15 Romantic Things to Do in Amsterdam for an Unforgettable Date
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Romantic things to do in Amsterdam, where a coffee shop isn’t necessarily a place to get coffee? No way.
Amsterdam is often known–rather against its will!–as either a major party destination or a stodgy historic city and, therefore may not be the first to come to mind when you’re planning a romantic getaway.
Plot twist: the capital city of the Netherlands has so much romance to it if you know where to look!
Anything from high-end edgy escapades to idle strolls alongside picturesque canals is available to you here; there’s something for every romantic taste. An Amsterdam couples holiday is absolutely possible, and we’ve got more suggestions than you could have imagined.
Romantic things to do in Amsterdam
Stroll by the canals
Amsterdam’s iconic canals and canal houses date back centuries, and they’re a timeless symbol of the city itself.
If you find the right canal, a hand-in-hand stroll can be terribly romantic–head away from Amsterdam Centraal and venture towards Prinsengracht, for example, for a chance to enjoy a somewhat quieter ramble away from the usual crowds in the city center, while still being able to view lovely old canal homes.
Brouwersgracht is another canal with huge romantic potential. It’s strung with several flower-adorned bridges and lined with leafy trees and lots of picturesque houseboats.
Once the street where plenty of prosperous Dutch merchants lived, the houses of Brouwersgracht are stately and attractive and offer lots of scope for daydreaming while you roam. Canals can be some of the most romantic spots in Amsterdam–don’t count them out.
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See the view from the A’DAM LOOKOUT
Once you’re done with your wandering through cobbles and canals, pivot to the modern age at the A’dam Lookout on Overhoeksplein.
This is the highest point in Amsterdam, so the views here are quite literally unparalleled–at night, the twinkling lights of the city spread out under your feet like a romantic carpet of stars.
Brave couples will hop into the Over the Edge swing and hold hands as they dangle 100 meters over Amsterdam… and then maybe settle their nerves afterward with drinks at Ma’dam Skybar.
Explore Jordaan
Trendy Jordaan was once a working-class neighborhood, but now it is known for shopping, music, and the arts. Here, the streets are narrow, the tiny canals plentiful, the markets quirky, and the charm off the charts.
Jordaan is packed with delicious little foodie haunts, so this is where you go to hold hands and swap kisses over brunch. Then you can explore the streets and, if you’re lucky, find one of Jordaan’s vanishingly rare courtyard gardens, or hofjes.
These tiny gems are lovely little oases of calm in a busy city, and there aren’t many left that are open to the public, so it’s a real treat when you stumble across one of these romantic places in Amsterdam.
Visit the Hortus Botanicus
Why give flowers to a loved one when you can admire over 6,000 species of living plants with them?
Amsterdam’s Hortus Botanicus started its life in the 17th century as a medicinal garden, but today, it’s bursting with all kinds of plants, both typical and unusual. It’s a beautiful nature retreat nestled into a pocket of rare Amsterdam green space, a perfect place to visit for botanic-minded romantics.
The glasshouses, café, and narrow leafy paths make for a dreamy little escape from the city; an ideal itinerary stop on an Amsterdam couples holiday.
An early summertime visit here is best when the flowers are blooming and the trees are draped in festoons of their own greenery.
Dine on a terrace
The most Dutch thing anyone can do is have a coffee or a meal on a terrace. Any time the weather is nice (and quite often when it’s not), you’ll see outdoor café tables packed with people enjoying fresh air and delicious food.
As far as couples things to do in Amsterdam, this is an easy and fun activity!
Amsterdam has plenty of cafés and restaurants with terraces to choose from, of course–the most romantic option of course will be one on a canal, so you can watch the boats go by while you dine.
Have a drink on a rooftop bar
Finished with your terrace dinner? Time to get your feet back off the ground and head upwards: Amsterdam boasts a number of rooftop bars offering refreshing cocktails and stunning views.
One newer one is LuminAir at the Doubletree by Hilton–the interior area is designed to reflect the sky outdoors, while their signature cocktail menu includes drinks inspired by the different intensities of visible light.
No matter which rooftop you choose, relax into couch cushions with a sophisticated beverage or two and cuddle like the lovebirds you are while admiring your birds-eye view of Amsterdam’s canals and churches.
Rent a canal boat
You can’t miss out on a romantic canal boat tour of Amsterdam. On a sunny summer day, a leisurely sail through the city is peak romance. Pack a bag with snacks and cool drinks, and hop aboard for the ultimate Amsterdam couples holiday experience.
And you have options! You can fulfill your captain fantasies by renting a boat to steer yourself or leave the cruise in the hands of a capable skipper so that you can get snuggly with your paramour.
Visit de Poezenboot
Are you a boat and cat-loving couple? Rejoice–you can visit sweet rescue kitties at de Poezenboot, a floating cat sanctuary on the Singel in Amsterdam. What’s more romantic than booping a few feline snoots on a boat together?
Many of the cats of de Poezenboot are available for adoption if you live in the Netherlands, or you can donate funds to help the rescue continue to care for their floating furry friends. Animal-loving romantics will be in absolute heaven here!
Relax in Vondelpark
The weather in the Netherlands can be a little unpredictable sometimes, so when there’s a nice day happening, you’ll find couples canoodling in parks all over the country.
In the capital, the Vondelpark is the biggest and best-known park and one of the most perfect romantic places in Amsterdam.
If you love riding a bike, rent one or two and spend some time cycling through the winding paths. Then, lay down a blanket and read or picnic alongside the park’s meandering lake. It’s a beautiful way to while away a few loving hours.
Attend a cooking class
They do say that the way to someone’s heart is through the stomach, so why not put that adage to the test and take a cooking class together?
From traditional Dutch treats like pannekoeken to non-Dutch offerings like sushi workshops, there’s something for every taste and skill level in Amsterdam.
And if you’d rather not do the cooking, you can always take a food tour like this one through Jordaan and enjoy lots of tasty bites and a culinary education.
Enjoy a bike ride
The very most Dutch thing you can do in the Netherlands is to ride a bike everywhere–wherever you look in Amsterdam, you’ll see dozens of bikes tethered to bridges, parked outside of restaurants, and zooming along the city’s many bike paths.
There are two ways you can cycle like a Dutch couple: rent one bike and have your sweetie perched on the back rack while you pedal, or rent two bikes and cycle side by side, hands on each other’s shoulders.
But you may feel safest simply riding without contact, and that’s fine, too!
Buy flowers at Bloemenmarkt
What isn’t romantic about a floating flower market? The Bloemenmarkt is unique not only in the Netherlands but in Europe and even the world for being the only flower market made of a series of barges.
Spend a fragrant, colorful afternoon wandering through the perfumed air of the barges, picking up pretty wooden tulip souvenirs and tasting Dutch cheeses.
Spend the night in a houseboat
During one of your bike rides or couples walks through Amsterdam, you’ll notice the fleets of houseboats moored along the canals, and you may wonder, “Can we spend the night on one?”
You can indeed! There are several houseboat rental services, and all kinds of boats are available. Some can be simple and minimalistic, while others promise a plush, super romantic experience.
Whatever you choose, all of these boats have interesting histories and are often moored in areas that make it easy to reach many of Amsterdam’s top attractions.
Visit the art museums
From Rembrandt to Mondrian to Van Gogh, the Netherlands is known for its artists, and Amsterdam celebrates them in many a museum. Culturehound couples can spend several blissful days visiting all manner of art museums around Amsterdam.
The Rijksmuseum, of course, is the main museum in the city, but you mustn’t miss out on gems like the MoCo Museum, the NXT Tech Art Museum, and the Rembrandthuis.
Have a picnic
The Dutch value their outdoor time, so picnicking is a popular activity here.
Amsterdam manages to cram a surprising number of green spaces and parks into the nooks and crannies of their crowded city, so couples looking to spend some time on a blanket with some wine and cheese really do have their pick of places to go.
Many grocery stores have sections for “tapas” where you can buy finger foods like salmon rolls, deviled eggs, olives and cubes of delicious Dutch cheese, so just grab a cute reusable shopping bag, fill it with tasty treats, and hit the park of your choice for a few hours of picnicker’s bliss.
Final Thoughts: Couples things to do in Amsterdam
From museums to cats on a boat to high-flying swings over the city, there really is no shortage of romantic things to do in Amsterdam. Book yourself a long weekend away and get ready to immerse yourself in couples’ bliss–Amsterdam awaits!
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