24 hours in Amsterdam
by Molly Field
Amsterdam is a bustling city; rich with culture and history, celebrated for its diversity, good food and bikes (no, like, so many bikes). But, before all that, the Dutch capital is the city where Gus and Hazel of John Green’s The Fault in our Stars shared their first kiss and so like every 2000s kid, this was the main draw (I’m just slightly kidding). Though Boom Clap by Charli XCX (the girls who get it, get it) hasn’t played nearly as many times as I would have liked, moving here last year was the best decision I’ve ever made. The city is alive; moving and always promising something exciting — somewhere, everywhere. Whilst I cannot claim to be a local (I only just learnt how to properly ride a bike), I can say I’ve curated my favourite spots in this beautiful and electric city — perfect for a twenty-four hour bimble.
If, like me, you need a caffeine-fix before attempting anything, a fifteen-minute walk from Centraal Station will get you to my first favourite spot: ‘t Zonnetje. Open from Monday through Saturday, this cafe is the longest-running coffee-shop in Europe and has the retro interior to match. Offering over 30 varieties of coffee (plus tea, herbs, and jam), the lovely owner is always happy to have a chat and, even, blend you the perfect drink to your taste if you ask nicely. A maximalist’s and coffee connoisseur’s dream!
While I swore to never ride my bike again after (very dramatically) falling off on my first try, I soon realised that cycling is truly the best way to get around Dutch cities, and it’s a lot of fun. Yellow Bike rentals is a good place to try. For €13 you can rent a bike for the whole day, or you could even try a two-hour guided bike tour round the city. The pick-up point is only a three-minute walk from Centraal Station, too (or a fifteen-minute walk with your ‘t Zonnetje coffee in hand).
Nearby is one of the lesser-known cultural hotspots in Amsterdam. W139 Gallery, located in Condomerie, is an artist-run space hosting a revolving-door agenda of exhibitions, screenings and events. The former-squat was repurposed to give opportunity to local artists and start ‘a movement against the closed world of commercial art and museums’. As such, the alternative space mainly showcases social-commentary art, something obvious in the exhibition I attended last year, That Those Beings Be Not Being. A perfect spot to make you feel cultured and intellectual but, really, is providing a much more authentic look at Amsterdam’s community than other mainstream museums do (I still love you though, Van Gogh).
Next, after a partial cycle (or walk, I get it) through the Red Light District and past the Rembrandt House Museum, you will find yourself at a little spot of serenity in this stirring city: the Hortus Botanicus. I spontaneously found this botanical garden while, a couple cocktails deep, exploring the area with my best friend. Arriving an hour before closing, we got to explore the bright, luscious garden (and butterfly sanctuary) in quiet, sleepy solitude. Also, outside, there is a super hygge (or gezellig in Dutch) cafe/terrace with enough fresh drinks and fairy lights to fill a long Amsterdam afternoon.
Upon arriving in Holland, I was immediately struck by the sheer amount of vegetarian/vegan options available and I immediately converted. It’s incredibly easy to eat plant-based food in this city without going to a specialised plant-based spot, and my next favourite Waterkant is no exception. As the name suggests, this tropical-inspired spot perches on the waterfront of Singelgracht canal and offers an exciting mix of Dutch plus Surinamese food. When the Dutch sun decides to grace us with her presence, I love sitting on the colourful rows of picnic benches, trying one of their many beer varieties and sharing a bowl of nachos with my friends. The homemade lemonade is also, genuinely, worth a visit on its own.
With sun-kissed cheeks and having had plenty to eat, I would recommend taking a ten-minute stroll down the canal to my final, and maybe favourite, spot in Amsterdam. Upon an old factory wall, in swirling blue neon, is a sign lighting up the Amsterdam evening: ‘Melkweg’, meaning ‘milky way’ in Dutch. Behind this wall lies an exciting, independent venue, playing host to an eclectic line-up of concerts, club nights, films, shows and exhibitions. In the past, I have attended everything from drag nights, to anime festivals, to indie-rock band concerts here. Grab a drink in their milk-cafe beforehand (their milkshakes are, unsurprisingly, top-notch), and join the bustling crowd under the neon strobes and skylights.
If you realise you love the city as much as I do, and decide to stay longer, make sure to check my bimble here for even more Amsterdam must-sees like Hannekes Boom, Paradiso, Ij Hallen Market and Skatecafe. For now though, as you dance away under the milky way, I’ll consider that my job — done.
All images credited.
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