Cycling Strolls, Serene Canal Cruises, and Blissfully Full Bellies

A row of black rental bicycles with brown saddles is lined up in a green courtyard in Amsterdam. Sunlight casts patterns of light and shadow on the house wall.

Cycling with a Touch of Courage

When we decided to conquer Manhattan by bike in 2011, we were certain that nowhere in the Western world could be crazier for cycling than dodging the frenzied taxi drivers on Fifth Avenue.

Our first time cycling in Amsterdam proved us wrong.

Amsterdammers move on bicycles as most people do on foot – swiftly, with unexpected maneuvers and occasional bumps.

Merging onto a bike path here feels similar to navigating a Fiat Cinquecento around Piazza Venezia – fearlessness is key.

However, we quickly noticed how effortlessly and accident-free the locals ride.

Children sit relaxed on handlebars or crossbars of helmetless parents, market purchases overflow from baskets, and dogs' ears flap from bike baskets – everything flows as if it were meant to be.

Now, we eagerly look forward to every opportunity to hop on a bike in Amsterdam, conquering the streets and getting swept up in the flow of this bike-loving city.

Our favorite rental, Black Bikes, has exactly what we need if our hotel doesn't provide bikes.

And the paths through the city seem to favor cyclists above all else.

From Keizersgracht to Vondel Park

Staying at the Hotel Canal House on the shimmering Keizersgracht, and still craving a fragrant cinnamon knot and creamy cappuccino from the Scandinavian Embassy after a delicious hotel breakfast, it's easy to zip south along the water to Sarphati Park by bike.

There, we naturally reserve a table for the evening at Restaurant JA, which we are so looking forward to.

Cycling through the Oude Pijp with its charming old streets, we continue to the Rijksmuseum.

If the sunny weather makes us too happy to delve into the outstanding exhibitions or the magnificent library, we simply enjoy the museum's impressive architecture from the outside.

The building's design was the result of an 1863 architectural competition. The archway in the main wing allows us to cycle through its Gothic vaults to the Museumplein, past art installations and the Van Gogh Museum.

View through the gate of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam at sunset. A person with a backpack walks toward the “I amsterdam” sign as the streetlights illuminate the scene.

Vondel Park

Our next stop, Vondel Park, opened almost simultaneously in 1865.

The English garden is a wonderful spot for a small picnic under ancient trees on expansive lawns by little streams.

We must at least have a cup of the good coffee from The Coffee District on Willemsparkweg by the babbling water.

We also love leisurely cycling from the Renaissance Pavilion in the east to the Rose Garden in the west, listening to the birds sing.

A pond in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark with water lilies in the foreground. Historic villas with large windows line the shore, surrounded by lush trees and well-kept gardens.

Here, we feel even the hurried Amsterdam cyclists slow down a notch.

Sparkling Waterways

Next, we head to Dille & Kamille, a delightful household goods store on Bilderdijkstraat, where we always find some charming items to take home. This time, perhaps a cozy blanket and cloth napkins.

From here, we go straight to Boats4rent, as we want to take a short trip through the canals.

The electric boat is as simple as can be and entirely made of aluminum, so we can use our new blanket to add a touch of coziness.

Beforehand, we quickly dash to Breadwinner to stock up on bagels and lemonades for our outing.

Sailing through the canals on our own is a truly unique way to experience Amsterdam.

The canals, with their many narrow houses from the Dutch Golden Age, are considered a UNESCO World Heritage site for urban planning and architecture.

Designed as trade routes in the early 17th century to supply the growing city, canal frontage was so valuable that those who could afford a wide facade were heavily taxed.

This led to the creation of the many narrow, tall facades that now pass by like dollhouses as we glide along the sparkling canals.

Typical canal houses in Amsterdam with ornate facades and tall windows. Houseboats and small boats line the shore. The water reflects the architecture and the sky.

The gentle splashing of the light boat, the dappled light through the trees above us, and the muted sounds of the city creating the most beautiful backdrop transport us to another world.

In a serene mood, we climb out of the boat and enjoy letting our impressions linger in the cozy garden of the Hotel Canal House.

Dinner and Nightcap

Although it wouldn’t be far by bike to the delicious Dutch apple pie at Koffieschenkerij, we decide to skip it today.

We still have dinner at the fabulous Restaurant JA to look forward to, where Amy and Julius will treat us to an incredible seasonal menu.

And if we then head to our beloved Night Kitchen for a drink, it would be wonderful to perhaps manage just a tiny roasted aubergine to perfectly round off our perfect day before closing our eyes to the sounds of the nighttime canals in our big bed.

View through a window onto an illuminated bridge in Amsterdam. Streetlights reflect on the water of the Herengracht. The ornate lanterns and buildings frame the scene. — Nighttime view from the SWEETS hotel Nieuwe Amstelbrug

Our Perfect Day in Amsterdam