Reasons to go to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities ever (it helps to have family who live there, of course). We went in April to see the amazing Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and I recently booked tickets to go again in August. During our visit in April, we came up with a list of why Amsterdam is such a great tourist destination. Here are our top ten reasons to visit Amsterdam. 

1. The streets in Amsterdam are well kept. You don't have to always look down at the street to be sure you don't trip because the sidewalk is uneven or so you don't step in vomit or urine (I'm talking about you, London). 

2. When in Amsterdam I rarely see beggars or homeless people. The Netherlands is one of the few countries that exceed the UN's goal of GDP percentage allocated to development aid. 

3. Amsterdam is a pretty flat city which makes it great for walking or bike riding. Plus, the bikes in Amsterdam allow for a more casual and social ride than the road bikes in the US. 

4. The Museum Card is a great way to see Dutch museums without ruining your budget. The card costs around 60 Euros and provides free entry to 32 museums in Amsterdam including the Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and a discount at Rembrandt's House. The card is valid for one year so we were able to use it for multiple trips and saw 12 museums. 

Not pictured: Museum Van Loon, Geelvinck Hinlopen House, and Church in the Attic Museum

5. As an American, I have a great appreciation for fried foods. The Dutch make some amazing french fries, croquettes, oliebollen (similar to a doughnut), and just about anything from FEBO (a fast food vending machine restaurant). 

6. Everyone speaks English, and I mean everyone. Bus drivers, store clerks, random pedestrians, and market stall workers will all speak English.

7. The trams and buses in Amsterdam are easy to use and very efficient, which allows you to see so much more of the city than on foot. 

8. Toilets are clean and easy to find in restaurants, department stores, and urinals on the street for men. Toilets are hard to come by (free or paid) in most European cities, which is something I took for granted living in the US. In Amsterdam, you typically pay to use the toilet (around 30 cents) but they are usually clean and the store does not care if you buy something.

9. Sometimes when you travel you just want something familiar to eat but still feel like you are experiencing a new culture. Amsterdam is perfect for this. They have amazing things to try that are different but somewhat similar to American foods such as pancakes, cookies, stroopwafel, and apple tart. 

10. There are loads of public places to sit throughout the city, so when you've walked a lot that day you can just sit and watch people go by. It is a delightful way to enjoy the city. 

These are just a few of the things about Amsterdam that stick out to me compared to other cities we've visited. It is hard to not fall in love with this amazing city after just one visit.