Free things to do in Amsterdam

- Amsterdam -

17 X free things to do in Amsterdam that are actually fun

4 January 2019

free things in Amsterdam you want to see or do

In Amsterdam, there are plenty of things to do for free. Perfect for whatever reason you have not to spend money and to enjoy the city anyway! And trust us that Amsterdam is cool, even without spending anything. We made a list with the 17 X the nicest free things to do in Amsterdam so that you won’t get bored when your budget is low. Completely free! Perfect for the visitors of our beautiful city but also for the locals. Get to know the city even better and check our list with our favourite free things to do in Amsterdam!

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17 X free things to do IN AMSTERDAM

City Walking Routes

Feel like stretching your legs with a nice stroll through the city? We’ve mapped out several enjoyable routes for you, taking you along Amsterdam classics and perhaps uncovering new spots.
Route though Amsterdam Jordaan / Westerpark
Route though Amsterdam-North
Route though Amsterdam-East / Centrum East

FUN PLAYGROUNDS IN AMSTERDAM

On a dry day, enjoy a visit to the playground with the kids. In Amsterdam, there are plenty of fun playgrounds to explore that are free to visit. Discover our list of the 4 X coolest playgrounds in Amsterdam-Centrum and the Jordaan >> 

Animal/ petting FARMS

Did you know that there are as many as 18 children’s city farms in Amsterdam? Fun to visit with the kids. Some animal farms have special feeding times when the little ones can feed the animals. For example, at the Goat Farm in the Amsterdamse Bos, you can get bottles of milk to give to the goats.

Het Begijnhof

This court is hidden behind a door at the busy Spui in the centre of Amsterdam. Once you enter, it feels like you are in a completely different world. The courtyard is so peaceful and beautiful! While you’re standing there, you wouldn’t think this place is so old, but it’s actually been there since the fourteenth century! Religious women used to live in this courtyard. Now it’s a perfect spot to escape from the busy city centre.

NEMO ROOFTOP TERRACE

On sunny days, you can make the most of the sun on the rooftop terrace of NEMO. Accessible for free via the 120 steps on the rooftop. So, pack your sunscreen and enjoy the sun and the view on the NEMO rooftop terrace.

More fun things to do in Amsterdam that are free

Musea

Amsterdam has a lot of museums and yes, a few of them are for free! Close to the Begijnhof you can find the Schuttersgalerij which is part of the Amsterdam Museum. Impressive portraits of the Dutch nobility can be seen here. Are you curious about the treasures of Amsterdam? The Stadsarchief van Amsterdam gives free access to the treasure room! So, no need to buy expensive tickets if it’s for free! |Tip: With a museum card, you get access to over 500 museums throughout the Netherlands. A great ‘investment’ to then be able to go to museums ‘for free’ for a whole year.

Take the Ferry

Another great trip is to take the ferry to Amsterdam North. During this trip on the water, it’s so nice to see the view across the IJ and to get some fresh air! Take the ferry to the NDSM wharf to see street art on the industrial walls of the warehouses.  Afterwards shop at one of the cool addresses like Blom & Blom and Neef Louis, or have a drink and a bite at Pllek, Cafe de Ceuvel.

Churches

Maybe not so trendy, but Amsterdam has beautiful churches that are definitely worth a visit! A lot of churches are used for exhibitions, like the Old- and New Church. Do you want to visit a church that still performs services? The Noorderkerk and the Westerkerk in the Jordaan are accessible.

Markets

Nothing more enjoyable than strolling through the market! In addition to the many(food) markets held in Amsterdam, there are a few classics that locals love to visit. Curious about which markets you can explore? Check out our lists of the best weekend markets, flea markets, and organic markets in Amsterdam.

More free things to do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam festivals

Every year there are plenty of free festivals and events in Amsterdam. These festivals are, for example, the Amsterdam Light Festival, Kingsday, Gay Pride, Uitmarkt, Open Monumentendag, Grachtenfestival, and the Vondelpark concerts.

The smallest house

In Amsterdam, you can find the smallest house in the world. It’s only 1 meter, and you can find it on Singel 7 in the centre of Amsterdam. And actually it’s not the complete house, but the façade that’s so small. But still. You can also find the smallest house of Europe in our city. A 2 by 6 meter place on the Oude Hoogstraat 22, which is now open as a tea and ceramics boutique shop. Nice to see, nice to visit, and all for free!

Street art

Are you also a fan of street art? It’s always exciting to spot new, cool artworks, and in Amsterdam, there’s plenty to see. We’ve mapped out the coolest street art routes for you, from North to South, in the  JordaanSpuistraatWijdesteeg and the city center.

Spotting artworks by StreetArt Franky

In addition to the many pieces of street art in Amsterdam, you can also spot the artworks of StreetArt Franky. The artist is known for his humorous street art, each telling its own story. Every week, new artworks can be discovered in the most unexpected places throughout the city.

More fun things to do in Amsterdam that are free to do

Parks

What obviously can’t miss on this list are the great parks in Amsterdam. During the summer, it’s ideal to have a picnic or barbecue in the park or to go for a walk or run. For the locals, the parks are the ideal place to get some fresh air. A thing that makes me very happy is the green parrots at Vondelpark! One day they escaped from the zoo and made the Vondelpark their new home. Other great parks are the Westerpark, Amstelpark, Oosterpark, and Sarphatipark.

Walking and cylcing

The best way to explore the city is by bike or by foot. After living here for several years, I still spot new cool place while riding my bike or by taking side roads while waking. There is so much to discover in the small streets of the Jordaan for example! Take a walk through the Jordaan and visit all the hidden courtyards. Cycle through one of the parks in Amsterdam or walk past the beautiful canals.

Movie nights

During the summer, open-air movie nights are organized at various locations throughout the city. Curious where you can enjoy a film? Keep an eye on the open-air cinemas in the summer. For most movie nights, you don’t need to bring anything except a chair!

Vondelpark open air theater

It’s the same for the open air theatre in the Vondelpark. From May till September the theatre is open and that means you can visit music concerts, theatre performances, readings and even cabaret performances for free.

There are so many free things to do in Amsterdam. Try them all!

Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
MOCO Museum for street art
Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
Red Light District tour
Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn

| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>

Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.

More hotspots in Amsterdam

Let’s get social

I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.

Follow @yourlbb on Instagram

| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>

 

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@YOURLBB

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