7 Off Beat Attractions To Visit In Amsterdam

When people think of Amsterdam, they usually think of three things: coffee shops, red lights, and canals.And for most travelers, that’s all they’ll ever see.

Young travelers tend to frequent the coffee shops or wander the Red Light District, while older travelers take bike tours, canal trips, and frequent the museums. Then, after three or four days, they move on to their next destination.

Amsterdam has much to offer travelers. When you’ve grown sick of coffeeshops, stoned backpackers, creepy old guys in the Red Light district, and crowds at the Van Gogh museum, visit some of these quieter and more local places:

# The Tulip Museum

Located in a room inside a tulip shop, this little place does an interesting job of telling the history of tulips in Holland and the infamous tulip craze. The story goes that tulips were brought to the Netherlands in the 17th-century from the Ottoman Empire, and they became hugely popular all around the country (but especially with the upper class).

To this day, the tulip holds a special place in Dutch culture. You can learn more about the flower’s history in this cozy museum. And best of all: you’ll never find a crowd here!

# The Jordaan

I’m always amazed at how few tourists visit Jordaan since it’s right next to the city center. This former working-class district is now a maze of cafes, little shops, and restaurants. During the summertime, it’s a popular spot for people to go to eat.

I absolutely love wandering around here as the narrow streets have all sorts of neat shops and pubs. It’s a great place to window shop or pick up some souvenirs to take home.

# FOAM

FOAM (Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam) is a photography museum that opened in 2001. The museum houses wonderful pictures and sees very few crowds despite being in the main part of the city. It’s a must for any photography or art lover.

Not only are there exhibitions by world-famous photographers but there are also smaller, temporary exhibits for up and coming artists as well. I really enjoyed all the black-and-white photographs and the outdoor garden.

# The Houseboat Museum

Not much of a museum, but this decorated houseboat gives you an interesting glimpse into what living on the canals is like. Built in 1914, the boat was originally used for hauling sand, coal, and gravel. In the 1960s it was converted into a houseboat and was lived in for around 20 years.

While it was fun to get a sense of life in a houseboat, I walked away with a strong impression of life on the canals: cramped.

# Oost

The area east of the city (“Oost” means east) has an amazing park, a zoo, and lots of delicious Middle Eastern eateries. Wandering around here, you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a handful of tourists, most of whom are probably lost.

Be sure to visit Dappermark, a street market that has been around for over 100 years! You can find pretty much everything here, making it a good place to browse or people watch.

# Rembrandt Park

Not to be confused with Rembrandtplein in the city center, this park west of the city is a good place to wander. Dating back to the 1940s, the area around it is pretty working class and a bit more modern—a good contrast to the historic center.

The park is named after the famous 17th-century painter Rembrandt van Rijn. You’ll know you’re there when signs suddenly stop being printed in English!

# KattenKabinet (The Cat Cabinet)

Located in a townhouse that was built in the 17th century, this quirky museum was the passion project of Bob Meijer, who started the museum in 1990. After losing his pet cat, he started collecting all sorts of cat art and paraphernalia, which expanded over the years to fill his entire house. Not only is there all sorts of weird and wonderful cat art, but there are actual cats that live there too.

While it is a weird museum, it’s presented in a very typical, stuffy museum way — which makes it even more fun and tongue-in-cheek.