Amsterdam - More to Do than Just Visit the Red Light District
- Visit the Anne Frank House
For many visitors to Amsterdam, this is a "must do". However, you must time your visit right, or you will spend more time waiting in line than in the house! You will have to visit on your own, because the house is so small that no shore excursion groups are scheduled by any of the cruise lines, and no tour groups are allowed.
Buy your tickets online before you go, and you will not have to stand in line. Avoid the crowds and go early, or avoid the crowds and go after dinner (unless your ship is sailing). From April to August, museum is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. The rest of the year it closes at 5:00 pm. This tiny house is one of the world's most visited. Whenever I think of the story of Anne Frank and her family, hiding in the tiny attic for two years before their capture, it always brings tears to my eyes. Seeing that tiny space and reading about the persecution of the Jews in Amsterdam during the War will be moving to anyone.
- Stroll the City of Amsterdam.
Walking is one of my favorite activities, and I love exploring the city and the country. Ships dock near the Central Station, so you can walk there to start your wandering. You can either walk around or through the back door of the Central Station, and exit onto Damrak, one of Amsterdam's main streets. Damrak is always filled with visitors, and you can stroll along the street to Dam Square, the city center. This square was where the original dam was built across the Amstel River. East of Dam Square is the Red Light District. Although I wouldn't recommend wandering in this area after dark, it always seems perfectly safe in the daytime or early evening. Be sure to also stroll up and down the narrow streets and gaze at the interesting architecture and canals.
- Enjoy the Heineken Experience
If you are looking for fun, this interactive tour and beer museum has it. The Heineken brewery was great fun. We learned a lot about beer making and also had the "Heineken experience", which was a little like a Disney World tour. You stand in this room and watch a movie about the beer-making process. Along the way, you will get shook, wet, and have bubbles all around. (They make you put up your cameras before starting the "ride".) You don't actually go anywhere, but will do quite a bit of moving.
At the end of the tour, you will learn how to pour beer (2 fingers of foam on top to keep the oxygen out) and get a short glass. Then you go into the pub where you will get a large one. It's both fun and educational.
- Visit a Dutch Tulip Farm
If you are in Amsterdam between late December and May, you might want to visit a tulip farm to see how tulips are grown, harvested, and taken to market. This is a short, one-hour tour, but it's really fascinating to see how mechanized this family's farm is.
- Take a Grand Tour of Holland and See Some of the Rest of the Netherlands.
Many cruisers have visited Amsterdam and want to see the rest of Holland. Most ocean cruise ships offer a Grand Holland Tour, which features a drive through the countryside and visits the Hague and Delft. Since The Hague is the country's seat of government and home of the royal family, you will see the Royal Palace, Houses of Parliament, and the Peace Palace. Delft is the home of that wonderful blue and white pottery. This tour lasts all day and usually includes lunch. Note that you won't see any of Amsterdam if you choose this shore excursion.
Those on tulip time river cruises will see more of the countryside, small towns, tulips, and windmills, much like I did from the Viking Europe and AmaLegro.
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