Heading to Amsterdam for the first time? looking for things to do on a short 3-day trip? Well, this post was specially designed for those first-timers to the eye-opening city of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is one of the most incredible cities in Europe, the people are kind (except if you get in their way on a bike), everyone has an open mind and is accepting of differences. Amsterdam is unique and there is so much to explore, one trip will not be enough to experience the wide range of what Amsterdam has to offer. However, if this is your first trip to Amsterdam, here is a 3 day suggested itinerary to see the “major” sights of this mindblowing city.
Heading to Amsterdam for the first time? looking for things to do on a short 3-day trip? Well, this post was specially designed for those first-timers to the eye-opening city of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is one of the most incredible cities in Europe, the people are kind (except if you get in their way on a bike), everyone has an open mind and is accepting of differences. Amsterdam is unique and there is so much to explore, one trip will not be enough to experience the wide range of what Amsterdam has to offer. However, if this is your first trip to Amsterdam, here is a 3 day suggested itinerary to see the “major” sights of this mindblowing city.
Day 1 – Arriving in Amsterdam
Getting from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centre
Schiphol airport is about 20 mins or 17 kilometres away from the city centre of Amsterdam, it is quite simple, you have 3 main options
Train
There is a train that connects the airport directly with Amsterdam Central Station, it usually departs from platforms 1 and 2 and will cost you € 5, 50 one way (In 2020).
Bus
The bus will take you to either Leidseplein or Museum Square in about 30mins, it is line 397 and will cost € 6,50 one-way (In 2020) you can purchase the ticket from the driver but keep in mind they do not accept cash only credit cards or contactless.
Taxi
The most expensive yet comfortable way to get from the airport to Amsterdam in about 25mins, The best part about a Taxi is you are dropped off exactly where you want to be. The taxi should cost anywhere between €45 to €60 no more, be sure to negotiate the price before getting in the Taxi.
Most of the first day of a trip is taken up with arriving, getting to your accommodation and checking in. Once all that is out of the way we are heading into the beating heart of Amsterdam. To the world-famous Red Light District of Amsterdam, To really see the contrast of the red light district in the day and night be sure to head down in the early afternoon, jump on the tram to central station and this is where your adventure begins.
On arrival at central station, head out the main doors and walk towards Damrak, Damrak is a busy shopping street with plenty of cafe’s eateries and souvenir shops, from there walk left and you will be emersed in the historic and lively area of the Red Light District.
Have a read of our blog sex, drugs and alcohol for a brief rundown on the area, If it is your first time in Amsterdam it can get a bit overwhelming, keep an open mind and go with the flow. Remember it is not wrong it is just different from what you are used to, everything is accepted in the Red Light District.
OUDE KERK- In the middle of the red light district stands the oldest gothic church in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk the budling itself has an amazing history and you can get an amazing view of the old city centre. It is 10 Euro entry and is open 10 am-6 pm daily.
Skinny Lane- Just past the church tucked behind a row of shops is the start of the Red Light District the first street on the left is called skinny lane, which as its name suggests it is the skinniest street in the district. Important tip – DO NOT EVEN TOUCH YOUR PHONE In the Red Light District, the working girls will throw it in the canal.
BELLE AND THE GOLDEN BOOB- In front of the Oude Kerk are two interesting sculptures, Belle is the bronze statue standing proud at the entrance of the square, belle is there to represent the strength and resilience of the workers in the sex industry. It symbolises that it is a strong industry and that they are not ashamed of it. To the left of the church on the ground is a golden boob, it was placed there mysteriously by an unknown artist. The council wanted to remove it but it had become a symbol of the square and remains there to this day.
The Red Light District – will not disappoint, you will be shocked, amused and mesmerized all at the same time! There is an incredible sense of acceptance and openness in Amsterdam, after your walking tour with the guide be sure just to wander around the streets and gaze at all the weird and wonderful things before you.
I would definitely recommend a tour with a local guide, they are there to answer any weird and wonderful questions you might have. Sure you can wander around yourself but a local guide really brings everything to life from the past to the present you will see it all. This is a really great 1.5hour tour to get an overview of the red light district. Book here.
Day 2 – Take a Day Trip outside the city to see the real Dutch Culture
No trip to the Netherlands is complete without seeing the beautiful and majestic windmill; historically the windmills in Holland served multiple purposes; however, the most important job for the windmill was to pump the water to the rivers and dikes.
There are still over 1,000 historic windmills throughout the country but only a few operate commercially.
The rest are for our enjoyment; once a year on the second Saturday in May; over 600 windmills and watermills are opened up to the public for a rare view of the original structure.
Amsterdam is incredible but there are plenty of Gems just outside the city to explore, to make life easier I would recommend a guided tour.
The one, in particular, I would recommend is the Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam. You are picked up from Amsterdam City centre transported in a comfortable coach to the beautiful Dutch Countryside. It is like stepping into another world.
All in one day you get to see the Dutch windmills, see the traditional village of Edam (Try Edam cheese), see how dutch clogs are made and finish the day at the magical fishing village of Marken. Book Here
Day 3 – Explore the main attractions in the city and finish off with a Canal Cruise
ANNE FRANK HOUSE
The Anne Frank house was opened as a museum in 1960; it takes you through the story of the family. You will find the original version of the diary as well as exhibitions from wartime. Visiting the house is a very surreal and moving experience; seeing it for yourself teaches you about the history, and shows you what life would have been like during the Nazi occupation. Millions of people from all around the world choose to take a journey; through the life of an innocent Jewish girl caught up in the mess of WWII. If you do want to visit I would strongly recommend pre-booking your tickets WELL in advance; as the space is quite small they only let a certain amount of people in at a time; and once the tickets sell out you miss out.
TICKETING
o Open Daily from 09:30 am to 16:30
o €12.50, although there is always huge lines, buying online, is recommended Book Here
o There are very steep stairs up to the museum; so it is not advised to visit it you have mobility issues
o 20 minutes to walk from the Central Station to the museum.
o Trams 13, 14 and 17 and buses 170, 172 and 174 stop nearby, at the ‘Westermarkt’ stop.
MUSEUMPLEIN AND IAMSTERDAM SIGN
Museumplein is a combination of the past and the present, we have a few key points in this area starting with one for those art buffs here in the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum you can see some of the greatest Dutch artists in history.
The IAmsterdam sign has become a major icon for tourists you will find this inside the walls of the Rijksmuseum, stand at the top end of the sign and use a wide-angle lens to get the full word in your photo.
HOUSE OF BOLS
This was pretty dam cool; it is an interactive journey through the history of Lucas Bols which is a spirit brand in Amsterdam that was established in 1575. You wind your way through the museum discovering interesting information about how a cocktail is mixed, once you have made your way through what better way to finish a tour but with a Cocktail! The bartender will mix you up a cocktail of your choice to sit back and enjoy the afternoon.
o Open daily from 1300 to 1830pm, Friday and Saturday it is open till 2100
o € 16.00 per person which includes a cocktail For entry Tickets book here.
o Opposite Van Gogh Museum
o Tram 2,3,5 and 12
HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE
The Heineken Experience is amazing for beer lovers; it is a fantastic combination of history and modern-day beer-making techniques. You work your way around the 135-year-old Brewery with fun and exciting presentations. As you walk around you will discover how Heineken is bottled, the history of the beer itself, you can test your knowledge of the brewing process and finish off your experience with a nice cold glass of Heineken well two, perfect way to spend the afternoon!
o It is cheaper to book your tickets online, you can book here the price is €18.00 per person or €21.00 at the door this price includes 2 glasses of beer at the end of your tour
o They are open daily from 10:30am to 7:30pm and a bit later in July and August, keep in mind the last entry is usually 2 hours before closing time.
EVENING CANAL CRUISE
Finish off your busy day with seeing the glittering lights of Amsterdam from the canal, sit back in the glass-roofed boat while a local guide explains the historic significance of the buildings, the waterways, the lights and even get to cruise past the Anne Frank House. The waterways that link the city play such a significant role in the city existence this is your chance to see the city in a different light. Most of the canal cruises leave from outside Central Station so it is easy to navigate there, Book your cruise here.
Accommodation
Stay in the outer suburbs but on the tram line, it is much cheaper, For a hostel/ budget accommodation go with the XO Infinity. A clean comfortable and all-around nice hotel which is just down the road from the XO is called Blue Square Hotel Amsterdam, they are a budget hotel and usually have some good deals. Be sure to request a room with a window, you might laugh but there are a lot of hotels in Europe in which don’t have a window.
These hotels are in a good area, straight across the road there is a small shopping centre, with a supermarket and weekend markets. There are multiple restaurants, cafes and an amazing kebab shop on the same street.
On the same block you have access to a bank/atm and most importantly the Tramline, this stop is called Plein 40-45.
We usually use Booking.com or Agoda for accommodation in Amsterdam as they have fairly good deals.
The Must-See and Do things on your first trip to Amsterdam
• Ride a bike through the Canals of Edam
• See the traditional Windmills in Volendam
• Experience the red light district of Amsterdam
• See the city from another perspective and take a canal cruise
• Look through the eyes of Anne Frank and visit her family home
• The Heineken Experience or house of Bowls if Cocktails are more your thing
TRANSPORT
The public transport in the Netherlands is amazing; you can almost get everywhere in the country; on a bus, train or Tram, Check out our post Using the Amsterdam Trams
You can buy the Tram, Metro or Bus tickets from the vending machines or onboard the Train, Bus or Tram.
Look for the staff member in the little bubble.
They are usually at the front, middle and back of the Trams.
The driver does not accept cash anymore so payments have to be made by credit card
Local Buses and Trams around the city are sold as a single, day or multi-day ticket
The single ticket that is valid for an hour is € 3,20
1 day (24 hour) is € 8,00 – 2 days (48 Hours) is € 13,50
You can buy tickets 3-7 days depending on how long you are spending in Amsterdam
You have to make sure you check-in and check out from your journey, the ticket becomes valid from the first time you check-in
Bikes – The Dutch way of Life
No trip to Holland is complete without taking a leisurely ride alongside the beautiful canals; it is truly a unique experience that we can highly recommend. You will jump aboard an old school cruising bike; cruise around the stunning countryside, cute quaint villages and of course the amazing windmills. For this laid back experience, we would defiantly recommend doing this outside the city of Amsterdam.
There are more bikes in the city than people!
To put it in perspective how important bikes are to the Dutch; there are around 18 million bikes in the country. The Dutch cycle an average distance of 2.9km per day; and use bicycles for more than a quarter of all trips as opposed to driving.
Cycling in the city is a completely different experience; to taking your leisurely ride alongside the canal. In the city, everyone is on a mission and won’t stop for anything. The Dutch are very friendly people, very accepting and loving until you cross them on a bike. DO NOT GET IN THEIR WAY!! There are designated bike lanes all around the city; they are marked orange or blue. Please be careful and do not stand in the way unless you want to come across an angry Dutch person.
Don’t get in the way of a Dutch person on a bike
There is one other thing that is even more dangerous than a Dutch person on a bike; in the city that is a tourist riding on the bike path. Tourist don’t tend to know the “road rules” stop and start, and just get in the way of the Dutch trying to get to or from work. So the locals came up with a clever plan of painting all of the tourist bikes a bright colour; so that they knew who to avoid on the roads.
Bikes rule the roost in Amsterdam; so LOOK FOR BIKE LANES – DO NOT STAND ON BIKE LANES or you will be hit or yelled at.
Is a sex show awkward to watch?
You may even come across a few sex or peep shows; this is something that every person needs to see at least once in their life. We talk about experiencing the culture of each country; well this is the culture of Amsterdam and a sex show is something very unique. It is not as scary or awkward as you imagine it to be; think of it as more of a performance there are different acts from scenes to pole dancers to audience participation. It is all very light and entertaining; the couples are real people and are basically naked performers.
Don’t be scared it is entertaining, interesting, and a unique experience. If you want to check out a sex show in Amsterdam; Casa Rosso is one that I would recommend they have a few locations, but head to the one with the 2 big pink elephants out the front of the venue.
Absolutely no photography is allowed in any of the shows so do not even try; your phone will get confiscated.
Tickets to Casa Rosso are €42 per person
They are open daily from 7pm to 2am, Saturday & Sunday they are open till 3am
Is Prostitution Legal in Amsterdam?
The same deal as with the Drugs the government has a serious problem with the illegal sex trade and decided to “better” the industry to make it safe for the sex workers. So what they did was went ahead and Legalised prostitution; they believe the openness allows for creating a safer environment. They brought in a licensing system where business in the sex industry has to comply with strict rules and regulations; which included a business plan, hygienic work conditions, and ensuring the health and safety of their workers.
Most of the prostitutes are self-employed running their own businesses working their own hours; paying income taxes and are eligible to receive government-funded regular checkups.
Brothels, some escort services, massage parlours, and working from home; as a prostitute is still very much illegal in the Netherlands.
Are drugs Legal in Amsterdam?
Contrary to popular belief drugs are NOT legal; in the 1970s the illegal drug trade was far more dangerous to society so the government decriminalized marijuana. Hard Drugs are still very much Illegal so if anyone approaches you in the street, do not accept them!
Marijuana is legal for personal use but the average person cannot produce, distribute or sell drugs of any kind. Marijuana has become tolerated in the city of Amsterdam in a controlled environment; to do so the government started issuing licenses for Coffee Shops.
.
Can you drink the tap water in the Netherlands?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in Amsterdam. In fact, they have some of the highest quality standard for drinking water.
Can you swim in the canals of Amsterdam
It’s not recommended to swim in the canals except for at certain designated locations. There are a lot of boats that cruise up and down the canals, it is unsafe to swim as the boats might not see you. There are also a lot of interesting items pulled from the canals such as bikes, shopping carts and mopeds lurking in the shallow water.
Day 1 – Arriving in Amsterdam
Getting from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Centre
Schiphol airport is about 20 mins or 17 kilometres away from the city centre of Amsterdam, it is quite simple, you have 3 main options
Train
There is a train that connects the airport directly with Amsterdam Central Station, it usually departs from platforms 1 and 2 and will cost you € 5, 50 one way (In 2020).
Bus
The bus will take you to either Leidseplein or Museum Square in about 30mins, it is line 397 and will cost € 6,50 one-way (In 2020) you can purchase the ticket from the driver but keep in mind they do not accept cash only credit cards or contactless.
Taxi
The most expensive yet comfortable way to get from the airport to Amsterdam in about 25mins, The best part about a Taxi is you are dropped off exactly where you want to be. The taxi should cost anywhere between €45 to €60 no more, be sure to negotiate the price before getting in the Taxi.
Most of the first day of a trip is taken up with arriving, getting to your accommodation and checking in. Once all that is out of the way we are heading into the beating heart of Amsterdam. To the world-famous Red Light District of Amsterdam, To really see the contrast of the red light district in the day and night be sure to head down in the early afternoon, jump on the tram to central station and this is where your adventure begins.
On arrival at central station, head out the main doors and walk towards Damrak, Damrak is a busy shopping street with plenty of cafe’s eateries and souvenir shops, from there walk left and you will be emersed in the historic and lively area of the Red Light District.
Have a read of our blog sex, drugs and alcohol for a brief rundown on the area, If it is your first time in Amsterdam it can get a bit overwhelming, keep an open mind and go with the flow. Remember it is not wrong it is just different from what you are used to, everything is accepted in the Red Light District.
OUDE KERK- In the middle of the red light district stands the oldest gothic church in Amsterdam, the Oude Kerk the budling itself has an amazing history and you can get an amazing view of the old city centre. It is 10 Euro entry and is open 10 am-6 pm daily.
Skinny Lane- Just past the church tucked behind a row of shops is the start of the Red Light District the first street on the left is called skinny lane, which as its name suggests it is the skinniest street in the district. Important tip – DO NOT EVEN TOUCH YOUR PHONE In the Red Light District, the working girls will throw it in the canal.
BELLE AND THE GOLDEN BOOB- In front of the Oude Kerk are two interesting sculptures, Belle is the bronze statue standing proud at the entrance of the square, belle is there to represent the strength and resilience of the workers in the sex industry. It symbolises that it is a strong industry and that they are not ashamed of it. To the left of the church on the ground is a golden boob, it was placed there mysteriously by an unknown artist. The council wanted to remove it but it had become a symbol of the square and remains there to this day.
The Red Light District – will not disappoint, you will be shocked, amused and mesmerized all at the same time! There is an incredible sense of acceptance and openness in Amsterdam, after your walking tour with the guide be sure just to wander around the streets and gaze at all the weird and wonderful things before you.
I would definitely recommend a tour with a local guide, they are there to answer any weird and wonderful questions you might have. Sure you can wander around yourself but a local guide really brings everything to life from the past to the present you will see it all. This is a really great 1.5hour tour to get an overview of the red light district. Book here.
Day 2 – Take a Day Trip outside the city to see the real Dutch Culture
No trip to the Netherlands is complete without seeing the beautiful and majestic windmill; historically the windmills in Holland served multiple purposes; however, the most important job for the windmill was to pump the water to the rivers and dikes.
There are still over 1,000 historic windmills throughout the country but only a few operate commercially.
The rest are for our enjoyment; once a year on the second Saturday in May; over 600 windmills and watermills are opened up to the public for a rare view of the original structure.
Amsterdam is incredible but there are plenty of Gems just outside the city to explore, to make life easier I would recommend a guided tour.
The one, in particular, I would recommend is the Day Trip to Zaanse Schans, Edam, Volendam and Marken from Amsterdam. You are picked up from Amsterdam City centre transported in a comfortable coach to the beautiful Dutch Countryside. It is like stepping into another world.
All in one day you get to see the Dutch windmills, see the traditional village of Edam (Try Edam cheese), see how dutch clogs are made and finish the day at the magical fishing village of Marken. Book Here
Day 3 – Explore the main attractions in the city and finish off with a Canal Cruise
ANNE FRANK HOUSE
The Anne Frank house was opened as a museum in 1960; it takes you through the story of the family. You will find the original version of the diary as well as exhibitions from wartime. Visiting the house is a very surreal and moving experience; seeing it for yourself teaches you about the history, and shows you what life would have been like during the Nazi occupation. Millions of people from all around the world choose to take a journey; through the life of an innocent Jewish girl caught up in the mess of WWII. If you do want to visit I would strongly recommend pre-booking your tickets WELL in advance; as the space is quite small they only let a certain amount of people in at a time; and once the tickets sell out you miss out.
TICKETING
o Open Daily from 09:30 am to 16:30
o €12.50, although there is always huge lines, buying online, is recommended Book Here
o There are very steep stairs up to the museum; so it is not advised to visit it you have mobility issues
o 20 minutes to walk from the Central Station to the museum.
o Trams 13, 14 and 17 and buses 170, 172 and 174 stop nearby, at the ‘Westermarkt’ stop.
MUSEUMPLEIN AND IAMSTERDAM SIGN
Museumplein is a combination of the past and the present, we have a few key points in this area starting with one for those art buffs here in the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum you can see some of the greatest Dutch artists in history.
The IAmsterdam sign has become a major icon for tourists you will find this inside the walls of the Rijksmuseum, stand at the top end of the sign and use a wide-angle lens to get the full word in your photo.
HOUSE OF BOLS
This was pretty dam cool; it is an interactive journey through the history of Lucas Bols which is a spirit brand in Amsterdam that was established in 1575. You wind your way through the museum discovering interesting information about how a cocktail is mixed, once you have made your way through what better way to finish a tour but with a Cocktail! The bartender will mix you up a cocktail of your choice to sit back and enjoy the afternoon.
o Open daily from 1300 to 1830pm, Friday and Saturday it is open till 2100
o € 16.00 per person which includes a cocktail For entry Tickets book here.
o Opposite Van Gogh Museum
o Tram 2,3,5 and 12
HEINEKEN EXPERIENCE
The Heineken Experience is amazing for beer lovers; it is a fantastic combination of history and modern-day beer-making techniques. You work your way around the 135-year-old Brewery with fun and exciting presentations. As you walk around you will discover how Heineken is bottled, the history of the beer itself, you can test your knowledge of the brewing process and finish off your experience with a nice cold glass of Heineken well two, perfect way to spend the afternoon!
o It is cheaper to book your tickets online, you can book here the price is €18.00 per person or €21.00 at the door this price includes 2 glasses of beer at the end of your tour
o They are open daily from 10:30am to 7:30pm and a bit later in July and August, keep in mind the last entry is usually 2 hours before closing time.
EVENING CANAL CRUISE
Finish off your busy day with seeing the glittering lights of Amsterdam from the canal, sit back in the glass-roofed boat while a local guide explains the historic significance of the buildings, the waterways, the lights and even get to cruise past the Anne Frank House. The waterways that link the city play such a significant role in the city existence this is your chance to see the city in a different light. Most of the canal cruises leave from outside Central Station so it is easy to navigate there, Book your cruise here.
Accommodation
Stay in the outer suburbs but on the tram line, it is much cheaper, For a hostel/ budget accommodation go with the XO Infinity. A clean comfortable and all-around nice hotel which is just down the road from the XO is called Blue Square Hotel Amsterdam, they are a budget hotel and usually have some good deals. Be sure to request a room with a window, you might laugh but there are a lot of hotels in Europe in which don’t have a window.
These hotels are in a good area, straight across the road there is a small shopping centre, with a supermarket and weekend markets. There are multiple restaurants, cafes and an amazing kebab shop on the same street.
On the same block you have access to a bank/atm and most importantly the Tramline, this stop is called Plein 40-45.
We usually use Booking.com or Agoda for accommodation in Amsterdam as they have fairly good deals.
The Must-See and Do things on your first trip to Amsterdam
• Ride a bike through the Canals of Edam
• See the traditional Windmills in Volendam
• Experience the red light district of Amsterdam
• See the city from another perspective and take a canal cruise
• Look through the eyes of Anne Frank and visit her family home
• The Heineken Experience or house of Bowls if Cocktails are more your thing
TRANSPORT
The public transport in the Netherlands is amazing; you can almost get everywhere in the country; on a bus, train or Tram, Check out our post Using the Amsterdam Trams
You can buy the Tram, Metro or Bus tickets from the vending machines or onboard the Train, Bus or Tram.
Look for the staff member in the little bubble.
They are usually at the front, middle and back of the Trams.
The driver does not accept cash anymore so payments have to be made by credit card
Local Buses and Trams around the city are sold as a single, day or multi-day ticket
The single ticket that is valid for an hour is € 3,20
1 day (24 hour) is € 8,00 – 2 days (48 Hours) is € 13,50
You can buy tickets 3-7 days depending on how long you are spending in Amsterdam
You have to make sure you check-in and check out from your journey, the ticket becomes valid from the first time you check-in
Bikes – The Dutch way of Life
No trip to Holland is complete without taking a leisurely ride alongside the beautiful canals; it is truly a unique experience that we can highly recommend. You will jump aboard an old school cruising bike; cruise around the stunning countryside, cute quaint villages and of course the amazing windmills. For this laid back experience, we would defiantly recommend doing this outside the city of Amsterdam.
There are more bikes in the city than people!
To put it in perspective how important bikes are to the Dutch; there are around 18 million bikes in the country. The Dutch cycle an average distance of 2.9km per day; and use bicycles for more than a quarter of all trips as opposed to driving.
Cycling in the city is a completely different experience; to taking your leisurely ride alongside the canal. In the city, everyone is on a mission and won’t stop for anything. The Dutch are very friendly people, very accepting and loving until you cross them on a bike. DO NOT GET IN THEIR WAY!! There are designated bike lanes all around the city; they are marked orange or blue. Please be careful and do not stand in the way unless you want to come across an angry Dutch person.
Don’t get in the way of a Dutch person on a bike
There is one other thing that is even more dangerous than a Dutch person on a bike; in the city that is a tourist riding on the bike path. Tourist don’t tend to know the “road rules” stop and start, and just get in the way of the Dutch trying to get to or from work. So the locals came up with a clever plan of painting all of the tourist bikes a bright colour; so that they knew who to avoid on the roads.
Bikes rule the roost in Amsterdam; so LOOK FOR BIKE LANES – DO NOT STAND ON BIKE LANES or you will be hit or yelled at.
Is a sex show awkward to watch?
You may even come across a few sex or peep shows; this is something that every person needs to see at least once in their life. We talk about experiencing the culture of each country; well this is the culture of Amsterdam and a sex show is something very unique. It is not as scary or awkward as you imagine it to be; think of it as more of a performance there are different acts from scenes to pole dancers to audience participation. It is all very light and entertaining; the couples are real people and are basically naked performers.
Don’t be scared it is entertaining, interesting, and a unique experience. If you want to check out a sex show in Amsterdam; Casa Rosso is one that I would recommend they have a few locations, but head to the one with the 2 big pink elephants out the front of the venue.
Absolutely no photography is allowed in any of the shows so do not even try; your phone will get confiscated.
Tickets to Casa Rosso are €42 per person
They are open daily from 7pm to 2am, Saturday & Sunday they are open till 3am
Is Prostitution Legal in Amsterdam?
The same deal as with the Drugs the government has a serious problem with the illegal sex trade and decided to “better” the industry to make it safe for the sex workers. So what they did was went ahead and Legalised prostitution; they believe the openness allows for creating a safer environment. They brought in a licensing system where business in the sex industry has to comply with strict rules and regulations; which included a business plan, hygienic work conditions, and ensuring the health and safety of their workers.
Most of the prostitutes are self-employed running their own businesses working their own hours; paying income taxes and are eligible to receive government-funded regular checkups.
Brothels, some escort services, massage parlours, and working from home; as a prostitute is still very much illegal in the Netherlands.
Are drugs Legal in Amsterdam?
Contrary to popular belief drugs are NOT legal; in the 1970s the illegal drug trade was far more dangerous to society so the government decriminalized marijuana. Hard Drugs are still very much Illegal so if anyone approaches you in the street, do not accept them!
Marijuana is legal for personal use but the average person cannot produce, distribute or sell drugs of any kind. Marijuana has become tolerated in the city of Amsterdam in a controlled environment; to do so the government started issuing licenses for Coffee Shops.
.
Can you drink the tap water in the Netherlands?
Yes, it is safe to drink tap water in Amsterdam. In fact, they have some of the highest quality standard for drinking water.
Can you swim in the canals of Amsterdam
It’s not recommended to swim in the canals except for at certain designated locations. There are a lot of boats that cruise up and down the canals, it is unsafe to swim as the boats might not see you. There are also a lot of interesting items pulled from the canals such as bikes, shopping carts and mopeds lurking in the shallow water.
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