Amsterdam is my most-visited European city. In the last 6 years, I have been to Amsterdam over 10 times and have loved every single visit! It has such a notorious reputation – and yes – for first-timers it is certainly liberating. But once you get that bit out of your system, you truly start to appreciate the charm and beauty of this cosy (or as the Dutch like to say ‘gezellig’) city commonly known as the Venice of the North. Here are my favourite Amsterdam experiences in no particular order:

1. Checking out the ‘wild’ side of Amsterdam on my first visit including the coffee and sex shops
2. Ticking off Rijksmuseum from my bucket list, and fighting to get my time in front of the magnificent ‘Night Watch’
3. Appreciating the genius’ works at Van Gogh Museum
4. Having a laugh at the hilarious exhibits at the Sexmuseum
5. Wandering around the Red Light District late at night and discovering some great tucked away bars
6. Eating my way around the uber trendy Foodhallen and trying everything from dimsums to kebabs
7. Spending Christmas Eve in Amsterdam and seeing the city decked out in decorations and lights (including the big tree on Dam Square)
8. Walking around the quaint and pretty Negen Straatjes and Jordaan neighbourhoods with its cute shops and cafes
9. Tasting beer and cheese in the stunning Brouwerij ‘t IJ which is a brewery housed in a traditional windmill
10. Savouring delicious Dutch pancakes at Pancakes! in Prinsengracht, The Pancake Bakery and The Happy Pig Pancake Shop
11. Spending a balmy evening drinking beer at Vondelpark
12. Swinging over the edge of Amsterdam on the A’DAM Swing
13. Shopping for tulip bulbs and succulents at the beautiful Bloemenmarkt on Singel
14. Satisfying my late night cravings with some greasy fries topped with melted cheese from one of the many street ‘friet’ vendors
15. Tasting the plethora of cheeses at a Henry Willig cheese shop and all the local farmer’s markets in the city
16. Feeling hot-boxed in The Bull Dog Palace coffee shop
17. Taking the free ferry across the IJ to A’DAM Tower
18. Venturing beyond Amsterdam to Utrecht, Keukenhof, The Hague, Zwolle
19. Staying in quirky hotels like the Fletcher Hotel Amsterdam
20. Eating amazing Thai and Indonesian food in some true Amsterdam gems
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