Royal Palace Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis) Tickets

The National Museum of the Netherlands, or the Rijksmuseum, has been housed on this location since 1885. It recently underwent a ten-year, €375 million renovation. The Rijksmuseum has over 5,000 paintings (including Rembrandt's Night Watch) and has an emphasis on the Dutch Golden Age. But it's not just paintings – there are sculptures, antiques, collections of clothing and weapons, and one of the finest actively-used libraries you'll ever see. The Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers designed this elegant building, and even put himself in the design as one of the statues on the roof.

The Van Gogh Museum displays over 200 of Vincent van Gogh's works, including landscapes, still lifes and drawings, and letters. By displaying them alongside works from Van Gogh's contemporaries, viewers get real insights into his life and work. The museum itself is comprised of two buildings. The main building, designed by Gerrit Rietveld, Joan van Dillen, and J. van Tricht, opened in 1973. The second building, designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa was added in 1999. Located in Amsterdam's Museumplein (along with the Stedelijk and Rijksmuseum), the Van Gogh Museum is one of the most-visited museums in the Netherlands.

The Heineken Experience is located in the original Heineken Brewery. Gerard Adriaan Heineken bought this building back in 1863 when it was the De Hooiberg brewery. He then turned it towards the production of his eponymous beer. The building remained a brewery all the way up to 1988. It was then that it became a museum (and hotspot for Heineken consumption). Located in the vibrant neighborhood of De Pijp, the Heineken Experience is ideally situated for a canal cruise, and some city exploration that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of Dam Square. Since 2001, it's been the world-famous Heineken Experience. After a year-long update and redesign in 2008, the Heineken Experience is more Heineken-y and Experience-y than ever before.

There's history in the walls and on the walls. The house itself dates to the Dutch Golden Age of the 1600s, and was situated in one of Amsterdam's most prestigious areas. Rembrandt lived there for almost 20 years once he had established himself as Europe’s most innovative painter. His art hangs on the walls too. You’ll find an extensive collection of his etchings, and the house has also been restored to reflect how it would have looked when Rembrandt lived there.

The Modern Contemporary (Moco) Museum Amsterdam is housed inside Villa Alsberg, a 1904 townhouse in the middle of Amsterdam Museumplein. High-profile guest curators and exhibitions highlight some of the modern world's best contributors to the art world. Eduard Cuypers, cousin of Rijksmuseum designer Pierre Cuypers, designed the townhouse, making it a sight to see in itself. But the work inside is absolutely phenomenal; two current attractions showcase the work of street art activist Banksy, and pop artist extraordinaire, Andy Warhol.

The main purpose of ARTIS, the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, is to stimulate the care and love for nature. There are 27 historical buildings in the 140,000 m2 of the park. It's tucked away in a leafy green part of the city (the 'Plantage' District), and is a lovely place for nature lovers.