Amsterdam, between art and museums: how to plan a holiday in the Netherlands
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, famous mainly for its picturesque canals and its artistic and cultural heritage. Every year, many tourists visit the city to admire its many works of art, jealously guarded in the many world-famous museums.
Amsterdam, however, is not only art: the cafés, restaurants and nightclubs offer entertainment at all hours and the nature parks welcome lovers of greenery and relaxation. In short, Amsterdam is the right choice for a holiday to suit everyone.
How to get to Amsterdam?
It is possible to reach the capital of the Netherlands by private jet London to Amsterdam. From Biggin Hill Airport you can reach Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in about an hour and a quarter.
The distance is 343 km, which is relatively short, and can be covered by a light jet or a medium jet, although both airports have long runways and allow any aircraft to land.
The private jet from London to Amsterdam is a very convenient solution if you are looking for privacy and tranquillity, and especially if you plan to organise your trip without stress. In fact, this aircraft departs at the agreed time and is reserved only for the person making the reservation and their friends/colleagues.
Moreover, on board of a private jet, passengers can enjoy a luxurious ambience, tailor-made services and the attention of the cabin crew. By booking a private jet from London to Amsterdam, one can enjoy exclusive treatment as well as a quiet and private environment where conversations and plans can be discussed in serenity and safety, far from prying ears.
Museums
As mentioned above, Amsterdam is a city with an important artistic heritage. Among the most important museums to visit are:
- Van Gogh Museum: the city’s most famous museum is dedicated to one of the artists who left his mark on 20th century art, namely Van Gogh. Here is the largest collection of the artist’s works, including ‘The Potato Eaters’ and one of the versions of ‘The Sunflowers’. The Van Gogh Museum is located on the Museumplein, between the Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum and can be visited in about an hour;
- D’HART: this is a former nursing home for the elderly, first converted into the Hermitage Museum (a satellite of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg) and then transformed into an independent museum. Today it houses two permanent collections: one dedicated to the history of the Amstelhof building (in which the museum is located), and the other describing relations between Russia and the Netherlands;
- Anne Frank House: Anne Frank Huis is a house museum set up in the house where Anne Frank’s family hid for two years to escape the Nazis. The building is located along the Prinsengracht (‘Prince’s Canal’) in the Jordaan district and it is possible to visit the different rooms as well as to see documents and photographs relating to the historical context;
- Madame Tussauds: Amsterdam’s wax museum is located on Dam Square and houses numerous sculptures of Hollywood’s biggest stars, singers and sportsmen. It is also a popular destination for children, who love to take pictures with their (wax) favourites;
- New Metropolis: the Nemo is the largest science centre in the Netherlands, located within a ship-shaped structure designed by Renzo Piano. This museum is also suitable for children, because it allows them to learn about different topics in a fun way, by doing experiments.
What to do in Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands is not only art and museums. There are many areas to visit and activities to do. For instance, you can relax by taking a boat trip, so that you can admire the beauty of the city while crossing the ring of water known as the ‘canal belt’.
Crossing the Singel Canal, you can visit one of the most popular places in Amsterdam, the Bloemenmarkt, which is the flower market, where you can also buy souvenirs such as traditional Dutch clogs.
If you plan to go for a walk, on the other hand, not far from the Leidseplein square is the Vondelpark, a true green lung in the city where you can exercise or have a picnic.