Cruise Destination—Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, the largest city and the second largest harbor of the country as well as the nation’s economic, cultural center and transportation hub. The name of the city derives from Amstel Dam, which means a dam located in the Amstel River.

Amsterdam originally started as a fishing village and eventually developed into the metropolis we recognize today. The city has experienced glory and destruction, and has also undergone the hardships of the World War. To some extent, her history is an epitome of Dutch history. Modern-day Amsterdam is a prosperous port city with a variety of cultures coexisting with charming canal landscapes and a highly inclusive social culture.

Amsterdam is “a city under water” which is 1-5 m below the sea level. The city's network is highly developed, therefore the city is known as the “Venice of the North”. Almost all the buildings in the past were supported by wooden stakes, therefore the whole city seemed to be built on many wooden stakes. Amsterdam is “a smelting furnace of the world”. Immigrants from all over the world make its culture diversified. Beautiful tulips, romantic canals, pervasive bicycles, twinkling diamonds, etc., attracts visitors from all over the world. It is an unforgettable city. The dam road can be taken as the starting point for visiting Amsterdam, and bicycling is recommended.

Must-see Sights

Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum has been open to the public since 1973. It is the museum that has the largest collection of artwork from the Dutch painter Van Gogh, and the museum also collects works of other contemporary painters. The displayed artwork consist of more than 200 oil paintings, over 500 drawings and 700 letters of Van Gogh, among which the most famous ones include The Sunflowers, and The Wheatfield with Crows.

Visiting the Legacy of Van Gogh

For the local residents and visitors coming from afar, visiting Van Gogh Museum is a unique and inspiring experience. Apart from his impressionism works that can be recognized by people at first sight such as, his landscape paintings, self-portrayals and still-lives, especially The Sunflowers. The museum also provides opportunities for visitors to learn about the development history of Van Gogh by comparing his oil paintings with works of other artists who inspired him or were influenced by him in the nineteenth century.

Advanced Exhibitions and Ideas

The museum was expanded in 1999, and later again in 2003,when the whole building was renovated in order to create the perfect exhibition space for Van Gogh’s works and other impressive works for temporary shows. The special research facilities and art workshops for children in the museum are open until 22:00 on Fridays.

Address: Museumplein 6, 1071 DJAMSTERDAM

Telephone: 0031-205705200

Website: http://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/

Opening Hours: 9:00 to 17:00, extended to 22:00 in Friday.

Ticket Price: €15 per adult

Traffic Route: Take a tram (No. 2, 3, 5 or 12), and get off at Van Baerlestraat Station.

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum is one of the most magnificent museums in Amsterdam. This building was designed by famous Dutch architect, P.J.H. Cuypers. It was built in 1876 and open to the public in 1885. It was the largest museum in Netherlands at that time.

National Treasure

The world-renowned collections of Rijksmuseum include artwork from artists Vermeer and Frans Hals, among which the most well-known one is, The Night Watch, painted by Rembrandt. The painting is displayed in the exhibition hall, enabling visitors to observe every detail of it.

Live History

In addition, visitors are offered more than just paintings from the famous Dutch painters during the golden age. Rijksmuseum also has many other collections that can arouse people’s interest such as Delft pottery, sculptures, archaeological findings, clothing, Asian art works, prints, maritime historical relics of the Netherlands, and culturally significant objects. All of these represent the Netherland’s 800 years of history with international influence. The collections are not only about the past, but also include new collections of the modern era, such as the clothing designed by Wes Saint Laurent inspired by the painting style of Mondrian in 1965.

Activities of Rijksmuseum

Besides arts, cultural relics and buildings, Rijksmuseum also regularly holds visit guides, lectures and other activities.

Address: Museumstraat 1, 1071 XXAMSTERDAM

Telephone: 0031-206747000

Website: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/

Opening Hours: 9:00-17:00 every day

Ticket Price: €17.5 per adult, and free for visitors under 18 years old.

Traffic Route: Take a tram (No2 or 5) and get off at Hobbemastraat Station.

Koninklijk Paleis

The Koninklijk Paleis in Dam Square is one of three palaces that are still in use by the Netherlands Royalty. Koninklijk Paleis is open to the public when royal members are not using it as the reception place for official affairs such as state visits, and award ceremonies. Visitors are allowed to visit the gorgeous interior decorations and explore the long history of this building.

History

During the first 150 years of its establishment, the Koninklijk Paleis was used as the City Hall of Amsterdam, it also served as the royal palace for the following five years. In 1808, French Emperor Napoleon appointed his younger brother, Louis as the King of the Netherlands, and from then on Louis lived there. In the wake of the collapse of the French Empire, Louis withdrew hastily, leaving a great number of luxurious furnishings in the palace. After the withdrawal of the French, the Dutch royal family began to hold ceremonies and receptions here.

The Koninklijk Paleis became part of the national assets in 1936. Currently, King Willem-Alexander and his family still meet international guests here. Nowadays, the palace is open to the public, and regularly holds exhibitions including the Royal Award for Painting held in autumn of ever year.

Architectural miracles

Consistent with the classical architectural design of the era, the Koninklijk Paleis was built from 1648 to 1655. To overcome the difficulties of building on the unstable soil conditions of Amsterdam, the palace is supported by 13,659 timber piles in its foundation. Within the palace, there is a statue of Atlas, the god of endurance in Greek mythology, who shouldered the world which weighed as much as 1000 kilograms. Poet Contantijn Huygens regards the Koninklijk Paleis as the eighth wonder of the world.

Address: Dam, 1012 JSAMSTERDAM

Telephone: 0031-205226161

Website: http://www.paleisamsterdam.nl/

Hours of operation: It is open from 10:00 to 17:00, and closed when the royalty hosts events. The specific opening hours of the current month can be obtained by referring to the official website.

Ticket Price: €10 for an adult, and free for visitors under 18 years old.

Traffic Route: Take a tram (No 4, 9, 16, 24 or 25) or bus (No 355, 357, 359, 361or 363) and get off at Dam Station.

Keukenhof Gardens

Keukenhof Gardens is the largest garden in the world, and it is located in the small town of Lisse, Holland. Keukenhof Gardens is comparable a colorful kaleidoscope every spring. 7 million tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers are in full blossom in an area of 32 hectares. The garden is full of blossoming flowers and their fragrance. Visitors can tour around the garden by means of walking, riding a bike or taking a boat.

It is fascinating to visit the flower show, the annual theme pavilion, the 2016 theme is Golden age, and the sculptures in the garden.

Activities of Keukenhof Gardens

Mid-April of every year is the best time for appreciating tulips. The garden will hold flower parades with varying themes, and the parades are made up of dozens of lavishly decorated floats and cars decorated with flowers. The floats travel along the road until it reaches the garden, and the bands following the floats play the enchanting music, while tens of thousands of visitors watch the performance along both sides road.

(The date of flower parade in 2016 is 23rd April)

Address: Stationsweg 166a, 2161 AMLISSE

Telephone: 0031-252465555

Website: http://www.keukenhof.nl/en/

Hours of operation: 2016: 8:00-19:30 24th March-16th May

Ticket Price: €16 per adult; €8 under the age of 12; free for visitors under the age of 4.

Traffic Route: From Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, You can get there directly by taking ConneXXion Bus No58 or 54;

From Amsterdam: Firstly you can get to Haalem by train, and then take Bus No. 50 or 51 to Lisse, and transfer to Bus No. 57 to Keukenhof Gardens. The entire journey takes about 45 minutes.

Giethoorn

Giethoorn, located in the northwestern Dutch province of Overijssel, is in the De Wieden Natural Reserve Areas. It is commonly known as the Green Venice. In the 18th century, it was the biggest peat producing area in the northwest of Europe. Because the villagers excavated a mass of wild Goat horns there by accident, they named this village Giethoorn, meaning Goat horn. The villagers developed the area by excavated the land and constructed a beautiful village with many narrow channels, canals and lakes.

This rural village has no highways. Most tourists are attracted to Giethoorn by its rural charm. Cycling around the village, taking boats or a one-day canal tour are the village’s main attractions.

Address: Dominee TO Hylkemaweg, Giethoorn (Name of Bus Station)

Website: http://www.giethoorn.com/

Traffic route: It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes to arrive at Giethoorn from Amsterdam Central Station. First, take a train from Amsterdam Central Station to Amersfoort. Next, transfer to a train to Leeuwarden and get off at Steenwijk. And then take Bus No.70. About 20 minutes later, get off at Dominee TO Hylkemaweg, Giethoorn.