Hidden GemsFree
Begijnhof
Centrum
A hidden courtyard of 14th-century almshouses and a tiny wooden house, a calm oasis just off the busy Kalverstraat.
- Suggested time: 30 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Couples
Open-air; daytime; please keep quiet
Amsterdam
10 quieter places to add to the big sights: viewpoints, markets, walks, small museums and local favourites.
10 places in Amsterdam
Hidden Gems~£15
Our Lord in the Attic (Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder)
Oudezijds Voorburgwal
A secret 17th-century church built in the attic of a canal house when Catholic worship was banned.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden Gems~£12
Hortus Botanicus
Plantage
One of the world’s oldest botanical gardens, with a butterfly house, palm house and a 2,000-year-old ancient cycad.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden Gems~£15
Foam Photography Museum
Grachtengordel
A canal-side museum with rotating exhibitions from famous and emerging photographers.
- Suggested time: 1h 15m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; late on Thursdays and Fridays
Hidden GemsFree
Westerpark and Westergasfabriek
Westerpark
A former gasworks site turned park and cultural hub, with cafés, cinemas and a Saturday-market feel.
- Suggested time: 2 hrs
- No booking needed
- Suits: Outdoor lovers
Open-air; venues open daily
Hidden Gems~£14
Oude Kerk
Red Light District
Amsterdam’s oldest building, a medieval church in the middle of the Red Light District with a startling contemporary art programme.
- Suggested time: 45 min
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Daily; hours vary
Hidden GemsFree
NDSM Wharf
Noord
A former shipyard, now a creative quarter of street art, warehouse festivals and beach bars, reached by a free ferry.
- Suggested time: 2h 30m
- No booking needed
- Suits: Nightlife fans
Open-air; venues open daily
Day Trips~£4
Haarlem Day Trip
Haarlem (20 km)
A pretty old town of gabled houses, hofjes (almshouse courtyards) and a great Frans Hals Museum, 15 minutes by train.
- Suggested time: Full day
- No booking needed
- Suits: Culture lovers
Trains run frequently from Centraal
Hidden gems are the quieter alternatives to the headline sights. Prices, hours and booking advice are approximate, so check the official site before you go.