Adventure Amsterdam: Local secrets for your perfect weekend getaway

Sandra Juutilainen, Ops Flow Supervisor at Finnair, has spent seven years of her life living in the Netherlands at different stages of her life – it truly feels like a second home to her. Even though she hasn’t lived in Amsterdam, but in another city 30 kilometres away, she knows Amsterdam like the back of her hand, as she’s wandered its streets so many times she’s lost count.

Maurice Baars, Technical Operations Duty Manager at Finnair, originally comes from the Netherlands. He spent his youth living close to Delft, which is a beautiful, small old town. When he turned 18, he moved close to Maastricht. Maurice hasn’t lived in Amsterdam either but has visited there a lot and knows the city well. For the past 20 years, he’s lived and worked in Finland.

Areas to visit – bohemian vibes, morning jogs and museums

Stay at the Oud-Zuid. When you visit a new city, it can be a little bit puzzling to choose where to stay. When travelling to Amsterdam, Sandra always chooses her accommodation in the Oud-Zuid area and the neighborhood of Museumplein, which is slightly out of the busiest tourist spots and streets. In this area, you’ll find plenty of intriguing museums, such as the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Moco Museum and the Concertgebouw Concert Hall – all worth a visit according to Sandra!

Fall in love with De Pijp. Sandra’s absolute favourite neighbourhood in Amsterdam, De Pijp, is filled with relaxed cafes and restaurants. She describes the area as “calm yet bohemian and playful at the same time”, a very authentic part of the city. Even though this neighbourhood has a residential feel to it, you’ll be sure to enjoy a vivid mix of cultures, a variety of charming boutiques as well as some lush greenery.

Stop by the Albert Cuyp markt. Located in the De Pijp area, the Albert Cuyp markt has been welcoming visitors since 1905. With its 260 market stalls, it’s the biggest street market of Europe, offering a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, clothes, accessories, and – of course – food. Maurice recommends getting yourself a hot stroopwafel (syrup waffle), or a kibbeling or lekkerbek if you like fish.

Get some fresh air at Vondelpark. In case you’re looking for a perfect spot for your morning run or you just enjoy a little outdoor activity during your trip, both Sandra and Maurice recommend you to go to Vondelpark. This charming park is located right next to the Museumplein area and is also close to Leidseplein where you can get your morning coffee.

Things to do – city views from different perspectives and cultural delights

Discover Amsterdam from unique perspectives. Take a boat tour through the canals and enjoy the city’s quaint views with a 1-hour canal cruise. Maurice tips to get the audio tour from Lovers Canal Cruise to better spot the city’s iconic landmarks and learn about its history. Another exceptional way to see the city is the A’DAM Lookout, an observation deck that offers 360-degree views over the city. For an added adrenalin rush, Maurice dares you to hop on the Over The Edge lookout swing.

Satisfy your cultural appetite. Even though Amsterdam might be known for its liberal and somewhat free-spirited culture, at the same time, the city is filled with historical heritage and centuries-old charm. History enthusiasts will find plenty to do, but if you’re not sure where to begin, Maurice recommends you to at least pay a visit to Anne Frank House, go see Rembrandt’s world-famous painting The Night Watch (De Nachtwacht, 1642) in the Rijksmuseum, and walk by De Begijnhof, a former religious women’s community dating back to the 15th century.

Wander along the shopping streets. For those who love shopping, Sandra recommends heading to the bustling shopping street of Kalverstraat, which is filled with boutiques, shoe shops, larger department stores, and special gift and souvenir shops. Looking for some international luxury brand stores? Go to P.C. Hooftstraat, named after a famous Dutch poet, historian and playwright Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft.

Foods to try – from sweet treats to Indonesian delicacies

Try the local sweet delicacies. Sandra’s favourites include the small mini Dutch pancakes called poffertjes. Served with a little bit of butter and powdered sugar, nothing else is needed to be Heerlijk! (Delicious!). In addition, according to Maurice, tasting the famous Dutch appeltaart, homemade apple pie is a must. Sit back and relax on the terrace of Winkel 43 and order a slice.

Get something quick and easy. Sandra’s other must-try is Vlaamse patatjes, thick fries, which are usually served with mayonnaise or satay sauce. Even though the dish originally comes from neighbouring Belgium, she promises it’ll blow your mind. Maurice’s go-to is finding a FEBO snackbar vending machine from which you should order a “kroket from the wall”, a traditional Dutch croquette, which is a deep-fried snack with a creamy meat ragout inside, or a Bami schijf, deep fried noodles. Definitely an iconic way to get a quick bite!

Feast on local Indonesian food. Both Maurice and Sandra recommend going for some Indonesian treats when in Amsterdam. Once a Dutch colony, there’s a strong Indonesian cultural influence in the Netherlands still today. Sandra’s favourite is Rijsttafel, which translates to "rice table", a banquet-style meal consisting of small portions of various Indonesian dishes, all served with, of course, rice. Also Maurice enjoys the rijsttafel, and along with that recommends chicken satay, rendang and gado gado from Max Restaurant.

Experience the local drink heritage. If breweries interest you, don’t miss out on the Heineken Experience in Heineken’s oldest brewery. Learn about the brewing process and story behind the world-famous beer – and end your tour on the roof terrace with some stunning views. Alternatively, if you prefer cocktails, the House of Bols offers you a similar opportunity to learn everything about the world’s first cocktail brand established in 1575, as well as to make your perfect cocktail in six steps.

Take a seat and have a drink. Finally, Maurice recommends a few different spots to take a break from sightseeing and take in the surrounding atmosphere. In the LuminAir sky lounge you can enjoy both a drink and the sunset, as the sky bar is located on the top of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel. Or, if you prefer to step back in time, try the 400-year-old Café De Druif, or Café 't Aepjen located in a 500-year-old wooden house. Lastly, if you enjoy lively areas, head to the buzzling Leidseplein, full of street performers and restaurants.

Already planning your Amsterdam getaway? Finnair flies from Helsinki to Amsterdam twice a day throughout the year.