Top Sights in Amsterdam - EYE Movie Museum

EYE movie museum Amsterdam

When you are visiting Amsterdam on a rainy day, want to visit a museum but prefer moving pictures above paintings, here is a tip! 

Since 2012 Amsterdam has it's very own movie museum, called EYE. It's situated in a remarkable building just behind central station on the north bank of Amsterdam's IJ-waterfront. Here you can find over 37.000 movie titles, around 60.000 movie posters and a lot of other related movie memorabilia. 

The EYE museum gives you a great view in the world of movie, and of course it is possible to sit back, relax and watch an art-movie in one of it's four cinema's. 

The institute is open daily, and more information can be found on the official EYE Museum site.

Take an illuminated Canal Boat Tour during the Amsterdam Light Festival

As mentioned in one of our previous blog posts, exploring Amsterdam's canals by canal bike or canal boat is a must-do when you are visiting Amsterdam. Now during the winter months, you can add an extra dimension to your canal boat tour by booking the Water Colors arrangement, which will bring you till January 18th along a range of illuminated art works as part of the Amsterdam Light Festival. A beautiful way to explore Amsterdam’s canals during the dark winter months!

But there is more. Next to a canal boat tour, there is untill January 4 also a Festival of Light Illuminade walking tour that will bring you along illuminated art in public parks, art projected on historic buildings and on other sights in Amsterdam’s city centre. For the bikers under us, there’s even a Festival of Light biking event through Amsterdam, called Light my Ride, which will be held January 4.

The Amsterdam Festival of Light runs till 18 January 2015 (walking closes after January 4th). For more information about the Amsterdam Light festival and the different tours and events, please visit the Amsterdam Light festival website.

For booking a Water Colors canal boat arrangement, you can find more information on the Festival of Light websitesection of Canal or one of the other canal boat tour providers.

Where to celebrate New Year's Eve in Amsterdam?

Where to celebrate New Year in Amsterdam? The answer is quite simple: everywhere! New Year's eve is a big thing in Amsterdam with everywhere New Year's parties and everywhere fireworks on the streets. Please do be careful with the fireworks, as unfortunately due to ruthless usage, there's still many firework accidents every year. That said, Amsterdam is one of those places-to-be when wrapping up 2014 and kicking off 2015 in style!

When you want to see the biggest fireworks show in Amsterdam, it's best to join the National Countdown Show to 2015 at the Oosterdok, next to the Scheepvaartmuseum. The fireworks show will be aired live on TV, and is rumoured to be the biggest fireworks show ever in Amsterdam, so definitely worth a view.

Another nice location to countdown into 2015 is at the famous Skinny Bridge or Magere Brug, where you will have a great view on fireworks at the Amstel river (click for location).

When you want to take it to a higher level, you can also consider celebrating New Year's eve at one of Amsterdam's sky bars, such as the SkyLounge at the Hilton DoubleTree. As most likely you won't be the only one, it is in this case not possible to reserve a table; the SkyLounge event is open on a first come first serve basis so best to check out the venue early.

Wishing you a great 2015 and a lot of fun whereever your New Year's party is!

More information on the Oosterdok New Year's fireworks and location.

More information on the event at Skylounge New Year's party at Hilton DoubleTree.

Hit the ice like a Dutchie! Go ice-skating in Amsterdam

Did you know that the Dutch are the true masters of ice-skating? During the last Winter Olympics the Dutch won not less than 23 ice-skating medals in Sochi. It’s true that the geographical conditions make the Netherlands a suitable country for ice-skating: flat and a lot of water. Next to that, Holland has great indoor and outdoor ice rink facilities. And Amsterdam is no exception.

So why not try and hit the ice when spending your time in Amsterdam during the winter months? Probably the most beautiful and pittoresque ice-rink of Amsterdam, and maybe even Europe, is on the Museumplein, and is called Ice*Amsterdam. Here you can skate right next to the magnificent Rijksmuseum. No skates? No problem, you can just rent them at the Ice*Amsterdam Museumplein ice rink.

When you want a bit more space for ice-skating, the Jaap Eden baan in Amsterdam Watergraafsmeer is a good place to be. Next to an outdoor ice-rink, the Jaap Eden facility also has an indoor rink, a beginner’s corner and the possibility to follow ice-skating classes.

So when visiting Amsterdam during the winter months why not get those skates on and get active at one of Amsterdam’s ice rinks!

More information on ice-skating on the Museumplein can be found on the Ice*Amsterdam site. Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam

More information on ice-skating at the Jaap Eden baan can be found on the Jaap Eden baan website. Location: Radioweg 64, Amsterdam

Take a guided tour through Amsterdam's The Wallen Red Light District

As we already wrote about in an earlier post, visiting the Red Light District, also known as the Wallen area, is one of the must-do events when you are in Amsterdam. Of course, you can do this on your own, but did you know that there are actually organized Red Light District tours around the Wallen area?

For instance, with Rob van Hulst tours, who started his tour agency already more than 24 years ago and is known for his respectful approach while knowing the Wallen area in detail. Definitely worth considering when you want to really know more about Amsterdam’s Red Light district in a safe way.

More information about the Wallen tour, and other Amsterdam tours, can be found here.

Visit a 3D Printed Canal House

Yes, you are reading that right! Can you imagine 3D printing a real house?

Every year thousands of tourists are visiting Amsterdam to see the traditional canal houses in the old city center. They are truly one of the main trademarks of Amsterdam.

Inspired by that traditional Amsterdam heritage, a group of young Dutch entrepreneurs now decided to print a real full-size Amsterdam canal house, using the newest 3D printing technology. How cool is that, one day you wake up and think ‘Hey, why not 3D print an Amsterdam Canal House’ and actually really make it happen. The 3D print canal house will function as a showcase on how to combine traditional heritage with innovative new ideas. President Obama already visited the site; definitely a must-see for every innovation lover when visiting Amsterdam!

Opening hours: Tuesday till Sunday 11 am to 5 pm (during summer season; visit the 3D print canal house website for opening hours outside summer season).

Location: Badhuiskade 11, Amsterdam (close to Eye Museum).

For more information, visit the 3D Print Canal House website.

Take a canal bike through Amsterdam

So you already got used to cycling the streets of Amsterdam? Then it is a good time to explore your horizon; step down below the streets to discover Amsterdam’s canals by canal bike! Amsterdam truly takes biking to the next level: in Holland’s capital you can even bike on water!

Next to the water-biking fun, renting a canal bike for a few hours is also a great way to see Amsterdam from a different perspective. A nice experience for everyone who loves biking and water!

Opening hours: daily 10 - 18h (during summer season often extended opening hours, but dependent of weather).

Location: Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum, Westerkerk (Anne Frank House).

For more information, visit the Canal website.