Explore to inspire, a PONANT podcast
PONANT's cruises
Canal cruise, museums and smoked herring…
A city on the water that has managed to give green spaces and cultural outings top billing, the Dutch capital can be explored from the canals just as it can be from terra firma. Visit Amsterdam in two days to enjoy its charms.
DAY 1
To start off these two days in Amsterdam properly, head for its famous flower market. Along the Singel Canal, glistening and fragrant stalls are packed with tulips (the symbol of the Netherlands), sunflowers, irises, cacti, aromatic plants and hyacinth bulbs. It’s a feast for the senses and a gentle way to begin your journey through this surprising city.
Simply cross a few canals — giving you the chance to take some great souvenir photos of the bikes along the banks — to reach the Van Gogh Museum. With the painter’s impressionist style, bright sunflowers and irises stand out from textured backgrounds. Pointillist wildflowers, wheat fields and fruit trees are depicted, with the artist’s hand bringing to life paintings that now have cult status. And what of his self-portraits? Showing the painter with a ginger beard, a hat on his head and a pipe in his mouth, they reflect the extent of his knowledge and technical mastery.
Near the Van Gogh Museum is Vondelpark: the most famous in the city and even the country. This lovely green space contains vast swathes of lawn where Amsterdam locals enjoy strolling around, stretching out and watching the concerts that are regularly given here. The greenery is also the perfect place to try a Dutch speciality: broodje haring. This is a raw herring sandwich containing green salad, onions and gherkins, which you can find everywhere in the city, sold by mobile sellers.
The specialists say that the best way to explore Amsterdam is to go on a canal cruise. From the water, you can see the Munttoren (mint tower) reminding all who see it of the country’s Golden Age. Built between 1480 and 1487, it marked one of the gateways to the city. Decorated with clocks and bells, it is one of Amsterdam’s iconic historic landmarks. Other standout buildings: the old merchant houses, the bourgeois homes with Baroque facades, the 16th- and 17th-century warehouses and the Begijnhof (Beguinage) which housed communities of pious Beguines in the Middle Ages.
The Dutch eat dinner early. If you want to do as the locals do, you will need to sit down to eat at about 6pm and try the most common traditional speciality: stamppot. This hearty dish which is on the menu at many brasseries comprises a mix of mashed potato and other vegetables, sauerkraut, carrots, onions and spinach. It is served with sausages.
DAY 2
In the chilly morning light, Amsterdam’s Royal Palace seems to float like an illusion flying the flag for the lavish Golden Age. The biggest administrative building in Europe, it stands proudly in the heart of the city. However, people tend to prefer to go for a walk in the Jordaan area with its artists’ workshops, galleries, restaurants, canals, alleyways and secret courtyards. In this district, at Prinsengracht 263, stands Anne Frank’s house where the teenager’s family hid from 1942 to 1944. You can see her original diary here, where she kept a record of her 25 months in hiding.
The Americans have French fries, the Canadians have poutine and the Dutch have…patat oorlog. People order these chips to takeaway or eat in brasseries. They are generally served in a paper cone. But what exactly are they? These large chips are covered in a peanut and onion sauce and in mayonnaise. It’s a classic that will please anyone, no matter how hungry you are!
Welcome to the village of Zaandam, a few kilometres from Amsterdam. This open-air museum shows authentic 1700s life in the Zaan community. Windmills stand tall in the middle of this region crossed by lakes and rivers, while paved streets are home to stores where craftspeople show visitors all the period’s activity. Straight after this, visit the village of Edam which is famous for its cheese. The cottages with floral gardens, pretty canals and traditional drawbridges also provide a picturesque overview of 17th-century Dutch villages.
Aperitif time is here: a chance to try one of Amsterdam’s beers. Although the city is home to a Heineken museum, it also boasts several microbreweries. Pale Ale, Triple, Sour Ale, IPA and White Ale will delight beer fans. Pair your drink with bitterballen: a key part of Amsterdam evenings out. These fried meat balls are served with mustard on the side.
