UIn excellent quality of life and one of the best destinations where to travel in 2025. Two flagships for Amsterdam. If, according to World Index, it is among the European cities to which you live best, thanks to economic opportunities, safety, health and transport efficiency and cultural heritagethe “Venice of the North” also stands out among the “52 Places to Go” recently selected by New York Times. And not only because this year celebrates its 750th anniversary.
It was a small fishing village
To deal with the birthday 2025, in the city they have developed urban redevelopment projects and cultural activities, including the opening of new museums, such as Suriname, dedicated to the former Dutch colony in South America, and the Drift Museum, with mega installations in a restored factory: a year that will be a tribute to the past, present and the future, for a capital that reinvents itself continuously, while remaining faithful to its roots. It was a small fishing village along the Amspare river, embraced by the canals built in the seventeenth century during the Dutch golden century, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of the city. Indeed, one of the symbols, because the tulip “king”, introduced at the end of the 16th century by Türkiye, perhaps boasts its primacy. Already last autumn, Gardeners, florists, green lungs and residents have planted the bulbs that will color the 25 parks, public places and gardens from March to May.
A glimpse of Vondelpark on which imposing villas with garden built in the nineteenth century by the financial and cultural elite of Amsterdam overlook. In the park there are 100 types of plants and 130 types of trees. Courtesy by Amsterdam & Partners.
Where the tulips bloom
At the Keukenhof park (about half an hour from the center), from 20 March to 11 May you can admire spectacular flowering fields with over 800 varieties of tulips. In the city, he shops with Bulbi at Bloemenmarkt, the only floating flower market in the world, founded in 1862 on the Singel channel, or The history of the Tulip at the Amsterdam Tulip Museum is deepened. “There are extraordinary gardens, even non -central, such as Voorlinden, conceived by the landscape player Piet Oudolf in Wassenaar, or Vondelpark, an English park of 47 hectares in Amsterdam Zuid, near the Museums district” says Zoë de Givenchy, designer and wife of the Grandson of the famous French Couturier Hubert, who made a collection of porcelain for the table, Tulipa, for the Pulitzer Hotel, also for sale: here some suite inspired by flowers have been restored, reinterpretations of the house of a tulip merchant. Always in the museumplein area, From 7 March to 9 June 2025, the Van Gogh Museum and the Sterijk Museum will unite the forces to set up a large exhibition dedicated to Anselm Kiefer: Sag Mir Wo Die Blumen Sind, tell me where the flowers are, Title that is inspired by a song made famous by Marlene Dietrich, where petals, life cycle, are a recurring motif. One of the over 200 events scheduled in this effervescent Amsterdam more than ever. Great expectations for June 21, when the ring road will be closed for a party open to all along its 15 kilometers, animated by music, sport, theater, dance. And, even if not from tulips, certainly from many multicolor flowers.
A glimpse of Amsterdam. Courtesy by Amsterdam & Partners.
Jordaan’s Bohemien charm
Now you go up in the saddle. Amsterdam is the city of bicycles. And pedal next to the boats that sway on the canals, Along the rows of colored houses aligned in the cobbled alleys, the tree -lined avenues, the cafés, the galleries. Jordaan, who dates back to the 17th century, a former worker district, in the seventies he revitalized many buildings, also attracting young professionals and artists. The name, to stay on the green theme, is a derivation of the French “Jardin”, because the names of roads and canals recall trees and flowers and if the residents cannot have an internal green space, often recreate it on the sidewalk, to embellish the area. Today Jordaan is of great trend, lively and with a strong community sense, without having lost the charm of the past. It extends between the Elansgracht, Prinsengracht and the MarniXstraat canals and is a melting pot of three -storey houses and internal courtyards, the so -called Hofjes, made in the golden century, Concerts outdoor concerts and accessible to everyone. Also in the Jordaan, in addition to that of Anna Frank, there is the house of the Dutch painter Rembrandt, who chose the 184 of Rozengracht to spend the last years of life, and of the actor Brad Pitt, who in Rozenstra stayed during the filming of the film Ocean’s 12.
The Deutzen Hofje and its ancient internal court. Courtesy by Amsterdam & Partners.
Amsterdam View from above and from board
Nice to get on the bell tower of the Westerkerk church, 85 meters, to enjoy a panoramic view, and browse in the Houseboat Museum, a floating house of 1914. 2,400 of Amsterdam are counted and often these are old boats converted. It is common practice in the Netherlands to live within boats surrounded by green and flowers and furnished as comfortable homes. Among the art galleries, some overlooking roads that recall names of flowers, stand out the Galerie Tegenboschvanvreden, the Galerie Bart, or atelier of artists, including that of the painter Joep Buijs. A classic is to stop on the street for a coffee or a drink. In the typical “Bruin Café” it seems to go back in time, between dark wood furnishings, beams and soft lights. Rembrandt loved Café Chris, opened in 1624 and still very popular for a beer or a snack of local cuisine. On Saturday, then, a jump to the Noordermarkt market, in the homonymous square, for organic food, spices and for the inevitable flowers, and on Monday for vinyls, vintage and objects.
The Rijksmuseum. Among other masterpieces, it hosts Rembrandt’s “Ronda at night”. Courtesy by Amsterdam & Partners.
Nine roads for shopping
From the Jordaan, through one of the bridges, we go towards De 9 Straatjes, “The 9 Streets”, a pedestrian neighborhood that boasts historical architecture along the streets and cobbled sidewalks that cross with the main channels of Amsterdam (Singel, Keizersgracht, Herenggracht and Prinsengracht), one of the most instagrammable points of the city. The idea of creating the “De Nen Straatjes” association was born in the nineties thanks to the entrepreneur Djoeke Wessing and brings together many artisan shops, local designers and shops of local products. Like De Kaaskamer, with over 200 types of cheeses produced in Holland, The Darling, for delicious vintage shirts, The Cool Collective, Fashion and Accessories Concept Store, Moscots for more style glasses, Pompadour shocking, tea room but also Pasticceria, and, finally, hidden behind a small door without a sign, The Beauty House: a defilated wellness center to pamper yourself with a massage or to buy botanical and local cosmetics, created by the waste of the tulips, both petals and leaves. Unusual, sustainable and innovative, like the place from which they come.
A corner of Vondelpark, the largest in Amsterdam. Gettyimages.
Where to sleep in Amsterdam
Clean The hotel includes 25 houses, former residences of merchants and aristocrats, converted to hospitality with design echoes. It is located on Prinsengracht and also offers tours and picnics along the channels on its vintage private boats, “The Tourist” and “Belle”. A night of 303 euros for two. Pulitzeramsterdam.com
The Flower’s Collector Pulitzer Hotel suite. Courtesy by Pulitzer Hotel.
Sweets Hotel Project that includes 28 houses on bridges, transformed into independent hotel suite for two people.
A night of 130 euros. Sweetshotel.amsterdam
Where to eat in Amsterdam
Café speaks Brasserie atmosphere on Westerstraat, with an ancient wooden floor, reminiscent of a Bruin Café built over a hundred years ago, with old tables, white tablecloths and silver cutlery. Local dishes with French calls. speak.
Café Restaurant Verlan In a former renovated warehouse, it offers a New York atmosphere with local and French specialties. Cafeverlan.com
Balthazar’s Keuken Small restaurant in the Jordaan. Local dishes. Balthazarskeuken.nl
What to buy
Anouk Beerents Election Spiegels Artist, collector and restorer of golden golden mirrors. anoukbeerents.nl
King Louie Women’s clothing store inspired by vintage models, in romantic printed fabrics, ethically made and with a contemporary touch. kinglouie.eu
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