Starting Point: Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is a biographical museum dedicated to Jewishwartime diarist Anne Frank. The building is located on a canal called the Prinsengracht. During World War II, Anne Frank hid from Nazi persecution with her family and four other people in hidden rooms at the rear of the 17th-century canal house, known as the Secret Annex (Dutch: Achterhuis). Anne Frank did not survive the war, but in 1947 her wartime diary was published. In 1957, the Anne Frank Foundation was established to protect the property from developers who wanted to demolish the block.
Westerkerk
The ‘Westerkerk’ is a Reformed Dutch Protestant church, built between 1620 and 1631. The Westerkerk was one of the first purposely built Protestant churches in Amsterdam. The tower, called the Westertoren (“Western tower”), is the highest church tower in Amsterdam. The crown topping the spire is the Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximilian I. Rembrandt van Rijn was buried somewhere under a tombstone in the Westerkerk in 1669. The exact location of the grave is unknown; the number of his grave was lost. The Westertoren is mentioned frequently in Anne Frank’s diary – its clock-face on the tower could be seen from the attic of the Achterhuis and Anne Frank described the chiming of the carillon as a source of comfort. A memorial statue of Anne Frank is located outside the church at Westermarkt.
Directions: From Anne Frank House, take a left on Prinsengracht.
Dam Square
Dam Square lies in the historical center of Amsterdam. On the west end of the square is the neoclassical Royal Palace, which served as the city hall from 1655 until its conversion to a royal residence in 1808. Beside it is the 15th-century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). The National Monument, a white stone pillar, was erected in 1956 to memorialize the victims of World War II, dominates the opposite side of the square. Also overlooking the plaza are the NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky and the upscale department store De Bijenkorf. A short distance beyond the northeast corner lies the main red-light district: de Wallen.
Directions: From Westerkerk, take a left on Westermarkt. Continue forward, crossing three bridges. Take a left at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwa and an immediate right at Mozes en Aaronstraat.
Floating Flower Market
The Bloemenmarkt is the world’s only floating flower market. Founded in 1862, it is sited on Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein in the city’s southern canal belt. It includes 15 florists and garden shops as well as a range of souvenir gifts. The market is one of the main suppliers of flowers to central Amsterdam.
Directions: Walk south on Rokin. Veer right on Muntplein and turn right on Singel.
Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience, located in Amsterdam, is a historic brewery and corporate visitor center for the internationally distributed Dutch pilsner, Heineken beer. The industrial facility was built as the first Heineken brewery in 1867, serving as the company’s primary brewing facility until 1988 when a more modern, larger facility was constructed on the outskirts of the city. In 1991, the brewery opened to the public as a brewery tour and visitor center.
Directions: From Singel, take a right on Vijzelstraat. Take a left on Stadhouderskade
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum (English: National Museum) is a Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history in Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum was founded in The Hague in 1800 and moved to Amsterdam in 1808, where it was first located in the Royal Palace and later in the Trippenhuis. The current main building first opened its doors in 1885. On 13 April 2013, the main building was reopened after a ten-year renovation. The museum has on display 8,000 objects of art and history, from their total collection of 1 million objects from the years 1200–2000, among which are some masterpieces by Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer. The museum also has a small Asian collection which is on display in the Asian pavilion.
Directions: From the Heineken experience, take a left on Stadhouderskade
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is an art museum dedicated to the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. The museum opened on 2 June 1973. The museum’s collection is the largest collection of Van Gogh’s paintings and drawings in the world.
Van de Kaart (dinner)
Eternal Horizon 