Potential Tourist Ban in Amsterdam?

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Beyond the Cannabis

In honor of the recent news regarding the tourist bans in Amsterdam due to overcrowding, I thought I would do some reminiscing on my last trip there. Before I do that, let me explain what’s happening in Amsterdam right now. Amsterdam remains a popular destination for tourists exploring Europe for numerous things: Red Light district, tulips in the Spring, cannibas cafes, and more! Because of this, Amsterdam boasts having about 17.4 million visitors each year. Residents of Amsterdam are now being very vocal about the overcrowding of the city due to these regular tourists and are looking at local authorities to do something regarding this. Tourists were surveyed and a little over 1,000 people between the ages of 18-35 said the main driver for visiting Amsterdam was to experience the famous cannabis cafes. So banning guided tours to the Red Light District and banning tourists from cannabis cafes or coffee shops is Amsterdams potential answer to the overcrowding. Well just in case this happens, we still think Amsterdam is a great place to visit! If cannabis cafes were what you were going for, you may want to move Amsterdam up on your places to visit! And I’m not just saying that because my last name is Holland (definitely a big driver for my visit lol). But in all seriousness, there are more things to do then just visit the cannabis cafes…here’s a few reasons why you should keep Amsterdam on your travel list even if you can’t visit the cafes!

Amsterdam is banning all guided tours of the Red Light District starting April 1st and considering barring tourists from cannabis cafes.
Newsweek – Soo kim

Reason #1 – Rich History

So it may have been a mistake to lead with this one but hear me out! A lot of the places that we visit have such rich history that helps to understand the country and its people. Amsterdam is one of the few remaining European cities to preserve so much of its 17th century history. Because there were many wonderful museums and historical sites, I’ll only highlight a few that I visited and thought were interesting and worth your time.

Anne Frank House Museum

The Anne Frank House Museum was such an important part of this trip. This was special because this is the exact house that Anne Frank and her family hid in during the Holocaust. Otto Frank, Anne’s father helped preserve the house after the war and turned it into the museum that it is today. The mission was to raise awareness of the past and spread the message of unity and peace. Walking through the house was like taking a step back in time, seeing where she was while writing in her diary. I felt a wave of emotions but it was a good reminder of how we all need to stay vigilant in these times so nothing like this happens again.

Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Overlooking Dam Square is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. They have audio guided tours that teach you some of the history of the kings, queens, and other royal cohorts that resided in the palace. They even spice it up with some of the royal drama that kept things interesting around the palace. Real Housewives of Amsterdam! Ha!

The “Big Three” : Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk, and Van Gogh

This is the holy grail if you’re into art. Cool model ship displays, rich costumes, modern and contemporary art, and even some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings can all be found at these museums. They are located in one area of Amsterdam and you can buy one pass to visit them all. Unfortunately the I Amsterdam sign was removed from this area, as to the point of this post, it became a source of overcrowding due to it being a popular selfie spot.

Reason #2 – Unique Experiences

There were so many interesting things to do and see in Amsterdam that was unique to the city. You absolutely can’t go to Amsterdam without seeing these things and you can’t see them anywhere else.

The Red Light District

I mentioned that Amsterdam has banned guided tours in the Red Light District….but this doesn’t mean you can’t see it on your own! I know what you’re thinking….why would I want to go to the area of town that’s filled with sex shops and prostitution? But it’s more to it than that! Do not go just to stare at the women in windows….I repeat…DO NOT go just to stare at the women in windows. This is a job for them and they aren’t to be gawked at by tourists but there are some pretty cool bars and interesting people to meet in the area so don’t let it intimidate you.

Canals of Amsterdam

What can I say? They are just pretty. If you want to get a tour of the city, a good way to do it is through a canal tour. Amsterdam has over 100 canals but some of the main ones run right through the city so you can get acclimated and see the major sites that way. I mean…they just make the city seem magical.

A’DAM Toren

We discovered this gem from the canal tour. To reach A’DAM Tower you have to take a ferry from Central Station to Amsterdam-Noord. The ferries come pretty often, every 4 to 6 minutes, and it only takes about 5 minutes to get over to the tower. A’DAM stands for Amsterdam Dance and Music which represents all the experiences you can have there. There are 21 floors with different activities on different floors that include an observation deck on the top floor that you can swing from, a hotel, workspaces, nightclubs, restaurants, and bars. Oh and I can’t forget the 19th floor….it spins! My friend and I visited the 20th floor which is home to Madam Sky Bar & Restaurant. Great vibes, good music, and even better drinks. Highly recommend.

Windmills & Cheese Farms

Outside of the city there are beautiful countrysides. On my last day in Amsterdam, I booked a $75 Viator half day tour to explore Volendam and Zaanse Schans to see the windmills, explore the fishing city, and tour a cheese farm. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Amsterdam so not too bad. Because Volendam is a fishing city, I got to try some authentic Dutch cuisine. I got to eat things like herring with raw onions. Now I never said Amsterdam was known for its food but it was good to be able to get out of the city and try the local cuisine. Being that the Netherlands is the largest cheese exporter in the world, it was interesting learning how they make the cheese and getting to sample and buy so many different kinds!

Tulips

Now you know I can’t forget the tulips! Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go to the Keukenhof Gardens to see the fields of tulips but that shouldn’t stop you! I went in March so they weren’t quite ready to bloom (one of the reasons I’m planning a trip back). But I’ve heard they are breathtaking! The closest I got to this was at the flower market where I saw beautiful flowers of all kinds and were able to purchase some tulip bulbs to take back with me to plant at home.

Honorable Mentions

Some other places to stop by are Dam Square, located in the heart of Amsterdam, The “9” Streets or De Negen Straatjes which is a cute place to shop with boutiques and vintage stores where you’ll find some cool souvenirs, and Vondelpark which is the Central Park of Amsterdam. Maybe you can walk through the park and put a lock on their mini love lock bridge!

Reason #3 – The Waffles!

Dutch waffle with Nutella, Bananas, and Blueberries

I’m salivating thinking about these waffles right now! If you like the stroopwafels that they give you on some flights, you’re going to love it here! These waffles make those airplane waffles taste like cold manufactured chips. I stumbled into a shop that was open late after dinner and this was the perfect dessert. They had waffles that you can top with about anything! Chocolate, Nutella, all types of fruits, candy, literally whatever mixture you like. Don’t let the picture fool ya….I ate the whole thing by myself. After that first waffle, I made it my duty to try a waffle at every location I could find for the next 2 days. You can find them pretty much everywhere as it is the most popular treat in Amsterdam. So delicious!

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Amsterdam and will definitely go back. I was alone the last half of this trip and met some wonderful people while I was there. The people of Amsterdam are so kind! You should definitely make this a trip regardless of if they decide to ban tourists from the cannabis cafes. It will be worth your while.

Have you gone to Amsterdam? What were your reasons for going?? If you haven’t gone, would you be interested in still going if they ban tourists from the Cannabis cafes? Subscribe to World Citizens and comment below!