9 Easy Things to Do in Amsterdam when the Van Gogh Museum is Sold Out

Amsterdam, the city of stroopwafel, canals, bikes and quirky museums scattered throughout the city center. If you're planning a trip to the capital city of the Netherlands, then chances are you're hoping to visit the Van Gogh Museum - along with the 2 million other annual museum visitors. Our best advice to secure your spot inside is to get your tickets in advance, which cost €22 per adult, otherwise if you're anything like us and get there after they sell out for the day - then you'll be looking for some other things to do in the city! That's where this post comes in handy - a list of our 9 favorite things to do in Amsterdam from windmills, to foods you need to try, to museums - we've got it all!

Other posts you might be interested in :

• Ultimate 24 Hour Layover Itinerary - Reykjavik Iceland
• A Guide to Free Windmills in Amsterdam
• 7 Best Things to Do in Brussels

Our Essential Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. These are our favorite websites and resources to help you plan an incredible trip.

For flights, we recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to your destination.

Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you if you're heading somewhere international! For buses in Europe, we recommend Flixbus!

We always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform where you can compare the best rates.

To keep cell phone service if you're traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Klook also does the trick, especially for tours in Asia.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your international or domestic travels.

Before you Visit Amsterdam

Amsterdam is known for it's incredible canals, endless bikes, and delicious snacks like stroopwafel. However, before you head over to the "Venice of the North" there's a few things that we think will help make your trip the best it can be!

• Getting Around - Amsterdam is a fairly easy city to explore, with trams, subways, and rental bikes around just about every corner. Our best recommendation for getting around the city is to download the GVB App for your phone - otherwise what we did was simply purchase timed tickets that allowed for unlimited transport for your chosen time. Either way, it's essential to check in as you board your first ride, otherwise it won't be valid for your journey.
• Walking Shoes - In addition to the city's accessibility, Amsterdam is also a very walkable city. This means you'll most likely end up walking quite a bit more than you're used to, so we highly recommend wearing your most comfortable and supportive shoes while exploring!
• What to Wear - Amsterdam is a large city, with city style. Think New York and London - comfortable shoes or boots, trench coats, beanies and layers. The weather in Amsterdam can be unpredictable - rain, wind, sunshine - you could see it all in the span of just a few hours, which is why we recommend wearing layers while you explore.
• Other Things to Know - Amsterdam's, and the Netherlands', official language is Dutch, however when we were there we had no problems getting around speaking English. Their currency is the Euro, similar to a majority of the rest of the Schengen Zone. Bikes are seriously everywhere, so make sure to look both ways before you cross the sidewalk and the street!

While in Amsterdam we stayed at the XO Blue Towers and Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport!

9 Other Things to Do in Amsterdam

1. Day Trip to Zaanse Schans Windmills
​Chances are if you're taking a trip to Amsterdam, then during your visit to the Netherlands you'll want to at least see a few windmills. Luckily, by making your way to Zaanse Schans you can do just that - and for free! This will most likely take a full day - since the public bus ride takes about an hour each way - and costs about €9 each roundtrip. Here, you can explore the small, unique shops, many quirky museums, and of course the windmills! The windmills themselves are free to explore, but if you're wanting to visit the Windmill Museum then it'll cost €14.50 per adult.

2. Walk the Canals
Amsterdam is known around the world for its endless canals, and if you're visiting the city for any amount of time then of course you'll want to explore them for a bit. You can either walk around town - the Anne Frank House or Heineken Experience are great places to start - or you can take a canal tour like us! By taking a canal tour, you not only get a different perspective, but you also get to learn all about the culture and history of the city!

3. DIY Food Tour
If this is your first visit to Amsterdam, then there's a few things you can try just by wandering the city! Frites - basically thick cut french fries, can be found just about anywhere, but our favorites were at Chipsy King, which also has an entire selection of sauces you can choose from (including a truffle sauce)! Another classic in Amsterdam, stroopwafel - a sweet, very thin waffle type of cookie with a sweet syrup filling in the middle - can also be found at carnival like food stands throughout the city. We highly recommend getting a fresh stroopwafel if possible rather than the clusters sold in bags. Cheese - another food most people are told to try while in Amsterdam, can be tasted at Cheese Museums around the city, with our favorite one below! Lastly, we also recommend trying out FEBO - a Dutch fast food company that is known for their "automatiek" vending machine style hot foods. I'll be honest I was not a fan of the food itself, but it was a very unique and fun experience!

4. Amsterdam Cheese Museum
​Like I mentioned above, cheese is one of the things you just have to try while in Amsterdam. Luckily, there are quite a few ways to do this for free! If you're visiting the windmills at Zaanse Schans then they have their own Cheese Factory onsite where you can taste endless cheeses of all varieties, however, if you're already at the Van Gogh Museum then within walking distance is the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Here, you can try all kinds and flavors of cheese - from pesto to coconut to lavender. We spent a solid hour here watching them cut up new cheeses and had a blast trying every flavor possible - and if you find something you like, you can of course purchase some to bring back to the hotel with you!

5. Bike Tour
Nearly synonymous with Amsterdam's canals and cheese is the sheer amount of bicyclists in the city. With an average of nearly 2 bikes per household, you'll see bikes everywhere as you explore the city - meaning the best way to explore like a local is to rent a bike! All you need to do is simply search for a place to rent a bike - most places offer bike rentals for €15 per 8 hours. With almost 63% of locals using their bikes daily, you'll be quite safe and simply "following the norm" when in Amsterdam.

6. Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience was our last minute addition when we realized the Anne Frank House was sold out for the day, and to be quite honest we were pleasantly surprised! The tour was entirely self guided, meaning we could make our way through it as slow or as fast as we wanted. There were fun, interactive exhibits while we learned about the history of Heineken, the beer brewing process, and even tastings in their bar to end. We did the combo Heineken Experience and Canal Boat Tour!

7. Anne Frank House
​Chances are if you didn't plan ahead and the Van Gogh Museum is sold out, then the Anne Frank House might be sold out too. However, it's at least looking into for a possible last minute opening. Tickets can only be purchased directly from the Anne Frank website, and cost €16 per adult. Inside, you can make your way through the main house, the secret bookcase tot the annex, and even Anne Frank's room

8. Moco Museum
If you arrive to the Van Gogh Museum just to find out they're already sold out for the day, then right next door is the MOCO Museum! At the Museum of Contemporary Art you can explore some very unique, interactive exhibits for just €24.95 - plus you can explore the exterior of the museum for free!

9. Amsterdam Tulip Museum
Another unique find, and the last on our list, is the Amsterdam Tulip Museum! Located just a few doors down from the Amsterdam Cheese Museum and right across the street from the Anne Frank House, you can explore the interactive exhibits and learn about the history of where the tulip originated and how it came to be so popular in the Netherlands for €5 per person. Plus, they have an adorable tulip themed gift shop up front!

Watch our Adventures in Amsterdam!

Other Netherlands Blog Posts :

• A Guide to Zaanse Schans Windmills in Amsterdam
• 9 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam

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