Looking for some lesser known things to do whilst on holiday in Amsterdam?

Holland lifts quarantine / luxury travel news / Amsterdam

In light of the exciting news this morning that Holland is lifting its quarantine restrictions for UK holidayers and travellers from 22nd September, we have put together a round up of undiscovered things to do in and around the Dutch capital.

Keen city breakers can now book a magical trip to Amsterdam, perhaps a family getaway for October half term, a romantic, autumn weekend away or a festive escape this Christmas.

Below is some information on undiscovered things to do in and around the Dutch capital. Including visiting the world’s second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings at the Kroller Muller Museum (day trip outside of Amsterdam), seeing a clandestine Catholic church in an attic of a town house. And experiencing a truly Dutch market at the Albert Cuyp Market. Alongside information on one of the chicest places to stay in the city – The Dylan Amsterdam

The Dylan, Amsterdam

What’s so special about the hotel?

Unbeatable location in the heart of the “nine-streets” shopping area on the prestigious “Keizersgracht” canal
Interior design that marries old world charm with a contemporary flair
Offers guests exceptional fine dining at their Michelin starred restaurant Viinkeles, located in a former 18thC bakery, alongside more casual brasserie style fare at their OCCO restaurant (popular with locals)
The hotel sits on the remains of Amsterdam’s first theatre, built in 1632 by architect Jacob van Campen. Many well-known guests (royalty and stars) visited the theatre in those years including the Prince of Orange, the Russian Tsar and the Elector of Brandenburg

Lesser-known things to do in Amsterdam/the surrounding area:

Admire a clandestine, 17th Century Catholic Church hidden in the attic of a canal town house, at the Lord of the Attic Musuem. The attic of this bourgeois house conceals a secret Catholic church, originally built in 1663, when Catholics lost their right to worship in their own way

Take a trip to the Farmer’s Market at Noordermarkt, close to the hotel, which is emblematic of quintessential Amsterdam life

Step into the former, canal-side residence of the aristocratic Van Loon family to understand how the Dutch nobility (or ‘Merchant Princes’) lived in Amsterdam in the 18th and 19th Century. The Van Loon family co-founded the Dutch East India Company and were ennobled by King William I – they turned their home (which was first built in 1672) into a museum in 1973, called Musuem Van Loon, so visitors can better understand the privileged life of affluent Dutch merchants during the Golden Age

Sometimes the best sights are hidden down a side street. Such is the case for the ‘Zevenlandenhuizen’, the Houses of Seven Countries. Architecture lovers should visit this row of 19th century houses in the elegant Zuid neighbourhood, just off the Museumplein. Built by architect Tjeerd Kuipers in 1894, each of the seven houses represents a different European country

Visit Wynand Fockink, a 17th Century tasting room filled with Dutch Gin and other liqueurs

Indulge your sweet tooth at Van Stapele, a tiny cookie shop much loved by the locals (except to queue a little, it’s that popular!) that sells only one type of cookie (dark chocolate cookie filled with gooey white chocolate)

Take a quick and easy day trip to the charming, and very chic town of Loenen aan de Vecht

Another day trip would be to admire the world’s second largest collection of Van Gogh artwork at the Kroller Muller Museum, nestled in the heart of De Hoge Veluwe National Park

Go on a hiking day trip in the Dutch Dunes, enjoying the ocean views and beautiful wildlife (a third of Holland lies below sea level). This exceptional environment between the flat inland expanses and the North Sea can provide a multitude of experiences for visitors– from a tranquil hike admiring wildflowers and rare wildlife through sheltered inlets to conquering windswept hilltops that offer amazing views over the coastline. Stretching from Zandvoort to IJmuiden in the north, the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park is a vast area that will delight any explorer. It’s home to an array of colourful wildlife, including more than a hundred species of bird, as well as deer and rabbits and even Highland cattle and European bison. Open from sunrise to sunset, the dunes offer walking and cycling routes, forested areas, lakes and ponds, and sandy beaches