Day Three

If your plastic is burning a hole in your wallet, you might like to start day three with some shopping. De Bijenkorf is Amsterdam’s best department store. Focke and Meltzer is the place to go for authentic Delft Blue and Makkumware porcelain, Hummel figurines, and fine china and glassware.

 

For a glorious display of color, head to Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market), located on a group of barges anchored along Singel canal. It is a true Amsterdam experience.

 

Amsterdam is famous for their diamond industry, and several of the showrooms offer free tours. Try the Amsterdam Diamond Center or Van Moppes Diamonds.

 

In the afternoon, take a tour of the Heineken Experience, a must-do for ale lovers. It gives you an overview of how the yeast was discovered that gives Heineken its unique taste, as well as an explanation of how the brewing facilities changed from 1867 to 1988. The admission price includes two servings of Heineken beer and a souvenir glass.

 

For dinner, try an Amsterdam favorite: Indonesian food. Sound strange? Not really. Amsterdam’s status as a port city allowed its residents to experience ingredients and spices from all over the world. As a result, the city as a whole has quite a diverse palate, but Indonesian food is one of the most popular. Rijsttafel is the way to go. It is a mix of spicy foods served in little bowls (as many as 20 at one meal), and you simply pile your plate with rice and add the toppings as you wish. It is a delicious and unique dining experience.

 

Spend your last night in Amsterdam strolling the city, crossing as many of the lovely bridges you can in the process. There are more than 1,200 in the city, and the views from the bridges are truly the most beautiful and romantic of anywhere in Amsterdam. If you enjoyed your first canal-boat cruise, you might want consider another one at night. Rather than paying attention to architecture and history, you can simply let the sparkling lights twinkle above you as you glide by, soaking up your last bit of the city’s spirit before you depart.