How to spend the right day discovering Amsterdam’s various facet

It’s greater than a bit of unfair that for many years Amsterdam’s status has been intertwined with its infamous Red Light District and marijuana cafes. This is a grand metropolis of maritime heritage and leafy boulevards, the place world-class museums are surrounded by thrilling eating places and canalside cyclists are the embodiment of town’s ardour for sustainable dwelling. With 14 hours to discover town, it’s attainable to find hidden gardens, go to artistic communities and search out lesser-known museums the place Amsterdam’s advanced historical past unfolds.

8am: Go for a float

With the boats bobbing outdoors on the grand Herengracht canal, kick off the day at a personal float session in one of many two tanks at Koan Float. The futuristic-looking cocoons are crammed with massive portions of Epsom salts dissolved into heated water, making a buoyant bathtub akin to the Dead Sea. The expertise is designed to advertise meditation and weightlessness; with the lights dimmed and delicate music filling the pod, it feels such as you’re floating in house.

10am: Browse De 9 Straatjes

If you could have an image of basic Amsterdam in your head, the ‘nine little streets’ space might be it. This fairly quadrangle of lanes, lined with canal-fronting gabled service provider’s homes, houseboats and shady elm bushes, is one of many loveliest locations to go for a wander. Starting in Herengracht, seize a espresso from one of many swish bakeries right here and browse the fascinating unbiased outlets.

11am: Confront colonial historical past

Amsterdam’s main ethnographic museum, the Wereldmuseum overhauled its displays in 2023 to reposition the way in which it presents the Netherlands’ colonial previous. The result’s a really frank account of how Amsterdam and the remainder of the nation grew wealthy off the spoils of its colonies — primarily Indonesia and Suriname. It’s housed in an enormous mansion on Oosterpark; the interactive shows embody eye-opening Nineteenth-century photographs, work and written accounts.

1pm: Enjoy backyard time

Founded in 1638 as a medicinal backyard, the Hortus Botanicus thrives behind excessive partitions. Stroll the walkways of its revamped greenhouse celebrating endangered South African crops, which opened this summer time. Then have lunch at De Hortus, a restaurant with out of doors seating within the midst of the backyard, celebrating native and sustainable suppliers with a plant-heavy menu.

2.30pm: Commune with creatives at De Ceuvel

Head north to Amsterdam’s Noord space for the afternoon, beginning with a pit cease at this laid-back artistic hub. Its waterside group cafe serves vegan snacks and treats reminiscent of bitterballen (breaded meatballs, right here made with oyster mushroom as an alternative) or carrot cake. Afterwards, observe the quirky ‘secret garden’ boardwalk beside the water, weaving between previous houseboats hauled onto land and repurposed as studios and places of work.

4pm: Size up road artwork

In the seventeenth century, the world now referred to as Noord was a pestilent gallows area. Today, it’s a exceptional regeneration success. The cavernous Straat Museum of road artwork and graffiti — housed in an previous shipbuilding warehouse — anchors an art-strewn waterfront zone known as NDSM, previously a shipyard. After visiting the museum, discover the commercial relics, together with a crane was a lodge, and transport containers housing galleries and small outlets. Right on the water, Pllek is a container bar and restaurant the place you possibly can drop onto a sunlounger for a beer with a view.

6.30pm: Visit a brewery with social cred

Revived by the slap of contemporary air and water spray on the ferry crossing from Noord again over to town centre, head for a pre-dinner drink at De Prael. The native brewery has a social goal, coaching and using deprived folks. Take a pew within the alleyway, the place its terrace seating is positioned, and admire the tiled facade: it mimics the well-known ‘KLM houses’ — blue-and-white Delftware ceramic miniatures of Dutch canal homes given to business-class flight passengers.

(Related: How Amsterdam’s bar life continues to form town.)

8pm: Eat your greens at Flore

‘A celebration of nature’ is how Dutch chef Bas van Kranen describes the multi-course menus at his two-Michelin-starred restaurant Flore. Foraging and fermentation characteristic prominently in meals that may embody as much as 80 completely different crops. The restaurant additionally has a Green Michelin Star, for utilizing seasonal produce and native suppliers chosen for his or her sustainable practices. It’s housed within the canal-side Hotel De L’Europe and lately bought a top-to-bottom makeover to offer the eating room a extra pure, tactile really feel that aligns with the meals.