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Jun 01, 2023

36 Hours in Amsterdam: Things to Do and See

36 Hours By Nina SiegalUpdated Aug. 31, 2023 Often caricatured as a sex-and-drugs haven, or a kind of continental Las Vegas, Amsterdam was not always an obvious choice for European cultural travel.

36 Hours

By Nina SiegalUpdated Aug. 31, 2023

Often caricatured as a sex-and-drugs haven, or a kind of continental Las Vegas, Amsterdam was not always an obvious choice for European cultural travel. Its image has undergone a significant transformation in the last decade, with government efforts to shrink its famous red-light district, curb reckless partying and orient visitors to its more honorable attractions. Now it’s a bonafide cultural mecca. In some respects, the city has regrettably lost a bit of its formerly funky edge, and the relentless tide of tourists can make it nearly impossible to book tickets to famous attractions, such as the Anne Frank House or the Van Gogh Museum, or many of the city’s hot restaurants, at the last minute. Still, there are new, off-the-beaten-track treasures to be found, including openings around NDSM, a former shipyard turned artistic hub, as well as glimpses of old Amsterdam where the city’s creative spirit is still brimming.

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