Is Amsterdam worth the hype?

With its 17th century canal rings and beautifully designed gothic houses, Amsterdam has become one of the most popular tourist destinations for a short getaway. But is it really worth the hype or is it just an avocado? Good for the Insta photos, but really not worth the price.

I was lucky enough to visit in early March before the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. As it was somewhere I have always wanted to go since reading Anne Frank’s diary as a child, I was excited to finally be able to see where it was written.

However, many people visit Amsterdam for an entirely different reason, and that’s to visit the “coffeeshops”, AKA, put simply cafes where you can smoke weed. Whilst I understand the attraction, particularly seeing as it is one of the only places you can legally smoke it in Europe, I did not get the obsession with it. Especially in the centre, there was a coffeeshop everywhere you turned and the air was constantly filled with the smell of it. For some visitors, this seemed to be the main attraction.

The centre of the city was of course beautiful with Dam Square and the Neo-Gothic Amsterdam Central Station, however the whole area felt like it had suffered a tidal wave of over tourism. Even in the cold month of March, there were people everywhere so you struggled to walk 2 metres without a suitcase cutting into your path. And yes I know. It is ironic as I was one of those tourists.

Along with that, everything was so expensive. I remember a basic cocktail was nearly 10 euros and a sandwich from a deli was around 7 euros. Don’t get me started on hostel bed prices. But I guess that’s to be expected in a popular tourist spot like Amsterdam.

But the centre just felt like it had lost its Dutch culture. Tourist canal boats lined the water, whilst souvenir stores filled the streets.

I found that by walking even a few blocks away from the centre, it was a lot quieter and you could properly experience the Amsterdam way of living. I’d recommend the 9 Streets near the Anne Frank House if you’re a fan of independent boutiques and cafes. Also if you’re keen to experience more of the authentic Holland, I’d recommend visiting one of the smaller cities nearby such as Haarlem.

Back in Amsterdam, there were some amazing museums such as the MOCO Museum which displayed modern art from artists such as Banksy and Keith Haring. It was like no museum I’ve ever experienced before. See below for some photos I took whilst there.

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You’ve also got the Van Gogh museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk museum which unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to go to but I’ve heard they are very interesting and worth a visit if museums are your thing. These museums are situated next to the Vondelpark, one of Amsterdam’s many parks which are lovely for a walk or if you’d like to hire a bike. Bikes are also a great way to get round the city as there are paths dedicated to cyclists throughout the city. However, watch out as the locals are unforgiving if you get in the way!

Despite Amsterdam burning a hole in my pocket, it was overall an enjoyable trip. They seem to have their own very unique culture, which if you get a chance, you should experience for yourself. Obviously much of this post is my own personal opinion and every city has its positives and negatives but I’m hoping it will help even just a few of you to decide whether Amsterdam sounds like a city you’d like to visit.

So I will let you make your own judgement. Is Amsterdam worth the hype or not?

Katie x

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