How to Plan an Amsterdam Stopover: Gerrit’s Tips & Picks [Stopover Series]

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If you’re thinking about flying through Amsterdam on your way to or from Germany, consider spending a few days exploring Amsterdam!

A well-planned Amsterdam stopover can be a genuinely fantastic mini-adventure. I recently had a great conversation with my friend and colleague Gerrit, who is the founder of HiddenHolland.com. Gerrit is a private tour guide and also helps travelers make the most of their time in the Netherlands.

In this article, Gerrit shares his insider tips and picks for an amazing Amsterdam stopover.

This article is also available as the Germany Travel Planning podcast episode 46. Use the player below to listen or continue reading the article below. See episode transcript on Apple podcasts.

Quick answer

Our Experience

The recommendations and insights in this article come from a conversation I had with my friend and colleague Gerrit van den Berg, a Dutch native, private tour guide, and founder of HiddenHolland.com. I’ve also visited Amsterdam and other parts of the Netherlands myself many times over the years, visiting neighborhoods, trying the food, and exploring beyond the main tourist spots.

Where Should I Stay in Amsterdam?

The best place to stay depends on what kind of experience you’re after. Here’s how to think about it:

• Near Central Station: the smartest choice if you’re making day trips or want easy tram and metro access. The area around the station is busy, but the convenience is genuinely hard to beat. The Double Tree Hotel right next to Centraal is a solid option that Gerrit recommends to clients who want seamless connections.
• The Canal Belt: the dreamy, postcard-worthy Amsterdam most people picture, with boutique hotels and beautiful scenery around every corner. Transport is a little less convenient here since there’s no tram stop right on the canals, but if soaking up the atmosphere is your goal, it’s worth it.
• The Museum Quarter: ideal if the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are your main focus. Being close means you can duck back to the hotel mid-day when your feet give out, which they will.
• Haarlem: an under-the-radar gem worth considering if you have more time. Just 15 minutes by train, noticeably cheaper than Amsterdam hotels, quieter, and genuinely Dutch in feel.

One area to avoid for sleeping: the Old Town/Red Light District. It’s fascinating to visit (more on that below), but the party crowd runs loud and late, and you won’t thank yourself for booking a hotel there.

I’ve stayed in various neighborhoods in Amsterdam and Haarlem over the years. I loved that Haarlem was less crowded and closer to the beach and Keukenhof (tulips!) but when my sightseeing focus is Amsterdam, I like to stay in the city.

What Should I Eat in Amsterdam?

Dutch food has an undeserved reputation for being bland. Gerrit very much disagrees, and having eaten my way through Amsterdam more than once, I’m right there with him. Here’s what’s worth seeking out:

Classic Dutch Treats to Try

• Stroopwafels: These caramel sandwich cookies have gone global, but you have to try a freshly made Stroopwafel in the Netherlands. You can buy a package in the store to take home but the fresh ones are the best.
• Bitterballs: crispy, fried little balls of meat ragu, perfect with a cold beer. A beloved Dutch snack.
• Dutch pancakes: Savory or sweet, these are a full meal, not a side dish. Ham and cheese is a classic combo; Apple with creme fraiche is excellent and one of my favorites. Find a dedicated pancake restaurant and enjoy dinner and dessert.
• Dutch apple pie: rich, dense, best served warm with whipped cream. Angle 43 is a popular spot for apple pie. When I was there I had to wait in line a while but the pie was worth the wait. Tip: order a fresh mint tea to enjoy with your pie.

Should I Try the Indonesian and Surinamese Food in Amsterdam?

Yes! This is one of Amsterdam’s most underappreciated food stories. Because of the Netherlands’ colonial history, the country has a large Indonesian and Surinamese community, and their food has become deeply woven into Dutch culture.

The must-try experience is rijsttafel, an Indonesian rice table: a spread of small dishes you share with your group, great for trying lots of different flavors at once. It’s interactive, social, and genuinely hard to find this well-executed anywhere else in the world. If you want something more traditionally Dutch, The Pantry is Gerrit’s recommendation for classic dishes like stamppot.

One quick tip on finding good restaurants: use Google Maps via TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor skews heavily toward tourist opinions; Google Maps is where locals actually leave reviews. Look for Dutch names in the review section, or reviews translated from Dutch, as a sign that real locals eat there. And if you’re craving fries, skip the TikTok-famous Manneken Pis stand right outside Centraal Station and walk a little further into the city to Vlaming’s instead.

What Should I See in Amsterdam?

Gerrit’s recommendation: don’t feel obligated to do stuff just because everyone else does it. Start by thinking about who you are and what you actually enjoy, and go from there. That said, here are 3 of Gerrit’s recommendations:

• Rijksmuseum: the essential starting point for almost everyone. Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Vermeer, a bit of Van Gogh, and a lot more. Book ahead.
• Van Gogh Museum: typically sells out 3 to 4 weeks in advance. If it’s on your list, don’t leave it to chance.
• Anne Frank House: this one opens tickets about two months out and they disappear quickly.

I second these recommendations!

Beyond the big 3, Gerrit’s personal favorites tend to be smaller and less crowded. He specifically recommends the canal houses history museum, which is an interactive space built inside a beautifully restored canal home that tells Amsterdam’s story through its architecture. Everyone he sends there loves it.

Canal tours are also worth doing, just book with a smaller boat operator so you can actually get into the narrow canals where the most beautiful spots are. I did a private canal tour once when I was in the Netherlands for work and it was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Is the Red Light District Worth Visiting in Amsterdam?

It’s one of the most common questions about Amsterdam, and Gerrit’s honest answer is: yes, at least go and have a look. It’s not just a tourist attraction. The Red Light District has existed in essentially the same streets since the 1600s and is a genuinely complex, culturally significant part of the city.

The Dutch approach is pragmatic and regulation-focused, meaning workers there have legal protections, healthcare access, and operate as legitimate businesses. The Red Light District is complicated, and Gerrit doesn’t pretend otherwise. But it’s a part of the city with real cultural depth.

Practical Tips If You Go to the Red Light District

• Daytime visits are calm and perfectly safe. There are even daycare centers in the neighborhood.
• If you want to see it in the evening (the lights are atmospheric), go on a weekday. Weekends bring rowdy stag parties from the UK, and it gets genuinely unpleasant.
• Never photograph the windows. It’s illegal and you can be found by police. Workers have security staff who will grab your phone if they catch you. So just don’t.
• Guided tours are available, sometimes led by former sex workers, which offer a genuinely fascinating and challenging perspective on the area.

And if you’d prefer to skip it entirely? That’s completely fine too. The district is geographically separate from the rest of the sightseeing areas. Turn right out of Centraal Station towards the canals, or go straight towards the main tourist area, and you won’t encounter it at all.

What Are the Best Day Trips from Amsterdam?

The Dutch train system is exceptional, and getting out of Amsterdam for a day is easier than most people expect. Gerrit’s rule of thumb: if you have three days, use one of them to get out of the city. Here are 3 easy towns to visit on a day trip from Amsterdam.

• Haarlem: charming, very Dutch, close to the beach. If you go, make a point of finding The Greenhouse, a restaurant built on top of a 1970s parking garage with a panoramic view of the old town, the cathedral, the beaches, and the dunes. It’s exactly the kind of place you’d never find without a tip.
• Utrecht: a lovely canal city with a very different feel from Amsterdam. Worth a half or full day.
• Delft: quieter, historic, famous for its blue-and-white pottery and a great choice if you want something more low-key.

A few additional ideas: Keukenhof during tulip season, Leiden, the Hague, Zandwoort (beach), Zaanse Schans (windmills), the water towns of Edam, Vollendam, and Marken. I’ve enjoyed all of those! If you’d like to get more off the beaten path, hire Gerrit as your private tour guide – he’d love to show you Hidden Holland!

Amsterdam Stopover FAQ

Is Amsterdam worth a stopover?

Yes, even 2 or 3 days in Amsterdam is enough to experience the canals, world-class museums, and unique food scene. The city is compact and walkable, and the Dutch train system makes it easy to add a day trip to nearby towns like Haarlem or Delft. A well-planned stopover can feel like a complete mini-trip and is easy to add on to your Germany trip if you fly in or out of Amsterdam like many of our clients do.

How far in advance should I book Amsterdam museums?

The Van Gogh Museum typically sells out 3 to 4 weeks in advance, and the Anne Frank House opens tickets about two months out and fills up quickly. The Rijksmuseum is easier to get into but still worth booking ahead. Don’t leave any of these to chance. The days of getting tickets after you’ve arrived in Amsterdam are long gone, unfortunately!

Is the Red Light District safe to visit?

Yes, the Red Light District is safe to visit, especially during the day. If you go in the evening, visit on a weekday rather than a weekend when rowdy crowds make it less pleasant. Never photograph the windows, as it is illegal and workers have security staff on site.

Do I need a car to get around the Netherlands?

No, the Dutch train system is excellent and connects Amsterdam to most major towns and cities within an hour. Day trips to Haarlem, Utrecht, Delft, and many other destinations are easy and affordable by train. A car is only useful if you want to explore rural areas or small villages off the beaten path.