Discovering a city is a bit like cultivating a friendship. Before you meet it in person you get its name, with all its merits and even some flaws, but it is up to you, getting to know it day by day, to discover its true soul. Amsterdam and I met four years ago, and since then, I haven’t missed an opportunity to go in search of special places, beautiful to experience and to tell about.

And so it is that Amsterdam, despite the often dreary weather, has become a friendly city: taking me to a concert, inviting me to stroll through its narrow streets and canals, welcoming me for a pleasant break in one of its parks, showing me its hidden treasures, beautiful areas within walking distance of the center, telling me that it is not just what is written about it in all the guidebooks, but that it is so much more.

Listen to a free concert at the Concertgebouw

There is one small moment of pleasure that I like to indulge in every week. The Concertgebouw, a concert hall renowned throughout the world for its exceptional acoustics and programming of the highest international standard, hosts young musicians every Wednesday for a free lunchtime concert. Free lunchtime concert: half an hour of pure pleasure, surrounded by the beauty of the building and the music that resonates perfectly in it. I recommend that you check the schedule on the website of the venue, arrive in time to get free tickets, take a seat and fully enjoy this “musical lunch”.

The concert takes place every Wednesday afternoon between September and June and starts at 12:30 pm.

Nature walks in Amstelpark and Amsterdamse Bos

Amsterdam is a very green city, I noticed right away. Tree-lined avenues connect the many parks, more than thirty; from the most famous, such as the Vondelpark or the Westerpark, to the lesser known and therefore more special, such as the Amstelpark, a green lung in the southern part of the city, created for the Floriade, the world horticultural exhibition held in Amsterdam in 1972. A perfect place for a relaxing day, where you can have fun while discovering the many botanical varieties. Not only parks; just outside Amsterdam is a real forest! The Amsterdamse Bos, just twenty minutes from the city center, is a special place; the numerous planted trees give this place the magical atmosphere of a forest. Don’t miss a stop at “Geitenboerderij De Ridammerhoeve”, an authentic educational farm where you can play and feed baby goats, taste cheese and ice cream, and participate in workshops and educational activities.

Visit the Amsterdam Museum, a dive into the city’s past

When Amsterdam invites me to engage in culture, I am spoiled for choice with more than 40 museums in the city. I’m sure the most famous ones are already on your list, but you might want to add the lesser-known Amsterdam Museum, a historical museum in the medieval heart of the city. Close to Dam Square and the famous Begijnhof, you will find this beautiful building from the early 1300s, first a convent, then an orphanage; history can still be read in its courtyards. A visit to the museum is like a journey into the city’s past, from its origins to the present, discovering its most hidden secrets.

Have a picnic on the water

Like me, do you think that cities that overlook water have a special charm? Amsterdam is one of them, with its numerous canals, and a boat trip is undoubtedly the icing on the cake that will leave you with fond memories of the city.
There are many options for a boat trip, which one to choose? I’ll give you a little idea that can make for an unforgettable day. Here are the ingredients for your new adventure: rent a small electric boat that is very easy to maneuver, bring the necessities for a picnic on the water, don’t forget good company, and remember that the sunsets here in Amsterdam can be beautiful. Have fun sailing!

Explore the western islands

There is an Amsterdam very close to the center, but almost unknown to tourism. Bikerseiland, Prinseneiland and Realeneiland: Westelijke Eilanden, the three “Western Islands”, just a stone’s throw from the Central Station, connected by small bridges, an area with an ancient history that now shows its fresh modernity. Alleyways lined with workshops, artisans, artists’ and musicians’ studios, small gardens tended by residents, wooden terraces overlooking the canals: the ideal place for a few hours of relaxation in the company of a friend or a good book.

Have a beer at Café de Ceuvel

The weather up here is anything but friendly, it often rains and the wind is a constant presence. But then the sun comes out when you least expect it, and like a perfect Dutchman, you learn to enjoy every single ray of sunshine while sipping a beer on one of the terraces that enliven the city. Among the many, there are two places you should not miss to share the pleasure of a sunny afternoon with the Amsterdammers.

Cafe de Ceuval, hidden among the narrow streets of Amsterdam North, is a unique place, an unexpected oasis of relaxation.
The complex is built entirely on sustainable architectural principles, and the restaurant and creative studios are housed in restored old boathouses.

Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a small brewery in Amsterdam, next to De Gooyer mill, one of the few remaining in the city, famous for being the tallest windmill in the Netherlands. Opened in 1985 by former musician Kaspar Peterson, the brewery offers a selection of seasonal and specialty beers, as well as year-round qualities, all certified natural and craft, unpasteurized and unfiltered. On a nice day, you’ll feel like you’re in the countryside just outside Amsterdam on the terrace at the foot of the mill.

Visiting Amsterdam by bike or by bike and barge

Choosing just a handful of places in a city full of things to discover is a daunting task indeed. These are just a few hints for you to get to know a different Amsterdam, one not told to you by guidebooks. Come here too, there are so many possibilities. Most of the Dutch bike and boat tours offered by Girolibero start in Amsterdam. Be fascinated by the city and discover it with enthusiasm, it is here waiting for you, ready to welcome new friends!