The small capital city with a big personality
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam may be small but the Dutch capital certainly packs a lot in to its compact centre. Wander through cobblestone streets and along Golden Age canals to explore world-class museums, chic boutiques and maybe even the red-light district in De Wallen. Enjoy a drink in a laid-back cafe or a meal in an Indonesian restaurant while listening to the constant ding-a-ling of bicycle bells. The best part? With Cosa, you can experience every aspect on foot or by bike, with or without a private guide.
Admiring art
Art is everywhere in Amsterdam but it would be remiss not to visit Rijksmuseum, Holland’s national museum, whose 80 galleries span 800 years of Dutch art. Expect masterpieces by Vermeer, Hals and Rembrandt. For more of Rembrandt, make for Rembrandt House while the Van Gogh Museum houses the world’s largest collection of the tormented artist’s work.
Visiting Anne
Even if you’re feeling all museum-ed out, do visit Prinsengracht 263, the house where Anne Frank, her family and her famous diary hid for so long from the Nazis. The sobering journey takes you through a labyrinth of small rooms and staircases to the secret annex where the Franks spent two years. It is one of Amsterdam’s most moving experiences.
Sit and relax
For an authentic taste of Amsterdam, pull up a stool in one of the city’s famed brown cafes, named for their traditional wooden interiors and smoke-stained walls. Every neighbourhood has its share of these atmospheric watering holes but they aren’t all the same. Cosa can take you to the best ones, complete with a cast of friendly locals and staff.
Bike and boat
Amsterdam is a city of cyclists – bikes are how residents commute to work and meet friends – and two wheels are also a great way to discover the sights. If locals aren’t on a bicycle, they’re probably on a boat. We can arrange for you to hop on an unforgettable private cruise along the 17th-century canals and admire the city’s opulent gables.
Essential Amsterdam
The official capital of the Netherlands is famous for its grand canals, for having the highest museum density in the world, and for being as bike-friendly as it is gay-friendly. Its population of almost 900,000 is generally open-minded, and as likely to enjoy a cannabis cafe as much as a can of Heineken – the beer brand was founded here in 1864. If you want to meet the locals and explore their city their way, get in touch and let us arrange the perfect Amsterdam escape for you.
Where it is
Western Europe
When to go
All year
Why go there
Cycling
Cafes
Museums
What to see
Rijksmuseum
Anne Frank’s House
The 17th-century canals
