Dutch Delights

A day in Amsterdam with LUXE City Guides

Mention Amsterdam and you may still hear the old cliches about sex and drugs, but the truth is, it’s a stunningly beautiful, green, accessible and efficient city that deftly blends urban smarts with a village vibe. It packs a remarkable bounty of retail, dining, nightlife, sights, museums and culture, not to mention its UNESCO World Heritage-listed canal ring into one compact, easily navigable area. Just watch out for the cyclists who rule Amsterdam’s streets.

Breakfast by a canal

The Dutch don’t really “do” breakfast – it’s more of a functional meal for them – but who cares when Villa Zeezicht (Torensteeg 7, Tel: 31 20 626 7433) awaits. Come sunny days, this cosy cafe bursts out onto the wide cobblestone bridge over the beautiful Singel canal. The ham and cheese croissants are tasty, its apple pie superb, and the setting simply marvellous. Make time and stay
a while.

Two pocket-sized beauties

After you’ve visited Amsterdam’s cultural big guns like the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank house, check out these smaller treasures:

Foam, housed in an 18th century canal house (above), is an excellent contemporary photography museum. Since its opening in 2002, it has held major retrospectives by world famous shutterbugs like Richard Avedon and Henri Cartier-Bresson, while at the same time nurturing up-and-coming talent, including hosting graduate shows.

Just opposite Foam on the other side of the canal, step back in time at Museum Van Loon. This splendid 17th century mansion is a perfectly preserved showcase of how the wealthy Van Loon merchant family lived. Think ornate ceilings, damask wallpaper, parquetry, a grand staircase, art and antiques through the ages as well as family portraits. There’s an immaculate garden and a recently restored coach house too. Lovely.

Lunch in the red light district

Amsterdam’s notorious red light district holds some must-see sights such as De Oude Kerk (old church; Oudekerksplein 23, Tel: 31 20 625 8284). How handy then, that one of the hottest new openings, Restaurant ANNA, has a terrace right in front of the mediaeval church square. This sleek eatery with two street frontages has ambitions to offer fine dining at fair prices. The modern Dutch-Euro-International menu spans classics such as lobster bisque to the more inventive baked scallop and mushroom-stuffed squid served with poached oyster.

Shopping for Dutch design and decor

The Frozen Fountain, owners Dick Dankers and Cok de Rooy’s paean to Dutch and international design, is an essential address for aesthetes and fans of unique furniture, fabrics and decor. Local stars such as furniture designer Piet Hein Eek, artist Claudy Jongstra and ceramicist Koninklijke Tichelaar Makkum share floor space with British furniture and lighting brand Tom Dixon and designer furniture manufacturer Vitra.

Sightseeing like the fish do

The best way to see Amsterdam’s gorgeous canals is by boat, naturally. Classic Boat Tours (left) boast the loveliest vessels, and the smallest of their beautifully restored century-old wooden saloon boats, Prix d'eau, holds up to 12, but is perfect for two, four or six. Pick up and drop off can be arranged, as well as catering and your own private guide.

Alfresco rooftop sundowners

If you’d rather get an angle on Amsterdam from up high, pack yourself off to Skylounge (above) at the new Mint Hotel Amsterdam. While its location next to Centraal Station isn’t ideal, the view of the city centre from the rooftop bar is hard to beat. Add some bubbly, a blazing sunset and life sure is fab.

Dinner at a two-Michelin-starred restaurant

Foodies know there are ever increasing bright spots in Amsterdam’s culinary scene, and one of the brightest is Ron Blaauw (Sophialaan 55, Tel: 31 20 496 1943). The contemporary French-Dutch diner sends out a procession of pint-sized, avant-garde taste bombs that earned the place two Michelin stars before its recent move from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (about 12km south of Amsterdam) to Amsterdam.

Staying at the chicest new boutique hotel

Canal House, in the boho-chic Jordaan area, is close to the city’s sights and retail scene. Spread across three inter-connecting 17th century merchants’ houses, the painstakingly refurbished hotel features sultry rooms (above) with timber floors, purple velvet drapes, mosaic-tiled bathrooms, Dutch art and complimentary WiFi, with most offering a look into a pretty garden or a beautiful canal. The Great Room is open for all day for Euro-Dutch dining, while the bar is perfect for pre- or post-prandials. Proost!

So, now you’re in the know about Amsterdam’s myriad joys, there’s no excuse not to take off to this amazing canal capital and indulge yourself.

Coming up next month: What’s fab and happening in the Eurasian city of Istanbul, Turkey.

To celebrate LUXE City Guides’ partnership with silverkris.com, LUXE is offering 15% off all LUXE City Guides and Box Sets. Just enter “SILVERLUXE” during checkout when you order online at www.luxecityguides.com

Having problems making an online order with LUXE City Guides? Have some special requirements? Simply email LUXE City Guides at operations@luxecityguides.com

For full terms and conditions, please visit LUXE City Guide's ordering information page.

© LUXE Asia Limited 2012