72 Hours in Amsterdam
Many of our clients have flown through Amsterdam for a layover, but not enough have stayed and enjoyed the magic of this city. Forget the clichés of the red-light district and enjoy our sophisticated must-sees when we touch down in Amsterdam.
Accommodation: The city excels at special attention to details and eccentricities of architecture and design. This is especially prominent in their luxury hotels. It’s hard to pick our favorite because each of our top choices have such unique personalities.
Our top 4 are below:
Pulitzer Amsterdam – authentic and eccentric
De L’Europe – historic with a modern twist
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam – classic and sophisticated
Conservatorium – contemporary, high design
Day 1:
Amsterdam is one of the most convenient places to fly into, so more than likely your flight from the US will arrive in the morning. Enjoy a leisurely drive into the city and drop your luggage off at with the hotel concierge.
Afternoon: Lunch at Pause at Pulitzer & Private Canal City Tour
Head over to the Jordaan neighborhood for lunch at Pause at The Pulitzer Hotel. Comprised of 25 historic canals houses from the 17th and 18th centuries with walls adorned in Pulitzer family relics and a large collection of contemporary art, this hotel is an experience in itself. Enjoy brunch or lunch in the open atrium-style restaurant.
While Amsterdam is known as a pedestrian and biking city, this city is built over 165 canals stretching over 60 miles. Nothing compares to experiencing the views from the canals on a private boat ride, learning the history of the city while sipping a cocktail and admiring the “dancing houses” that line the canals.
Evening: Dinner at Café Cliché
Settle in to this fabulous neighborhood brasserie, open only for dinner. While they do not accept reservations (except for large groups), arrive on the early side for cocktails and small bites while you wait for your table. Michelin Star Chef, Sidney Schutte, creates a globally inspired menu, serving funky spins on classics and unexpected combinations
Day 2:
Day: Anne Frank House, Private Tour of the Van Gogh and Stedelijk Museum
The local attractions really hold up to their hype; however, this creates major demand. Most of the major museums, are located in the Museum Quarter, which makes it easy to walk between locations.
We recommend starting with the Anne Frank House, in the Jordaan neighborhood before heading to the Museum Quarter. Stop for lunch at the Brasserie in the Conservatorium Hotel and explore the local artisan shops connected to the building and the designer shops on Pieter Cornelisz Street. The Conservatorium was originally built as a bank at the end of the 19th century before becoming a music conservatorium and finally its current iteration as a hotel.
Pick back up the afternoon with a private tour of the Van Gogh Museum and the Moco Museum for a dose of contemporary art.
Andiamo Pro-Tip: Ensure you pre-book tickets to the Anne Franke Museum and the Van Gogh Museum at least 60-days prior to your date to ensure you’re able to see it all.
Evening: Dinner at De Kas
Considered one of the first farm to table restaurants in the world and in operation since 2001, De Kas features a luscious urban farm and greenhouse where the fresh ingredients are handpicked each day for their menu. The plants grown on property and in turn the menu changes with the seasons. All of their products are sustainably and organically grown on their land in Frankendael Park.
Day 3:
Day: Private Visit to The Hague and Rotterdam
On your last day, arrange a private driver for the 1.5hr ride or take the train from the city center south to the Hague, the home of the UN’s International Court of Justice, and Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe and home to many unique architectural styles from its near destruction during WWII. In recent years, Rotterdam has become a must-see for visitors to the Netherlands and in turn, now features many trendy restaurants and shops.
Evening: Dinner at The Duchess
After a day on the road, sit back, relax and let The Duchess speak for itself. This historic gem combines traditional London hospitality with Viennese grandeur, a balance of elegant, royal sophistication and the comforts of the modern day fine dining. The daily tasting menu is a culinary event in itself. With inspirations pulled from the South of France and Italy, the restaurants aims to offer course after course of intricate simplicity.