Top 5 attractions in Amsterdam

Amsterdam offers impressive architecture, lovely canals, shops and many sights. Most of the city is crossed by water canals with boats. Some are permanent Residences and for this reason the city is also called the Venice of the North.

1. National Monument on Dam Square

It is the most famous square in the Netherlands and it is located on the site where the fishing village that became Amsterdam used to be. This place is the tourist centre of the city and is full of restaurants and shops. The National Monument is a column, built out of natural stone and it is decorated with allegorical figures. The monument was built in 1956 in memory of the fallen heroes in the war. Here is the Royal Palace, which is used for events, official visits and receptions. The Dam Square is the place where you can meet various people, because of the proximity to the Red Quarter and the famous cafes of Amsterdam.

2. Red Quarter

Known as Walletjes, it consists of numerous streets full of restaurants that offer adult entertainment. Here you can find the museum of cannabis, as well as many places where cannabis can be smoked. This neighbourhood is one of the safest in Amsterdam, being under permanent surveillance. Without any doubt, it is one of the symbols of the city.

3. The Heineken Factory

This factory is no longer functional and has become a tourist attraction where you can see how beer is produced. The ticket includes 3 pints of beer and a gift that varies by period. In the factory there are some impressive glass staircases and a cinema. Tourists can bottle their own beer or can order a personalized bottle of beer.

4. Anne Frank House

Anne Frank was one of the victims of Hebrew origin persecuted by Nazis during the Second World War. The Frank family hid in the house for two years until the group was betrayed and deported. The building has a part in the front and an appendix in the back, which served as a hideout. While they were hiding, Anne Frank wrote a diary which was published in 1947 and immediately became a best seller.

5. Van Gogh Museum

This museum contains the largest collection of Van Gogh's paintings worldwide. Visitors can observe the evolution of the artist or compare his paintings with other artists. The museum also offers other artistic exhibitions of the 19^th century. Van Gogh's works are organized chronologically into five periods, corresponding to phases of the artist’s life and creation.