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I was taken a little by surprise when I arrived in Amsterdam. I had no idea the city was this costly. Sure, it is visited by a huge amount of tourists every day and that can lead to prices hiking, however, I am not sure that was the reason. I felt that it was just one of those cities or countries where prices are high for most tourists, yet normal for the region. There are some fantastic sights to see in Amsterdam. The Anne Frank House being one which is truly unmissable. In a way to cut down costs though, it is always good to know what free activities and sights are available. This is my list on What to See and Do in Amsterdam for Free.

Free Walking Tour

Taking a free walking tour can be a great idea, especially if you are on limited time. Without a map, Amsterdam can be very easy to get lost in. With so many canals and bridges, you could very well find yourself walking the same streets over and over. A walking tour is a good way to avoid that. It also gives you an opportunity to learn the history of certain areas and certain buildings. Anyone that has done a walking tour or even a boat tour in the city will tell you, it feels like every building has a story behind it. I recommend doing a walking tour on your first day in Amsterdam. There is no better way to familiarize yourself with the streets whilst learning a lot about the city. My personal recommendation is Free Dam Tours.

Vondelpark

Nature is at its finest in Amsterdam’s huge Vondelpark. The park opened in 1865 and has remained hugely popular with locals to this day. Exercise is a common theme here, especially during the winter months. It is also not uncommon though to see groups of friends or couples using the park as a place to have a quiet stroll in a beautiful setting. When the summer months begin and the weather improves, the park really comes alive. That is when the grass will be full of people enjoying the good weather and eating a picnic. There are also music and dance performances regularly at the open-air theatre.

Bloemenmarkt

Amsterdam and The Netherlands are famous for their beautiful flowers, especially tulips. Amsterdam, being a city, doesn’t give visitors many opportunities to see their beauty or their importance in Dutch culture. One way to see the flowers inside the city is to visit Bloemenmarkt, a flower market along the Singel. This is the world’s only floating flower market. This colourful part of Amsterdam also gives visitors an opportunity to buy tulip bulbs and take them home.

Free Boat

They say to really see Amsterdam, you must take to the water. An option for this is to take one of the many canal tours available. A free option though is to take the public transport ferry to the north of Amsterdam. Boats leave regularly from behind the central station. There are three routes to choose from. Buiksloterweg is the shortest, crossing just the river in front of you. Ijplein takes slightly longer and goes to a residential part of the city. This area is not a bad place to take a walkabout. The best and longest though is NDSM Werf. This goes a lot further than the other two and gives you the best views of Amsterdam. I recommend taking one of the latter two.

Red Light District

Whatever your opinion is on the Red Light District of Amsterdam, there is no doubting it is a huge part of the city. The old area of De Wallen has been home to the prostitutes of Amsterdam since the late 1800s. The Red Light District has tamed in recent years with many windows closing and it has become more of a tourist attraction than anything else. The Red Lights are neighbored by bars, coffee shops and sex shops. It can be quite a seedy area as you might expect, especially at weekends. The busier the area is, the tackier it can be. I think every visitor to Amsterdam should take a walk through this area, even if you firmly disagree with its existence. Just remember, there are rules to be followed when there, no staring and no photographs.

Gassan Diamonds

Diamonds have long been associated with Amsterdam. You will be sure to see many diamond shops across the city. To really gain some knowledge into them, I suggest going on the free tour at Gassan. The Diamond Experience Tour will teach you the history of diamonds and the work that goes into cutting them and eventually converting them to a piece of jewellery. These informative tours are available every day and they take about 40 minutes. I am sure walk-ins are accepted but I would recommend booking your place in advance. This can be done by clicking here.

Skinny Bridge

There are well over 1000 bridges in Amsterdam. An interesting alternative to the ‘standard’ bridge in the city is the Skinny Bridge. Magere Brug as it is known in Dutch has been replaced many times due to deterioration. Although many bigger bridges have been designed to take its place, the city has decided to replace it with a new bridge in the same style as the previous one. There are a lot of legends associated with why the bridge was originally built this way. One such myth included two sisters who lived on opposite sides to the river and wanted to be able to visit each other. The truth is a lot less fun though, it was a funding issue in Amsterdam at the time that led to this basic bridge bring built. This pedestrian-only bridge is a very picturesque area that is certainly worth a visit.

Get Lost in the Jordaan

The Jordaan was described to me by a local as a real Dutch area. It was once a very working class neighbourhood in the city. Today, with rising house prices, that is starting to change. This area is packed full of small streets and local pubs and restaurants. The further you get from the main tourist parts of the city, the quieter it gets. You see locals going about their daily lives and that is certainly a nice change of pace. In my opinion, there is nowhere better in the city to take a walk. Forget the map and just take random streets and see where you end up. If the weather is good, stop for a beer or a coffee at a café that has outdoor seating, relax and take in your surroundings. This area can go a long way in helping a visitor fall in love with Amsterdam.

Albert Cuyp Market

Although this market is being visited more and more by tourists, it is still a glimpse into daily life in Amsterdam. A short walk from Central is the street market on Albert Cuypstraat which takes place every day, except Sundays. The largest day market in Europe has a great atmosphere with a mixture of locals and tourists shopping and eating at one of the 260 stalls. You will find your souvenirs there, some clothes and of course excellent food. Fresh produce, street food and some fantastic sweet treats are all readily available. Don’t miss out on the chance to try a delicious stroopwafel at Original Stroopwafels.

There are plenty of free activities in Amsterdam to keep you busy and to keep you entertained. I do suggest paying for both the Anne Frank House and for the Rijksmuseum, maybe a canal tour too. It is a fact that the best sights in the city cost money. But I promise you they are worth it! Pick what you feel is a must-see, pay the money and then fill the remainder of your time with free activities. Amsterdam is such an interesting city, one that is packed with beauty (in certain areas) and history. It’s a city that, given the chance, all should visit!

To read more about Amsterdam, including the perfect way to spend a weekend there, click here.

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The Roaming Irishman

roamingirishman@gmail.com

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