Along those famed Golden Age canals, arched bridges and cobblestone streets of Amsterdam, follow your passion. The Dutch capital remains a magical mecca to uncover Renaissance architecture alongside vibrant markets, global dining and world-class art.
Map out your first adventure over coffee at a local cafe.
The Great Outdoors: Markets, Parks and Bikes
Near Museum Square, home to the renowned Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk Museum, take a quiet stroll or jog around the leafy, peaceful Vondelpark, named after the Dutch poet and playwright.
Vondelpark’s ponds set the scene for lovely picnics.
- Just north of the Jordaan, the less-crowded Westerpark is a local’s treasure. With a jazz café, petting zoo, exhibition space and free WiFi, there are also off-leash dog trails to bring your four-legged friend along.
- Locals head to De Pijp’s Albert Cuypmarkt, where you can find fresh flowers, fish, cheese and the classic Dutch treat, stroopwafels.
Delicious options of locally made cheese.
- On Prinsengracht, every Saturday (all year round) visit Noordermarkt, the happy home of organic vegetables, homemade jams and warm sheep furs. Afterwards, visit the lively Café Winkel for a famed, magical apple tart (some say they’re the best in the city).
- Tired of walking? In Amsterdam, they say there are more bikes than people! The Kimpton De Witt Hotel’s stylish bikes make the perfect cruisers.
By foot or by bike? Both are perfect for wandering through Amsterdam’s canals.
The Culinary Scene: Bistros, Asian Cuisine and Dynamic Food Halls
Embrace Amsterdam’s food scene that offers an abundance of cuisines from every corner of the globe.
- Tucked into an old tram depot, Foodhallen features an array of stalls with local craft beers from Oedipus Brewing, banh mis from Viet View and for dessert, sweet French pies from Petit Gateau. Want to be super Dutch? For “green Dutch cuisine,” try the new stand Padron, with healthy vegetable fries served with aioli.
Rotating brews on tap plus live music at Oedipus Brewing. (Photo credit: @oedipusbrewing)
- The godfather of farm-to-table restaurants in town remains Restaurant de Kas. Set in a chic, light-filled greenhouse, organic ingredients are grown on site and used in ever-changing dishes.
- For laidback vibes, CT Coffee & Coconuts has oversize couches for lounging and fresh coconuts alongside healthy breakfast items like açai bowls and avocado toast.
- The stylish, airy space at Terpentijin has upscale French-Asian cuisine – try the delightful crispy duck and pumpkin soup starters.
Taste of everything on offer at Terpentijn. (Photo credit: @terpentijnamsterdam)
- For more casual Asian street food, the colorful Happyhappyjoyjoy fuses Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cuisines (don’t miss the curry selection washed down with Yuzu soda).
- For Indonesian, the shareable rijsttafel (rice table) at Sama Sebo remains one of the best in town.
- The Kimpton De Witt Hotel’s new gastropub Wyers Bar & Restaurant is a perfect spot for a pint and seasonally changing American-meets-Dutch cuisine.
A New Perspective: Insider Art and Culture
Of course, world-class museums like the recently renovated Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House are essentials.
Rijksmuseum houses classical art works in beautiful spaces. (Photo credit: Rijksmuseum/Erik Smits, 2015)
- For a new perspective, explore the lesser-known gems. Start at The Dutch Resistance Museum for a look at the Netherlands of World War II.
- For still and moving images, the small FOAM Photography Museum couples edgy, emerging and established photographers in a renovated canal house.
Intimate and experimental, Foam offers cutting-edge images in a charming townhouse. (Photo credit: Foam Editions, © Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam)
- The wow-architectural moment happens across Central Station at the Eye Film Museum, where there’s a vast collection of Dutch cinema, avant-garde and cinematic exhibitions (there are also a few underground filmography rooms).
Sundown over the clean lines of the EYE Film Museum. (Photo credit: EYE/Ralph Richter)
The stately Museum Van Loon, housed in the 17th-century home, lets guests peek back to the Golden Age with its rooms upon rooms of ornate furniture, silver and paintings.
How far is the hotel from the Viking Dock located at DeRuijterkade-west/00st and what is the best way to get there? I will be your guest in July and I am looking forward to my stay. May I have the name and e-mail of your
concierge? Thank You!
Your Partner In Travel
Mary Trofino
Trofino Tri Star Travel, INC
It’s about 700 m and, believe it or not, the best way to get there is to ride a bike. It’s only a 5-minute ride and you can borrow one of our complimentary Van Moof bikes! You can also walk or grab a taxi, both will take you around 10 minutes to get there from the hotel. If you have any other questions feel free to ask our wonderful front desk staff via email. Just send it to amsnl.gsc@kimptondewitthotel.com.
We hope that helped, Mary, and we can’t wait to see you in July!
Thank you so much . This is very helpful. We are sad to be with you for only one day. We are planning 7 days next year! We wish to see and do as much as possible in that one day. We will be in touch with your concierge in regard to doing that.
If you would be so kind-I just have a few more questions. We will be off of the ship by 10:00AM on July 17th and if at all possible we would like to store our bags until our room is ready. Is that possible?
Our flight leaves on July 18th ( Tuesday) at 10;30 am. It looks like we are about 10 miles from the airport and the ride should take about 50 minutes depending on week day traffic. Correct?
What time should we leave for the airport to be safe to be there by 8:30 and can you arrange a private transfer and at what cost? We are 2 ladies with only 2 pieces of carry on luggage and 2 large purses.
Is it easier to take a train or a tram right to the airport. I will always depend on your expert advise on all
matters Amsterdam! This is a special birthday celebration for my daughter who just turned 51 and I will be 74 that week We are happy to be spending the special time with all of you! I a MOST SINCERELY appreciate your kind advise. I look forward meeting all of you!
Your Partner In Travel
Mary Trofino-Trofino CEO-Tri Star Travel, Inc.
These are all great questions, Mary, and thanks for being so patient while we made sure we gave you the most up-to-date info. Here it goes:
1. We will be off of the ship by 10:00AM on July 17th and if at all possible we would like to store our bags until our room is ready. Is that possible? Yes, of course! If we have the room ready we can hand you the key. If it’s not ready then you’re more than welcome to leave your luggage at the hotel while you go out to explore.
2. Our flight leaves on July 18th ( Tuesday) at 10:30 am. It looks like we are about 10 miles from the airport and the ride should take about 50 minutes depending on week day traffic. Correct? By taxi it should take about 30 -40 minutes depending on traffic. If you would like to go by train from Amsterdam Central to Schiphol Airport it takes about 20 Minutes.
3. What time should we leave for the airport to be safe to be there by 8:30 and can you arrange a private transfer and at what cost? We’d say you should probably leave at 8 AM and our concierge team members are more than happy to assist you with a private transfer.
4. Is it easier to take a train or a tram right to the airport? Trains leave directly from Amsterdam Central Station to Schiphol airport. The journey will take approximately 20 minutes and you can even purchase your tickets at our concierge desk!
Hope all of that helped! Let us know if you have any other questions or concerns before your stay. We’re more than happy to help in whatever way we can.
Hi,
There are four of us heading your way on Dec the 22nd. We have three nights booked and I am so excited. I used to work for Kimpton group in SanFran, Sir Frances Drake. I was a chef there. I know that Kimpton has the best hotel from first hand experience and I am excited to share that with my friends, I was going to ask you about the bikes that you can get at the hotel. Is that something I need to book in advance or will their be enough for everyone;)) (reservation name is under Justin Young)
Jade van Baaren. (coming home in many ways)
Thank you for providing some great information on your website. We have booked a stay with you on 19th March for three nights as a surprise trip for my husband’s birthday. He has never been to Amsterdam and so I have been trying to make this journey for many years now. The cold weather in January (his birthday) has always put me off but your hotel looks extremely welcoming and comfortable. Now that Eurostar comes direct from London to Amsterdam and your hotel is close to the Centraal station, we have no excuse. Sadly, I believe the Keukenhof gardens only open that week, so we will have to miss that this time. We will definitely visit the Van Gogh museum, but not sure which others. There is no availability at that time to visit the Anne Frank house, so we should definitely return later in the year! Would you advise me to purchase Holland Pass cards or similar for the short time we are there? Also, we will be arriving in Amsterdam around 13.15 hrs and hope it will be alright with you if we can drop in and leave our bags at that time?