Amsterdam Top Ten

Flying visit to Amsterdam? Here are our choice of top ten must-sees

The beautiful city of Amsterdam is famous for tulips, canals, gabled architecture and cobbled streets. Just being there is an event in itself. Hire a bike and enjoy the views over the waterways, or hop onto a boat and see the city from the water. But the city, one of the biggest historical centres in the world, simply abounds with history and culture. So where do you start? Here are a few of the must-see sights that we recommend you try to fit in to your short break:

1. Ann Frank House (Anne Frankhuis)
The Anne Frank story is a testament to both human kindness and betrayal. It was in an annex at the back of this house where Anne Frank and her family together with two other families hid from the Germans during World War II. Her father Otto Frank had a business in the front of the house and the employess used to supply them with food and keep them updated. But on August 4 1944 someone betrayed them and all eight were sent to concentration camps. Only Otto Frank survived. During her time at the house Anne Frank wrote a diary of her experience before the Nazi's found them The house is now a museum and filled with historical documents, extracts of her diary, films and photography dipicting the period.

Address: 267 Prinsengracht, Tel: 00 31 (0)20 5567 105
Entry: Adults 7,50 euros, kids 3,50 euros, under 10s free
Open: Daliy from 9am to 7pm (to 9pm April to August). Closed on Yom Kippur

2. National Museum (Rijksmuseum)
This impressive museum, housed in an attractive red brick neo-gothic building, is the largest in the Netherlands houses a magnificent collection (nearly 1000 items) of masterpieces by Rembrandt (including 'The Nightwatch'), Vermeer (including 'Milkmaid'), Frans Hals and Jan Steen.

Address: Jan Luijkenstraat 1
Entry: Adults 10 euros, Under 18 free.
Open: daily from 9am to 6pm, on Friday 9am to 8.30pm. Close 1 January

3. Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is located in the Museum quarter near to the Rijkmuseum, so if your inner art lover can cope, you can fit them both in the same afternoon. More than 200 examples of the amazing work of the tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh’s are displayed here displayed in chronological order. As the museum leaflet puts it you can follow "His evolution from an inept but impassioned novice into a truly original master…" Many you will recognise, like the sunflowers. There are also 600 of his drawings to admire and 700 of his letters.

Address: Paulus Potterstraat 7 Tel: 0031 (0)20 570 5200
Open: 9am to 6pm daily. Closed January 1st

4. National Museum of Modern Art (Stedelijk Museum)
Masters including Picasso, Mondrian, Cezanne, Monet and Matisse together with international works of sculpture are on display here.

Address: Oosterdokskade 5, Tel: 00 31(0)20 5732 911
Entry: Adults 9 euros, kids 4,50 euros
Open: Daily 10 am- 6 pm, Closed January 1

5. Amstelkring Museum (Our Lord in the Attic Chapel)
Probably the most loved museum in Amsterdam it is housed in a charming canal house with 17th century period rooms right in the heart of the Red Light District. Amazingly it has a clandestine church in the attic once used by Roman Catholics who were barred from public worship after 1578.

Address: Oudezijds Voorburgwal 40 Tel: 00 31 (0)20 624 66 04
Entry: Adults 7 euros, Kids 1 euro
Open: Monday to Saturday 10.00 - 17.00
Sundays and public holidays 13.00 - 17.00
The museum is closed on 1 January and 30 April
31 December the museum closes at 04.00 pm.

6. Red Light District
Sleazy? yes - but it is so uniquely brazen surely it is worthy of a short visit just to say you have been. This is the oldest part of Amsterdam with tall, thin buildings that overlook tree lined canals and during the day looks very attractive but drug dealers abound. But at night no-one can be in any doubt about the area as it is clearly designated as the city’s red light district. Less than subtle red neon windows display scantily clad prostitutes showing of their wares, sex shops are everywhere. You can easily stumble into it from nearby Dam Square and as fascinating as it is, curb the urge to take any photos as neither the ladies or their pimps like it.

7. Rembrandt House (Museum Het Rembrandthuis)
It was here in this 17th century house during 1639 to 1658 where Rembrant worked and lived. It is now a tribute museum to the artist.

Address: Jodenbreestraat 4 Tel: 00 31 (0)20 5200 400
Entry: Adults 8 euros, kids 1,50 euros, under 6 free
Open: Daily 10am-5pm Closed January 1st

8. Jewish Historical Museum (Joods Historisch Museum)
Located in the old Jewish Quarter, the Jewish Historical Museum collects objects and works of art associated with the religion, culture and history of the Jews in the Netherlands and its former colonies. These items are held by the museum and the Resource Centre.

Address: Nieuwe Amstelstraat 1, Tel: 0031 (0)20 5310310
Entry: Adults 7,50 euros, kids 3 euros, under 13 free
Open: Daily 11am-5pm including 25 and 26 December, Closed Jewish New Year (30 September and 1 October 2008) and Yom Kippur (9 October 2008

9. Dam Square
Dam Square, from where all the best shopping streets spread out, is the true heart of Amsterdam where the neo Classical Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis), the Nieuwe Kerk church watch over the bustling, hectic square. In the 13th century the very first people - fisherman - settled here along the Amstel river and built a dam giving Amsterdam its name. Pigeons and tourits flock to get fed and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and the street entertainment. Various royal highlights are held here and this included the wedding of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. On the 4th May there are official rememberance ceremonies in memory of fallen soldiers of World War II around the War Mermorial (National Monument op de Dam) - a white column with sculptures in the middle of the square. Nearby, you'll find Magna Plaza shopping mall, Madame Tussaud's, the Amsterdam Stock Exchange and department store Bijenkorf.

10. Canal Boat Tours
A popular way to see the city, particularly on a rainy day is from the deck of a boat. Pick a theme such as an architecture cruise or a night or jazz cruise and even a red light district cruise.

Get on board either at a pier at a street called Damrak at the Central Station or on the Rokin near Muntsquare.
There are various boat trip company but Canal Company boat trips stop at popular places like Leidesplein, Prisengracht, Amsterdam centraal and you can hop on and off for a whole day for 16 euros. This includes discounts into some attractions like museums.