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Best Free Things to Do
- Sail the IJ Ferry: The short ferryboat ride across the IJ channel between Centraal Station and Amsterdam-Noord (North) is a great little cruise and provides a good view of the harbor. Only the shortest routes are free; the others cost little more than a song.
- View Golden Age Paintings: Usually it costs a bundle to see paintings from the Old Masters period of Dutch art. An exception is the multiple images of Civic Guards companies hanging in the Schuttersgalerij of the Amsterdams Historisch Museum.
- Visit the Begijnhof: There's a price to pay for stepping into the cloistered community that for centuries has been a residence for women of "sound character." You need to be tolerably quiet and comport yourself with dignity -- or you'll get tossed out by the guards.
- Visit the Flower Market: The vast array of flowers and potted plants in their "floating" home on the Singel canal comprises the city's largest and most colorful plant assortment. The flowers, however, are not free.
- Take in a Lunchtime Rehearsal Concert: If you can live with the occasional duff note and a program that doesn't always follow the script, treat your ears to classical music from 12:30 to 1pm at the Muziektheater (Tues) and the Concertgebouw (Wed), every week from October to June.
- Remember that the best and cheapest way to see Amsterdam is by wandering its streets and canals. You really can't get lost -- if you're unsure where you are, just ask a passerby for directions (in English) or board any tram marked CENTRAAL STATION to return to the center city.
- Take advantage of the free admission to Vondelpark, 48 hectares (120 acres) of trees, ponds, flower beds, and picnic grounds. In summer, concerts and all kinds of open-air activities take place.
- For a free panoramic view of Amsterdam, take the elevator to the top of the Okura Hotel, Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, in Amsterdam South; or walk up to the rooftop terrace of the NEMO Science Center, just east of Centraal Station.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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