Amsterdam

Pamper

ARIANE INDEN

Utrechtsestraat 127 / 422 0426 / www.arianeinden.com

Ariane Inden´s skincare and cosmetic products couldn´t be more Dutch – they´re natural, hypoallergenic, and produced without animal testing – and her unisex day spas are equally as earthy. We suggest an energising gentlemen´s treatment for him and a rejuvenating body wrap, peel and massage for her.

Museums & Galleries

OUDE KERK

Oudekerksplein / 65 82 84 / www.oudekerk.nl

Home to the Netherlands´ finest 47-bell carillon and a beautiful vaulted Gothic ceiling, this 1930 stone church is Amsterdam´s oldest. Dedicated to St Nicholas (the protector of sailors and merchants), the Oude Kerk hosts the excellent World Press Photo exhibition and fabulous art shows.

REMBRANDTHUIS

Jodenbreestraat 4 / 520 04 00 / www.rembrandthuis.nl

This elegant 17th-Century building was Rembrandt´s home from 1639 for almost 20 years, and his light-filled studio appears just as he might have left it. The artist painted many of his masterpieces here, including The Night Watch, in addition to pioneering etching techniques, of which a collection is on display.

RIJKSMUSEUM

Jan Luijkenstraat 1 / 674 70 47 / www.rijksmuseum.nl

The Netherlands´ most important museum, the majestic Rijksmuseum is home to more than a million works of art, including the finest collection of Dutch painting. Don´t miss Rembrandt´s The Night Watch and Vermeer´s Kitchen Maid.

VAN GOGH MUSEUM

Paulus Potterstraat 7 / 570 52 00 / www.vangoghmuseum.nl

Over 200 paintings and 500 drawings by Vincent Van Gogh are displayed here, the largest collection of his work in the world. There´s also a beautiful collection of Japanese prints belonging to Vincent and his brother Theo, some 800 of their letters, Vincent´s sketchbooks, and work he admired by contemporaries such a Paul Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. A must for anyone even remotely interested in Van Gogh.

Views, walks & parks

BLIJBURG

During the balmy summer, Amsterdam´s hipsters head to the sandy beach at Blijburg, one of Ijburg´s islands. They cool down at laidback beach bar Blijburg An Zee (416 03 30 / www.blijburg.nl), which rocks on weekends when DJs and bands perform.

SOUTHERN CANAL BELT

Get off the tourist trail and explore this attractive, easygoing neighbourhood in the late afternoon when the children are home from school and playing ball on the Amstelveld and friends are picnicking on their front stairs. Start at Leidsegracht and follow Prinsengracht down to Utrechtsestraat and then hit the friendly local pubs.

VONDELPARK

Amsterdam´s Hyde Park, Vondelpark is the perfect place for a picnic and a spot of people watching. Summer weekends there are free concerts and evening open-air film screenings.