Hendrikje Crebolder

Whether you’re in it for the artwork, the building or the sculpture garden outside, visiting the Rijksmuseum is an Amsterdam rite of passage. The Dutch national museum is dedicated to the fine arts and history and is impossible to miss from its perch at the head of the Museumplein. Since its founding 200 years ago, the Rijksmuseum has been a true cultural gem for the city.

Sure, Amsterdam has no shortage of great parks that are perfect for whiling away an afternoon in the sun, but we couldn’t possibly leave out the Westerpark. In addition to its expanses of leafy green space, the Westerpark also has a lively creative and nightlife scene. Pop into the Westergasfabriek to check out indie shops, a cinema, and cool restaurants.

When you hear the word Rijks, your mind likely automatically heads to stunning still lifes & Dutch genre paintings. These days, though, there’s even more to it. Rijks is a wonderful fine dining restaurant at the base of the museum with bright young chef Joris Bijdendijk at the helm. The restaurant focuses on seasonal ingredients & makes heavy use of vegetables from their own garden.

For all of the ‘broodjes’ we eat here in Amsterdam there are surprisingly few really fantastic bakeries. But fear not: there is one that we think may even be better than any Parisian boulangeries. Levain et le vin is a wonderful bakery & wine shop that sells gorgeous loaves of sourdough bread & exciting & unusual natural wines. Did we mention it’s adorable too?

If you like RIJKS you are sure to love Wils*, where you can expect the same attention to detail and fab service. Wils* places an emphasis on the power of fire in cooking, serving either a 4 or 6-course menu as well as offering à la carte. It has become a culinary hotspot, so make sure to book in advance!

With so many people already working remotely & more transitioning to that working from home lifestyle by the day, the work week can get a little monotonous. When boredom strikes (or we desperately need a little human interaction) we like to settle in at VENU for a day or two. It’s the perfect place to collaborate or simply create on your own. At VENU, inspiration is always flowing.

Ever wanted to feel like a local perched in a beautiful home with views of the Amstel? At tHUIS aan de AMSTEL, you can enjoy a great glass of wine in a stunning Dutch home.  

Raymond Plat (you may remember him from 212), Niels Leijssenaar, Roderick Kunst and Willem Alberts have teamed up to create what will surely become an Amsterdam institution on par with Rijsel, De Kas or Buffet van Odette. The menu is a la carte – a bit of a rarity with the city’s best restaurants these days – and focusses on French-ish dishes with a meander into Mediterranean flavours every now and again.