterdam Centraal, from which point you can access the metro, extensive tram network or simply hop in a cab to reach your Amsterdam vacation rental. There is also a well-served bus station to the east of the city center.

Try Unique Dutch Delicacies

The Dutch are known for their cheeses, and one of the best places to taste them is in Amsterdam. Head to the Amsterdam Cheese Museum or the Reypenaer Tasting Room for guided tours and samples of some of the best Dutch cheeses, such as Gouda, Maasdammer, and Geitenkaas.

Try some raw herring from street carts that can be found all over Amsterdam. Ask for a broodje haring, which is raw herring served on bread, with pickles and onions. Herring are said to be at their sweetest taste between May and July.

The Best of Dutch Art

The Rijksmuseum currently possesses over a million pieces of art. The majority of works are by 17th-century Dutch Masters, providing an overview of the Golden Age of Dutch art. The building alone is worth a visit, having earned UNESCO World Heritage List status.

The Van Gogh Museum houses the world's largest collection of work by this legendary artist. The museum also exhibits work by Van Gogh's friends, followers, and contemporaries. There are additional activities held here, such as music events every Friday night and regular lectures on Dutch artists.

Tips for Exploring Amsterdam with Children

Amsterdam is known for its many green open spaces nestled in the centre of the city. Most have facilities such as toilets, playgrounds, bandstands, and even petting zoos. Plus, you’ll often find a café or two where you can grab a drink while the children play to their heart’s content.

Animal encounters in Amsterdam aren't just limited to small petting zoos. Visit the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo to get up close and personal with some unique creatures. This historic zoo still has several buildings from its original construction still in place, including a working planetarium!

When it comes to museums and opportunities for learning, there’s plenty to be seen as well. Kids will love the National Maritime Museum, where they can gather their sea legs and climb aboard a life-size replica of an East India Company trading ship. There’s also the Amsterdam Dungeon, which provides an interactive, yet intense tour through Amsterdam's darker times for kids who aren’t too squeamish.

While you may wish to get around Amsterdam by bus or tram, travelling on the city's canals is also an option. Boats of all shapes and sizes are available, from tiny pedal boats and canoes to powerful motorboats. You can also cruise in comfort, and enjoy a meal on a tour boat plying Amsterdam’s extensive network of waterways.

Alternatively, why not rent a bicycle, and join the throngs of cyclists who fill the city’s streets? Families with younger children can rent a bakfiet, a cargo bike which comes complete with a front-mounted wooden box compartment for a thrilling yet secure ride.

All Around Amsterdam

Visit the home where Anne Frank, her family, and four others hid from the Nazis for two years. You can go into the cramped secret annex where they lived, and look at artifacts from that time. The home is a chilling, well-curated reminder of the horrors of World War Two.

Take a canal tour by boat from Centraal to the IJ waterfront area. This is a relaxing way to view the city, and the guide will point out the many historic landmarks and houses that line both sides of the waterway.

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