In Cooperation with Arwa Travel Co.

Attractions of Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, and the largest city in the country. The city is served by a network of canals, which give the city its distinctive character, appearance and feel; and also means that Amsterdam does not suffer from automobile congestion in the same way as many other European cities. Locals - when not utilising the fantastic public transport network on the canals, trams and trains – largely navigate the city by bike (again a relatively safe option due to the low levels of car use in the city centre).

Amsterdam has a long history, and was originally established in the 12^th Century as a small fishing village.  The origins of the city are evident in its name; originally based around a dam on the river Amstel, which flows through the city and feeds the canal system – the original site of this dam is now Dam square, a famous landmark of the city.

The City is famous throughout Europe and further afield as a bit of a Mecca for hippies, due to the relaxed approach to Cannabis use.  Cannabis use is legally tolerated within the licensed coffee shops throughout Amsterdam – although, somewhat bizarrely to some visitors, these premises are now checked regularly by enforcement officers who ensure that tobacco is not smoked along with the marijuana, public consumption of tobacco now being illegal in the Netherlands!

If you are not of a mind to partake in the ‘herbal’ pleasures that the city is famous for, there are plenty of other options for sight-seeing in this historic city. Aside from a stroll or boat trip to take in the picturesque charm of the canal system – the three main canals are Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht – perhaps try taking a look at the Rijksmuseum or Van Goch Museum.

The Rijksmuseum displays historical artefacts, arts and crafts, with a substantial collection of paintings created during the Dutch Golden Age (which was effectively the 17^th Century). The Van Gogh Museum does what it says on the tin, providing a fantastic opportunity to see a range of painting from throughout the career of the disturbed genius, Vincent Van Gogh.

 Elsewhere, in the red light district, somewhat less traditional museums offer adult entertainment in keeping with the liberal culture of modern Amsterdam. The Venus Temple, on the red light district of the Damrak, is the oldest surviving in Europe (it was opened in 1985). Nearby, the Museum of Cannabis contains some surprising revelations about the history and development of Cannabis use.

Planning my trip to Amsterdam, I had a search for city breaks and last minute hotels, and found some good deals on lastminute.com.