if you’re interested in art history or history history, Amsterdam has a lot of sick museums and churches. these are just a few of my favourites (obviously check out the rijksmuseum, van gogh museum, and anne frank museum as well):
our lord in the attic - a hidden catholic church built into a canal house during a period when public catholic worship was banned. interesting story & made me feel connected to humanity.
rembrandt house - museum at a house where rembrandt lived and worked in during his 30s/40s. felt very intimate and inspiring to explore this space and learn more about his life and practice. i recommend trying to catch one of the etching demonstrations, really gives you an appreciation for his technique!
verzetsmuseum / museum of WWII resistance: tells the stories of how real people engaged in acts of resistance during the nazi occupation. it really gave me an appreciation for what’s at stake in resistance - how difficult, complex, often fatal, it is, and how necessary it is. go when you’re in a reflective mood.
oude kerk: my favourite church from my visit. big, lots of wood, not particularly flashy (it was at one point but then yknow, protestantism), strangely cozy and tranquil.
i went in november and happened to catch the sinterklaas parade as well, which was super fun despite not understanding a word that dutch santa was saying!
