Cycling
In Amsterdam, I’m part of a cycling club called Lyka and regularly attend MAAP’s Sunday rides. If you’re a cyclist, there are plenty of options in the Netherlands. It’s easy to access the countryside, and it’s the best way to explore nature quickly. Both groups I mentioned accept visitors, so check them out even if you’re only in the Netherlands for the short term.
All captured on 35mm film
Amsterdam → Utrecht round trip (60 miles)
This is hands down the most stunning ride I’ve ever done. You get a picturesque mix of countryside canals, historic estates, quaint towns, and open farmland. Utrecht feels like a mini Amsterdam—a vibrant city filled with fantastic cafes, breweries, and restaurants for a mid-ride refueling stop. I highly recommend pulling over at Oedipus Brewery for a beer. If you prefer a one-way trip (30 miles), you can easily catch the train back to Amsterdam; the main station is just a short walk from downtown.
Follow me on Strava “Emma Kistler” for more routes!
Wine: my hobby turned side hustle
I moved to Amsterdam for a private equity job and ended up spending my summer working in a wine shop. Although I’m back on the corporate grind full-time, I still spend weekends working at Chenin Chenin, a natural wine shop tucked into the lower Jordaan. I love it so much—and yes, I opt to get paid in wine.
Favorite sips of the summer:
All white & orange options. Bottom right was my favorite by far.
Dinner & Bars
La Dilettante Wine Bar: A quintessential European spot with cozy, warm wooden interiors and a fantastic, natural-wine-focused menu. Their whipped feta small plate is next level (pictured below).
Sinck: One of the standout restaurants in Amsterdam. It has an amazing interior vibe, with the option to sit outside for a drink right on the Prinsengracht, one of the city’s most picturesque canals. It’s on the higher end for Amsterdam, so dress up a little!
Restaurant Barracuda: Let me take you on a journey to Amsterdam Noord! Barracuda serves up the absolute best seafood I’ve had in the city. Housed in a massive, industrial warehouse, it’s a spot where you throw on a bib and dive right into heaps of shrimp, oysters, lobster, and more. Super casual and perfect for large groups.
Pazzi Pizza: A local chain scattered across the city with a delicious prosciutto pie. I love grabbing one to go and hanging out in the park :)
Zuiver Wine Bar: A brand-new, standout wine bar in town. While the location is a bit out of the way near Central Station, sitting inside, chatting with the bartenders, and ordering tinned fish and bread is a whole vibe. They focus primarily on natural wines.
Breakfast & Cafes
Baking Lab (cafe): The overnight oats photographed below speak for themselves! They bake some of the finest pastries in the city, and their location in Amsterdam East is fantastic. Outdoor seating is limited, but catching an open table on a sunny day is such a treat.
Little Collins (breakfast): Cozy, with exceptional food. Pictured below is likely the most Dutch breakfast of all time: eggs, smoked fish, asparagus, capers, leeks, dill, and Greek yogurt.
Black & Gold: A vinyl shop and cafe featuring inviting indoor seating, a fantastic team, and a true locals-only crowd. Their milky oolong tea topped with steamed milk is easily the best cup of tea I’ve ever had.
4850 (cafe by day, wine bar by night): I cannot express how much I adore this dual bakery/cafe and its natural wine list. They serve one of the single best cinnamon buns in the city, alongside delicious sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. An absolute 11/10!
Sauna & Marineterrein
Kuuma Sauna: My absolute favorite sauna spot in the city (€17.50 for 75 minutes). They have a few locations, but I highly recommend Marineterrein. You can alternate between heat sessions and plunging into the IJ River. It’s such a fun way to meet people and work up a sweat with stunning views from the glass sauna.
Kuuma Sauna in Amsterdam Noord
Marineterrein: A favorite local swimming spot on the edge of the city center. There’s truly no better place to be at 4:00 PM on a summer Friday. With a bar right nearby and plenty of twenty- and thirty-somethings lounging out on the docks, the atmosphere is unbeatable.
Bookstores & Open Air Market
Amsterdam Book Market: The title speaks for itself: an open-air used book market pops up every Friday right in the city center. Vendors sell a fantastic selection of vintage books, art prints, CDs, and vinyl records. I’d go every single week if I had the time—it’s such a charming, laid-back scene!
Shot on my Leica 35mm point & shoot
The American Book Center: A four-story bookstore with beautiful, all-wooden interiors. Located right by the Spui book market, it’s absolutely marvelous. Beyond its incredible selection, it’s the kind of place where you can easily get lost for hours.
Athenaeum Boekhandel: Another incredible bookstore right next door. I’m not sure why they’re all within a stone’s throw of each other, but I’m certainly not complaining. Wandering between the Friday market and these shopfronts is a wonderful way to spend a slow afternoon.
Pride Festival
Pride here is a huge deal, the entire city comes together to celebrate. This year felt especially monumental because it was WorldPride. A friend of ours has an apartment right on the parade route, so he hosted an epic party with a live DJ set.
Parks
I’m sure most of you have heard of Vondelpark by now—the most frequented (and tourist-heavy) park in the city. While it certainly has its charm, I’ve had a blast exploring quieter green spaces that are just as magnificent.
Amsterdamse Bos: My American expat friends and I hosted a big 4th of July celebration at Amsterdamse Bos for our European friends. We grilled burgers and hot dogs, tossed a football around, played beer pong—the full American experience. It’s a bit of a ride (~20 minutes by bike), but well worth the trip. The park offers endless biking trails, kayaking spots, and sprawling lawns for a sunny picnic. Plus, there’s an open-air theater that hosts a fantastic lineup throughout the summer season.
Fourth of July in Amsterdamse Bos
Flevopark: I absolutely love it here! Located in Amsterdam East, it’s a bit of a trek (~15 minutes by bike from the city center), but the ride is so worth it. You can lounge right by the water and feel completely disconnected from the city. Be sure to hit Proeflokaal’t Nieuwe Diep for a drink while you’re there!
Nieuwe Diep Distillery
Tulips
Pictured below are fresh tulips in my apartment and office. They’re so affordable and instantly lift my mood every time I see them. If you get the chance, explore the surrounding tulip fields by bike and skip the crowded tourist bus tours altogether!
Never stop treating yourself!!
Museums
Kröller-Müller Museum: An extraordinary art escape tucked right in the heart of De Hoge Veluwe National Park. It houses the world’s second-largest Van Gogh collection, paired with an expansive outdoor sculpture garden you can explore on foot or by bike. Getting there from Amsterdam takes under two hours via train and a quick local bus connection.
Showcased Van Gogh pieces
Rijks Museum: I go at least once every two months. The art collection is magnificent, and the building’s architecture is truly exquisite. I cannot recommend a visit highly enough. Tickets run around €20, and it’s well worth it every single time.
Food & Wine Festivals
Champagne Festival: Amsterdam is famous for its summer festival season, and every late May, Rembrandtpark in Amsterdam West hosts Champagne Fest. The park fills with endless food stalls, champagne and wine pop-ups, and live music. Having gone for the past two years, I can confirm I’ll be back every season. Tickets run around €20—and whatever you do, get the oysters!
HomeLanding: A lively mix of live music, craft beer, natural wine, and incredible street food right by Marineterrein. A close friend suggested we check it out this year, and even though no one else in our crew had heard of it, six bottles of wine and a night of non-stop dancing later, we were completely sold. Plus, the Mexican stand served up hands-down the best Latin American food I’ve tasted in Amsterdam.
There is so much more but I’ll leave it at this for now! So much more to come on Amsterdam!
