If you’ve been to Amsterdam, chances are you’ve seen mostly the most popular things to do in the city. While Van Gogh Museum, Ann Franks House and Experience should definitely be visited at some stage, you might also want to know about hidden gems off the beaten track to get to know the city like a local. For a true locals experience, avoid overpriced, confining hotel rooms and enjoy a home-from-home feeling in a serviced apartment in Amsterdam. PREMIER SUITES gives you the freedom to live like a local and enjoy the benefits of extra space, facilities, and a great location. Here are some of our favourite hidden gems in Amsterdam so you can explore off the beaten track.
REM Eiland
With an abundance of fries, waffles, and steakhouses in the city centre, it can be difficult to find truly authentic restaurants in Amsterdam. Venture off the beaten track, a short distance from the city to REM Restaurant and experience something really unique. At this towering sea rig in the harbour of Amsterdam, you can dine 22 metres above the water in a former pirate radio station. Perfect for all seasons, the restaurant is warm and cosy in the winter and gloriously sunny in summer on the roof terrace. You can enjoy an extensive cocktail menu and a lavish six-course evening meal, ideal for special occasions.
Mezrab
Sometimes, for something truly unique, it’s worth travelling. Mezrab is a cultural centre outside Amsterdam which has become one of the best stages for spoken word, improv and comedy in the city. Forego chairs for casual floor cushions and enjoy storytelling evenings from actors and individuals. The storytelling is combined with art disciplines like dance, visual arts, poetry, and they have a brilliant world music program. There are over 300 events per year in Mezrab and entry is always free. It’s a great place to meet friends, meet new people or hear the stories of locals – sometimes funny, sometimes, sad, always fascinating.
Amsterdam City Archives
One way to get to know a new place or the place you live in a little better is to visit the city archives. Amsterdam’s city archives are held within the De Bazel building, an Art Deco gem that is well worth a visit in itself. Inside you can browse through 750 years of records, documents, personal data, stories, and images – essentially the collective memory of Amsterdam. the Amsterdam City Archives is the largest treasure trove of municipal history in the world. Take a guided tour of the beautiful rooms or visit the fascinating exhibitions within the underground vault, which belonged to a former bank.
The Houseboat Museum
You cannot cross Amsterdam without crossing a bridge and within the canals below are some of the most fascinating forms of accommodation. There are over 2,500 houseboats in Amsterdam inhabited by locals from all walks of life. Chances are you’ve never been inside one and have plenty of questions about life living within. The Houseboat Museum is a miniature floating museum that allows you to experience first-hand what it’s like to live in a houseboat on an Amsterdam canal. Located on the Hendrika Maria, a former cargo ship from 1914, the boat has been transformed into a cosy living space where visitors can poke around before enjoying tea and cake in the retro armchairs.
Transvaalbuurt
Amsterdam is a colourful, alternative city and one of the ways we stand out is our street art. There are over 300 street art masterpieces in the city, each with a unique style and meaning. The old neighbourhood of Transvaalbuurt in Amsterdam is full of impressive street art murals. One of the most impressive collections are the 10 gigantic urban murals on the façade of a group of buildings each unique in its colour and content. Enjoy pictures of a woman suspended mid-air with a magnificent blue dress, or the emblematic three black crosses of Amsterdam against a red background. They’re sure to stop you in your steps for a picture and stay with you long after you’ve departed.
Book your stay in PREMIER SUITES Amsterdam and explore the most colourful city in the world like a local. Our team would be happy to recommend things to do in Amsterdam either popular or off the beaten track.
