Amsterdam: Where Culture and Vibe Collide

Amsterdam is a beautiful, bustling city considered as a financial and commercial center in the Netherlands and has so much more to offer than its coffee shops with the space menus and the infamous Red Light District.  The city is a friendly mix of the classic and the modern any single traveler will appreciate.  Amsterdam is one of the best places for singles, especially if you're looking to meet others.

Why you should visit

There are a thousand and one reasons to go to Amsterdam.  Its vibrant culture and the cosmopolitan feel of the city make it a favorite among tourists who love the myriad of possibilities it offers.  Amsterdam is filled with tourists any time of the year, although it's best seen in summer when you can enjoy a variety of festivals and get to meet artists coming to the area from around the world.  You can then explore the city on foot or be like one of the locals and get a bike to move around.

Take the canal trip

To be single in Amsterdam is a dream.  Amsterdam's famous main canals surround the city, emanating like rays from the center and out.  The canals can keep you from getting lost since you can navigate the whole city by merely knowing where you are relative to them.  A good map is recommended so you can plan which direction you should head for because there is so much to see. 

Going artsy

The number of museums in Amsterdam alone should keep you and other singles occupied for several days.  There are a total of 51 in all and are great places to see if you want to meet fellow tourists.  Head off to the Museumplein, a square that will lead you to two of the most popular must-see places like the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.  The works of the best Dutch Masters are found here – Vermeer, Hals and Rembrant, among others.

Cross the square to meet tourists and locals who are Van Gogh fans.  The well-loved Dutchman has his own house, a sanctuary for some of his more famous paintings including The Bedroom and Sunflowers, along with 200 or so other originals, drawings and letters.  These two museums are enough to satisfy your thirst for art, but if you would like to get to know the current local art scene, check out the nearby De Pijp and Oud Zuid neighborhoods, which are a little further off.

If you want to meet the locals, try the Plantage Island, found on the city center's east side.  This area has since left behind its sordid past of housing brothels and gambling dens and is now a place filled with chic bars and restaurants, all low-key but very fashionable.  There are tourists here but those who hang out on any given day are mostly from the local area.  You'll have plenty of friendly faces to meet and get to know.

Heineken heaven

Want beer?  Amsterdam's got beer and there's plenty to go by, whether you want to drink it or learn more about it.  Bring your new friend along and get to know the interactive Heineken Experience at the Stadhouderskade 78, a museum-cum-brewery found in the hip De Pijp neighborhood.  Once you know how this delightful drink is brewed, have a multi-cultural beer experience of your own at the In de Wildeman at Kolksteeg 3.  This bar offers about 200 different beers from different countries, enough to give you a hands-on knowledge about what beers from around the world taste like.

Nightlife

Amsterdam is alive when the sun goes down and the club scene is a major attraction.  Restaurants, bars and other areas of entertainment draw locals and tourists at any hours of the day.  Try the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein and take your pick among the best and hippest places to see and be seen.  If you want to mix with the trendy crowd, try Rain or Lux at the Marnixstraat.

Want to hang out with musician lovers?  Go to Melkweg for both local and international talents.  If you have a more adventurous taste for music, try the De Badcuyp and the Bimhuis, which host an eclectic mix of improv, jazz and musical acts from all around the world.

As you can see, there is a lot to do in Amsterdam, and you will have a great time while visiting.