Tag: Amsterdam

Top 10 Instagram & Photography Spots in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

Amsterdam offers loads of ways to take great pictures! Of course, you will find more incredible spots than my Top 10 list. But I’m sure that you do not know all of the places to take great pictures.

Amsterdam bietet unzählige Möglichkeiten tolle Fotos zu machen! Es gibt mit Sicherheit noch viel mehr zu erkunden als meine TOP 10. Aber ich bin mir sicher, dass ihr den ein oder anderen Ort noch nicht kennt und tolle Bilder machen werdet!

  1. Typical Amsterdam pic

The absolute classic and not hard to find are the canals in Amsterdam. If you are searching for a bridge a bit longer, you will find one with flowers or colorful bicycles.

Der absolute Klassiker und nicht schwer zu finden sind die Grachten/Kanäle in Amsterdam! Wenn ihr etwas länger sucht, findet ihr auch Brücken verziert mit Blumen oder bunten Fahrrädern!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Amsterdam narrow houses

Another classic in Amsterdam are the narrow houses. There are beautiful streets in the Jordan district in Amsterdam. There, you will also find the smallest house in Amsterdam.

Ein weiterer Klassiker in Amsterdam sind die engen Häuser! Wunderschöne Straßen gibt es im Viertel „Jordaan“. Dort findet ihr auch das schmalste Haus in Amsterdam! Hier seid ihr selten allein, wenn ihr ein Bild machen möchtet! Außer ihr seid natürlich ganz früh dran.

  1. Rent a bike

This time I was riding my bike for the first time in Amsterdam. A dream! Amsterdam can be best explored by bike. For only €10 a day, we already got a bike. A bike rental can be found quickly in every corner.  It is important to know that parking garages in the center cost €40-€80 per day. A picture without a bike in Amsterdam should not be missed.

Dieses Mal war ich zum ersten Mal mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs. Ein Traum! Amsterdam erkundet man am besten mit dem Fahrrad! Für nur 10€ am Tag haben wir schon ein Fahrrad bekommen. Einen Fahrradverleih findet ihr fast an jeder Ecke! Denkt auch daran, dass Parkhäuser im Zentrum zwischen 40-80€ pro Tag kosten. Ein Bild ohne Fahrrad darf in Amsterdam natürlich nicht fehlen!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Bar Botanique

Whether you have a small brunch or a cocktail in the evening, the Bar Botanique has everything to offer and is a trendy photo spot.

Egal ob ihr Lust auf einen kleinen Brunch oder aber auch einen Cocktail am Abend habt. Die Bar Botanique hat alles zu bieten und ist noch ein angesagter Foto Spot!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Tulip fields

Should you be in Amsterdam during spring, you have to go to the tulip field. The journey takes about 30 minutes by car or you drive to Haarlem from Amsterdam and take a bike to Lisse. The tulip fields are located directly around the well-known garden “Keukenhof”. When I was in Amsterdam towards the end of May, all the tulips were gone very quickly. I loved it anyways!

Solltet ihr im Frühjahr in Amsterdam sein, müsst ihr auf jeden Fall zu den Tulpenfeldern fahren! Die Fahrt dauert mit dem Auto ca. 30 Minuten, oder ihr fahrt nach Haarlem von Amsterdam aus und nehmt ein Fahrrad bis nach Lisse. Die Tulpenfelder findet ihr direkt um die bekannte Gartenanlage „Keukenhof“. Als ich gegen Ende Mai in Amsterdam war, waren leider schon fast alle Tulpen weg. Es hat sich aber trotzdem gelohnt!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. MaMa Kelly Restaurant

You love pink? Then there’s Mama Kelly restaurant in Amsterdam. Here you cannot stop to snap photographs. We arrive right around 11 am and there was hardly anyone there. Even though it was Mother’s Day and all tables were booked. Therefore, arrive early but do not expect to get a table. You should book a table in advance. I am an absolute fan of girlis restaurants. The last time I saw such a pink place in the Sketch in London.

Ihr liebt rosa oder pink? Dann müsst ihr im MaMa Kelly Restaurant in Amsterdam gewesen sein! Hier kann man nicht aufhören alles zu fotografieren! Wir kamen direkt gegen 11 Uhr am Morgen und es war kaum jemand da. Allerdings hätten wir keinen Tisch mehr bekommen, denn ohne Reservierung ist es schwer einen Platz zu kriegen! Ich bin ein absoluter Fan von mädchenhaften Restaurants! Das letzte Mal habe ich in London im Sketch so einen pinken Ort gesehen.

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Insider tip!

The wonderful strawberries in chocolate are not available in any shop in Amsterdam. If you want to have an exclusive package of strawberries in chocolate, you have to contact the founder via Instagram and pick up the chocolate from her place.

Die wundervollen Erdbeeren in Schokolade bekommt man in keinem Shop in Amsterdam! Die Geschäftsführerin von Polabur beantwortet nur Nachrichten auf Instagram und wer die begehrten Erdbeeren in Schokolade haben möchte, muss persönlich bei ihr vorbeischauen! Klingt komisch? Ist aber genial! Nicht nur der Geschmack, sondern auch die Optik!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Pancake Time

In the Café Dignita, you get brunch the whole day. Here too, you should be early enough, because the Dignita cafes are in great demand. I can recommend the pancakes or even egg Benedikt. Since I was afraid that I did not get full, I ordered porridge and pancakes. No need to order two dishes. One serving is so rich that it suckles you.

Im Café Dignita bekommt ihr den ganzen Tag lang Brunch! Auch hier solltet ihr früh genug da sein, denn die Dignita Cafés sind heiß begehrt! Empfehlen kann ich euch die Pancakes oder aber auch Ei Benedikt! Da ich mal wieder Angst hatte, dass ich nicht satt werde, habe ich mir zusätzlich zu meinen Pancakes ein Porridge bestellt. Braucht ihr nicht! Eine Portion ist so reichhaltig, dass sie unheimlich sättigt!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Vegan Burger

In Amsterdam, you’ll find a vegan junk food bar in almost every neighborhood. You will immediately recognize the pink walls and the cool interior design. In addition, they serve huge burgers and truffle fries. An absolute must for vegans and non-vegans!

Im Amsterdam findet ihr in fast jedem Viertel einen „Vegan Junk Food Bar“ Laden! Ihr werdet sie sofort an den pinken Wänden und dem coolen Innendesign erkennen! Zusätzlich bekommt ihr noch riesige Burger und Trüffel Pommes serviert! Ein absolutes Muss für Veganer und Nicht-Veganer!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

  1. Ten are not enough!

As mentioned at the beginning, 10 photo spots are not enough.  More are here in my article about Amsterdam from last year. Last year, I found a secret spot to see Amsterdam from the top. How? Look by yourself!

Wie bereits am Anfang erwähnt, sind 10 Foto Spots nicht genug! Mehr findet ihr in meinem Artikel aus Amsterdam vom letzten Jahr! Letztes Jahr konnte ich ganz Amsterdam von oben bewundern! Wie? Schaut selbst!

Amsterdam, Fasten Ur Seatbelts

Where to stay?

This time we drove from Cologne to Amsterdam by car. Then we opted for the XO Hotels Couture in Amsterdam. 24 hours in the parking garage at the hotel costs only €15. This price is still quite cheap for Amsterdam; you can also come here by train. The journey takes only 3 hours from Cologne. The rooms are in a very clean condition. You can check in without hotel staff. Our room was on the 10th floor and unfortunately, the internet hardly worked. We did not book breakfast this time, because there are such great cafes in Amsterdam.

We have the hotel 5 minutes by bike to Vondelpark, and 10 minutes you are already in the center. If you get a bike directly at the hotel, you have to book something in advance! We did not get a bike on Saturday morning.

Dieses Mal sind wir von Köln aus mit dem Auto nach Amsterdam gefahren. Daher haben wir uns für das XO Hotels Couture in Amsterdam entschieden. 24 Stunden im Parkhaus am Hotel kosten „nur“ 15€.  Dieser Preis ist für Amsterdam noch recht erschwinglich! Mit dem Zug kommt ihr auch angenehm nach Amsterdam! Die Fahrt dauert von Köln aus nur 3 Stunden! Die Zimmer sind in einem sehr sauberen Zustand! Einchecken kann man sogar ohne Hotelpersonal! Unser Zimmer lag im 10. Stock und leider hat das Internet kaum funktioniert. Frühstück hatten wir dieses Mal nicht mitgebucht, weil es in Amsterdam so tolle Cafés gibt.

Wir haben vom Hotel aus 5 Minuten mit dem Fahrrad zum Vondelpark gebraucht und innerhalb von 10 Minuten ist man schon im Zentrum. Solltet ihr ein Fahrrad direkt am Hotel mieten wollen, müsst ihr auf jeden Fall vorher reservieren! Wir haben Samstag früh leider kein Fahrrad mehr bekommen.

TOP activities in Amsterdam – Must do’s!

Amsterdam

Canal Cruise

I met such nice people on my cruise with Rederij Paping! The cruise felt like a picnic with friends. Everyone can bring their own food and drinks, and sit together around a table. Paap, the captain, made us feel very welcomed on his boat, and gave us blankets so that we did not freeze during the tour. His guided tour through the magnificent canals of Amsterdam was like a story telling, and the 90 minutes passed so quickly that I was sad when I had to leave the boat. Paap, who is a local, could answer every question about Amsterdam. He did not just show us the center of Amsterdam, but also the wonderful surroundings of Amsterdam. He also offers private tours, and an Amsterdam Light Festival cruise. A cruise with Rederij Paping should definitely be on your list when you visit Amsterdam!


If you want to be your own Capatin, and explore Amsterdam’s canals on your own, rent one of Sloepdelen’s electric boats. It is so easy to rent them, just book the boat online, start the boat with your smartphone and discover Amsterdam yourself! You don’t need a boating license and the boats are for up to 12 persons. It is not that difficult to drive the electric boat but you should feel comfortable enough to do it on your own.

Bike tour

Feel like a local and explore Amsterdam on a bike. Honestly, this was one of the most fun activities I have done. You will see so much of Amsterdam in just two hours and the bikes from Yellow Bike are so comfy and easy to ride! Amsterdam is a bicycle city for sure!

Yellow Bike Amsterdam

Red Light District Tour

A totally different tour compared to the other tours is the Red Light District tour, offered by 360 Amsterdam. Before you start the tour, you are welcomed with a typical Dutch tasting to feel ready for the tour. During the 1,5 hour walking tour , you will see the beautiful ladies working behind the windows, Amsterdam’s night scene and sex clubs. The Red Light District tour will be in Amsterdam’s oldest area. You will learn things about Amsterdam, which you have never heard before!

Shopping

Like every city, Amsterdam has Zara, H&M and so on. If you want to see small individual shops, go to the following streets: Reestr., Hartenstr., Berenstr., Wolvenstr., Runstr. and Huidenstr. .
Don’t worry if you don’t see dozens shops at first sight. They are spread all along the streets. These unique shops sell clothes, accessories, art, gifts, furniture and beautiful flowers. In between you will see several small cafes and restaurants, which are worth visiting, too! Winkel 43 for example has the best apple pie with cream!

Food

Don’t forget to visit one of Amsterdam’s supermarkets. I went to a supermarket called, Marqt! It is a total new experience with all the local products. I bought chocolate sprinkles as a souvenir for my brothers.

Marqt Amsterdam Supermarket


Foodhallen is an indoor food market with different types of restaurants. Whether you like to eat Italian, French or Asian food,  everything is there. I ate a burger with chips and drank a cider. It was so delicious!  Foodhallen just opened a year ago.

Puccini Bomboni sells the best chocolate in town (but also the most expensive).

Flower Market

Those who love flowers, you have to visit the flower market. You will find so many types of flower bulbs, which you can buy for your garden at home.

Westerkerk Tower

See Amsterdam from above and enjoy the gigantic view for only 7,50€!

 

Have you already met Mr. Jordaan in Amsterdam? If not, have a look!

Mr Jordaan Hotel Amsterdam Breakfast

It took me only 10 minutes by tram to get to the most beautiful neighborhood, Jordaan, in Amsterdam. After a 4 minute walk across quaint little bridges and canals, I arrived at the hotel, Mr. Jordaan. Why it’s called Mr. Jordaan? In honor of the hotel’s pre-owner who knew everything about the neighborhood Jordaan and passed his knowledge to today’s employees.

Mr Jordaan Hotel Amsterdam

1st impression of Mr. Jordaan

When I was in front of Mr. Jordaan, I did not expect that the marvelous canal house was a hotel. Entering in the world of Mr. Jordaan, I was impressed by the interior design. Mr. Jordaan did not look like a typical hotel, it looked like a home. The staff treated me like a member of the Jordaan family. Behind every wall is a little treasure so that you can explore the hotel during the stay and get surprised every day.

The room

Well… What should I say… It is difficult to describe if you have not been there… Have you ever felt so amazed that it is difficult to put that experience into words? That’s why I recorded my room in the penthouse suite with a stunning view above the neighborhood. The room was not very big but all in one it was very comfortable, exciting, quiet, lovely, modern, different and fascinating. You will see that the interior designer paid so much attention into detail that there is nothing to complain about! See more in the video and images below.

Perks

As if it is not enough to live in such a wonderful place, you also have water, tee and all types of coffee for free during your whole stay! Furthermore, you get two plastic bottles to refill your water whenever you want and you find “to go” cups next to the coffee machine. The WIFI works very well at the hotel so if you are on a business trip or addicted to the internet, you do not have to worry about it! Additionally, the hotel provides a 24/7 Whatsapp service. So wherever you are or whatever you need, just text them and they will help you. On my way out, I saw that Mr. Jordaan offers tours or bikes for an affordable price. For those, who want to read more about Amsterdam, feel free to use the travel magazine in your room.

Breakfast

Depending on what rate you book, you have breakfast already included. If not, you have the option to book it one day in advance and get a discount of 2,50€. If you have not booked it in advance you will pay 17,50€ for the breakfast. I really liked the breakfast because it has everything that I like such as boiled eggs, muesli, fruits, yoghurt, cheese, ham, salmon, jam, Nutella, bread, croissants and chocolate sprinkles. But I read that vegans could not really find something for breakfast and some expected a larger selection for the price.  Try it yourself! You will not be disappointed! It is very tasty and if it is not your thing, you could still go to one of the dozens cafes around the hotel.

Mr Jordaan Hotel Amsterdam Breakfast

Location

You will not find any better location than this one. It is just a one-minute walk away from the famous Anne Frank house, five to Damstraat and ten to the Rijksmuseum. The tulip museum, cheese museum and the best apple pie with cream in town are just 5 minutes away by foot. Jordaan is the most attractive neighborhood in Amsterdam with its beautiful canal houses, quirky little shops, art studios and loads of authentic Amsterdam bars & cafés. If you want to know more about what to do in Amsterdam, read this article.

Hotel Mr. Jordaan Amsterdam