A perfect day in in Amsterdam

Start your perfect day in Amsterdam at the Spui, which is located half way through the Kalverstraat.And enjoy the amazing Art Market there located. Pick up some bread rolls at “Broodje van Kootje”, buy a newspaper from the Atheneaum magazine shop, and take a seat, if the weather is good.  If it happens to be a rainy day, there are lots of other very nice coffee bars situated around the Spui as well.

After having a hearty breakfast you'll be ready for some serious stuff. If you jump on tram 2 or 5, which pass through the Spui regularly, you can make your way to the Museumplein. Here you are spoiled for choice with all the different kinds of museums. Firstly, there is The Van Gogh Museum, which holds a lot of the artist's greatest works, as well as works from various other acclaimed artists. Just next to the Van Gogh there is the Stedelijk Museum. This houses a collection of modern art and features numerous expeditions throughout the year. Leaving these two behind you, make your way towards the last museum, The Rijks Museum. This is quite a large museum and could take some time to get around, but it is worth it. Art dates from the 12th century and there is a superb collection of Dutch masters, including the Nachtwacht, by Rembrandt.

Lunchtime. One of the best spots to have lunch is on top of the old shopping building Metz in the Leidsestraat. You may choose to take a tram there from the Museumplein, but it is also not too far to walk. Once there, you can take the elevator to the top floor where the restaurant is, and here you can get a bird’s eye view of Amsterdam. If you want to try something Dutch, try the selection of various Dutch meats and cheeses with mustard called “bittergarnituur”. Very nice, or “lekker,” as they say in Dutch.

After lunch, a good place to check out is the Albert Cuyp Market. The best way to get there is to walk, and these are the directions: walk through the Leidseplein and head to your right in the direction of the trams. If you walk along the Weteringsschans for about 10 minutes it will bring you to the Heinekenplein.  Then turn to your right at the roundabout, go past the Heineken Museum, and this will bring you to the Albert Cuyp Market. The Cuyp is a great place to shop for clothes and fresh food and also a great way to see the real international Amsterdam.

When you're tired of shopping, it's time to relax, so why not grab some snacks and go for a picnic? Make your way back to the Heinekenplein and visit one of the two supermarkets, the Albert Hein or the Dirk Van Den Broek. “Albert” is expensive and has a good selection of goodies, while “Dirk” is less expensive with an equally good selection. Once you've gotten your picnic fare together, take it to the "oudezijds achterburgwal," which is situated near the central station and is nice and “chilled out” on a fine day. There are plenty of activities going on, with a lot of rollerbladers, musicans, and plenty of soccer games going on. It really is one of the best ways to sit back and watch the world go by. At night, a nice way to explore the canals a little more without having to use your feet is to take a dinner cruise. You will be served top class cuisine, and you can enjoy the beauty of the canals at night. It can be a little expensive but it's definitely the perfect way to indulge in good food and enjoy the beauty of Amsterdam.

An alternative for a laid back morning afternoon is to rent you own boat at Boaty. They have zero-emission boats that are easy to operate. You can either go your own way on the canals or pick one of Boaty's routes. Before going on the water, you'll get a personal instruction on the boat and the rules on the water. The boats are very stable and safe.

When you're back on the shore again, the time has come to hit the city. A good idea might be to first go to the Jordaan, the neighbourhood around the Westerkerk. Here you'll find lots of nice and cozy bars, perfect for starting the evening's drinking. Afterwards, possibly the best place to go to is the Leidseplein. In the summer the square is one big terrace and you can sit there until late in the night and watch the numerous attractions that are going on. It is definitely very entertaining and there is never a dull moment. The Bulldog is a nice and quiet bar that provides an ideal place to to relax after a long day.

Most pubs close at 1am during the week and 3am during weekends, but that doesn't mean it is time to go home. But first you will want to eat something. The Febo on Leidsestraat caters to those who can’t resist some greasy food after a few beers. Finally, one of the best places you can visit is 'Bourbon Street' in the Leidse Kruisstraat. This is a blues/jazz club with live music that usually stays open until 05:00. After that, if you’re not too tired and you're ready to handle breakfast, you'll be glad know that the bakeries will be starting to open around this time. This will bring your perfect day in Amsterdam to an end, and you should be ready for a well deserved sleep.