Amsterdam | Netherlands

Prinsengracht, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Has your wallet been on a tight budget lately and you still don't want to miss out on traveling? I think it's a very laudable attitude. Let me make you a suggestion: Amsterdam is barely a stone's throw away from Germany and is great for a city ​​trip. But because the Dutch capital has a great reputation among travelers, a short things to do in Amsterdam can be expensive. So that you still don't miss anything, I have selected 11 activities for you that you can do for free in Amsterdam.

1. Free city tour in Amsterdam

A real touring classic things to do in Amsterdam! The easiest way to get things to do in Amsterdam? Just chasing after someone who knows about it. Things to do in Amsterdam, several organizers offer free city tours that take you to the most popular and beautiful spots in the city in 2.5 to 3 hours. Take a look at Sandemans New Amsterdam Tours, for example, or see what is still on offer on various portals. Things to do in Amsterdam are always motivated and very entertaining people. They know the funniest stories about the sights of Amsterdam and are always happy to give you insider tips for your next Amsterdam vacation.

What do you need to get to know Amsterdam for free? Firstly, sturdy shoes. Walking 2.5 to 3 hours through the streets of a big city can be exhausting if you wear the wrong shoes. You should also be able to speak English. Or Spanish. Or check out which languages ​​are still offered, but I haven't found anything in German at the moment (as of November 2017). You don't necessarily have to make a reservation unless you are a large group. Otherwise, it is enough to be at the meeting point early enough. The nice thing is: the tours take place several times a day and wind and weather cannot dissuade the city guides from their plan to bring you closer to Amsterdam in as original away as possible!

A little hint: Yes, such a city tour is free things to do in Amsterdam and nobody is pilloried if he or she wants to leave it at that. But if you enjoyed the tour, it would be very nice if you let the tour guide know with a small thaler.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Free Amsterdam tour by bike

Do you tend to get blisters on your feet or do you prefer to spontaneously throw yourself into an adventure anyway,? Then you can get on your bike behind a backie. No, this is not a new species of aliens, as exciting as that would be.

Backie riders are Amsterdam cyclists who have agreed to spice up some tourists' short trip things to do in Amsterdam. When you drive through the city with your daily business, you like to take one of the holidaymakers with you on your bike.

Do you feel like it? The backie license plate is a yellow luggage rack. If you spot someone like that, you just have to say “Backie!” call. And you already have a special kind of city tour. The advantage: You may get to know interesting things to do in Amsterdam that no other holidaymaker would get to see. The disadvantage: of course you have to find your way back somehow. It's not that easy in Amsterdam's winding streets. Good, succeed!

Amsterdam tour by bike

2. Begijnhof (Beguinage) Amsterdam

A city tour like this, whether on foot or on a luggage rack, can be quite exciting. You will get a little more peace in the Beguinage Amsterdam. It's just as beautiful as it is free to watch. But it owes its fame to its history. Because actually, he is a rather common “ Hofje ”, as there are many in the Netherlands. A “Hofje” is a courtyard surrounded by a row of medieval houses and adorned with a beautiful garden. And that is meant literally here because the farm is actually very popular with (photo) trigger-happy holidaymakers.

Begijnhof (Beguinage) Amsterdam

The history of the Amsterdam Beguinage

But as I said, the nice looks only make up half the appeal. In Begijnhof Amsterdam earlier beguines lived. Still no alien species, sorry. Beguines are women who actually lived together just like nuns in a Catholic, monastery-like community. Except that the beguines were not bound by any vow and could usually leave if they felt like it.

The most famous beguine was a woman named Cornelia Arens. A little legend has arisen about what happened after her death. Arens stipulated that she did not want to be buried in the chapel, but in the gutter instead. But their request was not granted - at least not immediately. After trying to store her coffin in the church, something strange happened: one night her coffin disappeared from the church. The next day he was found in the gutter. And that didn't just happen once, but over and over again. Finally, they gave up and complied with the beguines' request.

In addition, the beguinage was the only Catholic institution in the city for a long time. What many do not know: From 1578 to 1795 it was forbidden in Holland to live out the Catholic faith in public. All the churches in the country were closed. The Beguines were allowed to continue to exist, but only because the houses were in their private ownership. And they still had to give up their band.

The Dutch Catholics, however, did not allow themselves to be taken away. And today there are hidden churches all over the country that have been built into homes. From the outside, it is not at all recognizable that the interior of the church extends over several floors. And such a so-called “Schuilkerk” (“Hiding Church ”) was also built in the beguinage - including an altar, benches, and all the trimmings. You can also visit them for free things to do in Amsterdam.

The Houten Huys Amsterdam

The courtyard itself was built in the 14th century. Most of the houses you see there today, however, were not built until the 17th or 18th centuries. This is because most of the houses used to be made of wood. House fires didn't exactly stop that, but even gave them additional food. Later the citizens were obliged to use brick instead of wood when building their houses. Nevertheless: When you enter the Beguinage Amsterdam, you will see the Houten Huys, one of the last two wooden houses in the city that has been preserved top things to do in Amsterdam.

How do I find the Amsterdam Beguinage?

It's going to be a little scavenger hunt, but it can be done. You don't have to dive into any lifeless corners of the city but stay in the center of Amsterdam. There you look for the Spuiplein, this is a public square. Look out for a row of white houses with a single brown house in the middle. Behind the door of this house, as boring as it looks, you will find one of the best  things to do in Amsterdam - Beguinage.

The farm is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Since the houses are still inhabited (but no longer by beguines), you should be reasonably quiet.

3. Free art and culture in Amsterdam

Things to do in Amsterdam when it comes to museums. This is what things to do in Amsterdam is known for (and much more). The big attractions like the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam demand a lot from you financially. But before you start crying: You don't have to do without art or culture, because you get them for free in Amsterdam. At least if you know where to look.

Not far from the beguinage, the rifle gallery is open to all passers-by to visit free of charge. It is a narrow corridor that separates the Amsterdam Historical Museum from the Beguinage. On the high walls behind the glass, facade hang 15 large paintings depicting well-heeled Amsterdam residents. And not only the portraits of the rifle guilds from the 17th century are meant here.

Although, by the way, this is also a very special kind of painting. The most famous picture of this genre of rifle guild painting even comes from the great Rembrandt himself - you have certainly heard of the “ Night Watch ”. But before you jump into the air all too enthusiastically - The “Night Watch” is not hanging in the shooting gallery. For that, you have to pay money and visit the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

But wait, where did I stop? Not only rich people from 300 years ago are shown in the Schützengalerie. Rich people from the present are also immortalized there. Amsterdam football players, artists, and boxers were portrayed and made their way to the walls of the shooting gallery.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Nederland

More art galleries in Amsterdam

You will find an even larger selection and maybe one or the other positive surprise if you stroll around the Jordaan district of things to do in Amsterdam. Many small, cute galleries, in which talented artists exhibit their works, gather here. Especially around the Rozengracht there are many such small exhibitions and are just waiting to be discovered by you.

EYE Film Museum Amsterdam

Unfortunately, the EYE Filmmuseum is not completely free things to do in Amsterdam. You have to pay for the changing exhibitions. But in the basement of the Film Museum houses a permanent exhibition, and the for all visitors to things to do in Amsterdam. Here you can find out everything about the history of the film. How were films made in the past? How has technology developed over the years? The exhibition also scores with interactive films and a large cinema quiz.

Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Amsterdam City Archives

Those interested in history should definitely take a look at the things to do in Amsterdam City Archives. There are two rooms there; one house changing exhibitions on the history of the city, the other one can permanently see the Amsterdam city archive. At least the second room can be visited free of charge for all visitors to things to do in Amsterdam. In the archive, which is said to be 50 km long, documents are kept that are of great importance for Amsterdam's history. There are really some entertaining pieces. For example, you can read a police report about Anne Frank's stolen bike here.

Or a telegram that goes out in a not-so-friendly tone about Karl Marx's visit to Amsterdam. And you should definitely take a close look at the photos - pictures of legends like John Lennon or Audrey Hepburn loosen up the exhibition even more. The city archive is not difficult to find, because its building dominates the streetscape of the Vijzelstraat. The De Bazel building, named after its architect, captivates with its impressive geometric work on the stone facade of the house. You can visit the Amsterdam City Archives Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on weekends from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

4. Ride on the ferries

You may have already noticed that Amsterdam is a canal city. “Canals ?” Ask the unsuspecting ones among you, “can we eat that?” No, and it's still not an alien species either. Canals are the name given to the water canals that circle around and through Amsterdam's city center. A canal tour is not included in Amsterdam for free, but you can still get to know the city from the water.

Ferries leave regularly the berth behind the main train station. The river IJ separates the center of Amsterdam from the north of the city and that is where the ferries go. If you stand there by the jetty, you usually don't have to wait long for a lift. The ferries chug every few minutes and take you to 3 different points in the north of Amsterdam. The ferries are even in operation at night and you get a great view of the illuminated city from the water.

From the main station you drive to Buiksloterweg (there you can, for example, visit the free permanent exhibition in the basement of the EYE Filmmuseum ), to IJplein or to the NDSM shipyard. In recent years, the NDSM shipyard has created a number of popular bars, restaurants, and artist galleries, so a trip there is guaranteed to be worthwhile.

Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

5. Free cheese tasting in Amsterdam

So far there has been a lot to see for free things to do in Amsterdam. I'm sure you're starting to get hungry. No problem, it's best to head straight for the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. But the focus here is less on the exhibition, which is also very lovingly furnished and deals with the history of cheese production. In addition to the free cheese museum, there is also a free cheese tasting.

Holland is not just a grassland if you know what I mean. It's also a hell of a cheese-crazy country. And at the free cheese tasting in the Amsterdam Cheese Museum, you can taste some of the tastiest specialties that the ambitious Dutch cheese production has produced.

A fun little gimmick on the side: If you're having fun, you can dress up like a traditional Dutch cheese farmer and certainly take a few great snapshots.

cheese tasting in amsterdam

6. Free performances in Amsterdam

Tired of running around? Has your educational mission to yourself been fulfilled for the time being? Then here are some more things to do in Amsterdam from me about what entertainment is free things to do in Amsterdam.

Classical concerts

If you're into classical music, there are several hotspots for you. Both the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the National Opera & Ballet Amsterdam give so-called “lunch concerts” every week during the season, which you can attend for free things to do in Amsterdam. Both lunch concerts start at 12:30 pm and last half an hour. On Tuesdays, you will be delighted by the latter, and on Wednesdays, you go to the Concertgebouw Amsterdam for your acoustic treat. The beautiful concert building in itself is worth a visit anyway.

The range at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam is a bit wider. There are regular presentations and concerts, even in the evening, for which no admission is required.

Vondelpark, Amsterdam, Nederland

Open-air theater in the Vondelpark  of things to do in Amsterdam.

If you are less into classical music and still like to be entertained from a stage, you should definitely check out the program of the open-air theater in Amsterdam's Vondelpark. In summer, plays from a wide variety of theater and music genres are performed here every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Whether you are looking for a dance performance, want to sing loudly at a pop concert, or if need to train your laughing muscles again - you are sure to find something that suits your mood in the varied program. The open-air theater in Vondelpark is open every year from the beginning of May to around mid-September.

7. Free viewpoint over Amsterdam

A city as beautiful as Amsterdam also has to be photographed from a slightly higher perspective. Many great viewing platforms tend to cost a little more. You can also get a wonderful view completely free of charge things to do in Amsterdam.

The Amsterdam Science Museum NEMO is a rather striking, 30 m high building that you definitely won't miss. The museum itself is unfortunately not for free. However, every visitor can go up on the roof during the day. From there you have a great overview of the city, the ships at the nearby harbor, and the houses on the water.

You can also enjoy the sun on the steps of the viewing platform. And there is also a free exhibition on energy generation through wind, water, and sun.

amsterdam science museum nemo

8. Botanical beauties in Amsterdam

There are also some great highlights for the eye in the Botanical Garden of the Vrije University Amsterdam. Over 6000 plant species from all over the world have found a home here and the garden has grown steadily since 1967. A popular source for further growth: Amsterdam Airport. Everything that is confiscated when entering the country because it needs special protection goes to the university's botanical garden. A few fascinating things to do in Amsterdam have now accumulated there. For example, there are quite old plants here that apparently lived on earth at the time of the First World War.

You can also admire an incredible splendor of orchids and a remarkable number of carnivorous plants. The floating flower market of things to do in Amsterdam is also somewhat extravagant, but of course not quite as extensive. Even without buying anything, you can enjoy the blaze of color and the scent of the countless flowers in Amsterdam for free. Greenhouses are built on 5 canal ships, in which you can marvel at the flower power.

The floating flower market has been held since 1862 and has since achieved a certain fame. And Holland itself has now discovered flowers as well as grass and cheese - the tulip, in particular, is a symbol of Holland and things to do in Amsterdam. You can find the market every day between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on the Singel, the city's oldest canal, between the Koningsplein and the Muntplein. On Sundays, the market doesn't open until 11 a.m.

Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

9. Friday Night Skate

There's a little more things to do in Amsterdam every Friday evening for free. This event has been around for 20 years, where enthusiastic skaters meet and tour the city for a few hours together. The action is so popular that hundreds, sometimes even thousands, gather here.

You too can take part - you should be able to do a bit of skating for that. But hey, the famous jump into the cold water has already helped so many times! The tour is not without it: The routes change weekly, which at least makes it exciting for the regular participants. But you can definitely count on around 15 to 25 km each way.

The meeting point is the Vondelpark at 8.30 p.m. The skaters wait at the Roemer Visscherstraat entrance, near the VondelCS restaurant. But you should definitely check the website beforehand, or at least check the weather: If the roads are not dry, the tour will probably be canceled.

friday night skate amsterdam

10. Diamonds in Amsterdam

No, I have to disappoint you, you won't get any diamonds here. However, you can see them for free things to do in Amsterdam. And not just through a shop window, but in action, life, and in color.

The tours

In action, live, and in color - I don't actually mean the diamonds themselves, but the whole process, from the raw find to the glittering piece of jewelry. Because things to do in Amsterdam there are two diamond grinding shops that organize elaborate tours for tourists through their companies and do not charge a cent for them: Gassan Diamonds and Coster Diamonds.

The Dutch capital has been one of the diamond-cutting hotspots for centuries. And this legacy can still be admired today.

During the free things to do in Amsterdam, you can find out everything you ever wanted to know or didn't want to know about diamonds. How are the gemstones processed? What is the carat all about? What about the color or clarity of a stone? And what is the shape of a stone's cut? During the tour, you can even watch the diamond cutters at work.

Things to do in Amsterdam in both grinding shops take place several times a day and are offered in several languages, including German.

The factories

Gassan Diamonds was founded in 1945 and focuses primarily on the import and export of cut and uncut rough diamonds.

Coster Diamonds is over 100 years older, making it one of the oldest diamond cutting shops in the world. She has some accomplishments too, particularly working on the real British Crown Jewel.

The diamond from the crown - called Koh-i-Noor ("Mountain of Light") - traveled the world a long time before it came into the possession of the British royal family. As Queen Victoria was given the stone in 1850, it was already involved in legends - so one was all the more amazed at its rather sobering sight. So they had it reground and polished to freshen it up - and Coster Diamonds is particularly proud of this work.

Gassan Diamonds

11. Free festivals in Amsterdam

Things to do in Amsterdam is a popular place for festivals of all kinds. Many of them cost money, of course, but there are also some real treasures among them that you can leave your wallet at home while visiting.

Amsterdam Light Festival

If you go on your things to do in Amsterdam short trip in winter, the evening walks will be something very special. Every year around the end of November to mid-January, the Amsterdam Light Festival takes place in the city center. The impressive architecture, beautiful sculptures, and of course the things to do in Amsterdam - canals are set in scenes with the colorful light art.

Light art is a relatively young art form that has been gaining popularity, especially since the LED revolution. The festival (things to do in Amsterdam) offers famous artists from all over the world a stage to present their work. I have to emphasize that each of these artistic works is specially designed for the Amsterdam Light Festival. The event always has a motto to which the artists have to orient themselves. In 2017/18, for example, it was called “existential”. The organizers had current events around the world in mind. It is necessary to look again at what makes a person - and in a positive way. The festival is therefore not only something for the eyes, but also for the soul.

The festival consists of two parts: a guided walking tour called “Illuminade” and a boat tour. The former is free in Amsterdam but is no longer offered a few days before the end of the festival. The “Illuminade” tour runs every evening from 5 pm to 10 pm.

Amsterdam Roots Festival

Things to do in Amsterdam - Roots Festival is just as impressive, unique, and completely free of charge. The festival already has decades of history under its belt and yet it is bursting with topicality and innovation. Music styles from every corner, every last corner of the world, as contemporary as unusual, should be in the spotlight at this event. In this way, a musical picture of the current world community is created.

If you are planning things to do in Amsterdam with children, the Roots Festival is for you. Countless projects involve children. Whether it's children's dance shows or doing handicrafts and painting with the little ones - they are not only entertained but also learn a lot in the process. The Amsterdam Roots Festival takes its educational mandate very seriously and focuses not only on innovation but also on the traditions of the most diverse cultures around the world.

Circus shows have also been new since 2017, rounding off the program with breathtaking acrobatic, musical, and humorous shows - and yes, the shows are free at the Roots Festival in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Roots Festival takes place every summer (June or July) at the Oosterpark in Amsterdam.

Nieuwmarkt Amsterdam

Open Monument Day (Open Monuments Day)

This is actually not a real festival, more of a celebration. Every year on the second weekend in September, countless monuments and historical institutions across Holland open their doors to the public. If you happen to be on your things to do in Amsterdam city trip at this time, all you have to do is look for the white flag that says “Open Monument Day” and you'll have found one of the facilities that you can visit for free in Amsterdam that day.

The nice things to do in Amsterdam is that many of the facilities are not just satisfied with opening doors. They want to offer additional added value and provide further exhibitions, guided tours, and even music.

Pluk de night film festival

Cineastes get their money's worth here: A really nice film festival takes place every year in August in the center of things to do in Amsterdam. An outdoor picnic on a warm summer night and watching innovative films could give your romantic holiday in Amsterdam the right flair for free.

The Pluk de Nacht is about presenting a fine selection of the most beautiful independent films that, for whatever reason, never made it into Dutch cinemas. When choosing, careful attention is paid to the quality. That's why you will find a colorful mix of all genres in the program of things to do in Amsterdam. There are animated films, tragic dramas, gripping road movies, or funny comedies.

Every now and then there are really original performances. Once an orchestra played live for a short film series. Another time, a competition was held in front of all viewers, based on emo TV: Who can cry the fastest in front of the camera? The program is complemented by all sorts of little delicacies related to the film: art and media projects, as well as food, drink, and parties.

April feasts

At the April Festival, it becomes a bit more traditional again. It's a folk festival as you imagine it to be - including carousels, a Ferris wheel, and live music. The April Festival takes place every year in (well, who can guess?) April. The whole folk festival will be set up on the Nieuwmarkt Amsterdam and is just the thing for folk music fans and those with a sweet tooth among you.

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