48 Hours in Amsterdam: Canals, Tulips, Windmills, & Stroopwafels

There are some cities that are beautiful in photographs, and then there are cities that feel even more magical in person. Amsterdam is one of those places.

Before this trip, I had seen the postcard images: colorful canal houses, bicycles lined up along the water, and fields of tulips stretching to the horizon. What I didn’t expect was how much I would genuinely enjoy the city itself.

I adored the canals, the charming architecture, and the friendliness of the Dutch people. Nearly everyone we encountered spoke English, and every interaction was pleasant and welcoming.

That said, there were two things you should know before visiting Amsterdam.

First, bicycles are everywhere.

And I mean everywhere.

The bike lanes are often larger than the sidewalks, and if you accidentally step into one, the cyclists will not slow down for you. Look both ways before crossing, then look again.

Second, you will smell marijuana on almost every street. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, but it was certainly noticeable and something I wasn’t quite prepared for.

Despite those two surprises, I absolutely loved our two days in Amsterdam.

Where We Stayed:Monet Garden Hotel

We stayed at Monet Garden Hotel Amsterdam, and I would happily stay there again.

The hotel is located along a canal in a quieter area of the city. While it is not directly in the center of all the action, we found the location peaceful and convenient. After a full day of walking, it was nice to return to a calm neighborhood away from the crowds.

My room overlooked the canal, which felt quintessentially Amsterdam.

My only complaint, and this is often my only complaint when traveling in Europe, was that the room felt warm at night. We are very spoiled in the South when it comes to air conditioning, and I found the room a bit too hot for comfortable sleeping.

Other than that, the hotel was wonderful.

Arrival and First Impressions

We arranged transporaton in advance from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to our hotel, although we discovered later that the price was essentially the same as hailing a taxi at the airport.

Our flight landed around 8:00 a.m., which gave us nearly two full days to explore before flying to Bergen to board our Viking Cruises voyage.

After dropping our bags at the hotel, we were off to see Amsterdam.

Exploring the Canals with Those Dam Boat Guys

One of the best things we did was a canal cruise with Those Dam Boat Guys.

The experience was relaxed, fun, and informative without being overly scripted or boring. Our captain shared stories about neighborhoods, architecture, and everyday life in Amsterdam. We learned that parking in the city is extremely expensive, which helps explain why so many residents rely on bicycles instead of cars.

The cruise lasted a little over an hour and gave us a wonderful perspective of the city from the water.

If you are visiting during spring or summer, I recommend booking in advance, especially on weekends, as these tours are very popular.

The Beauty of Amsterdam’s Canal Houses

One of the most fascinating things about Amsterdam is the architecture.

The canal houses are tall and narrow, and many have decorative hooks extending from the top gables. These hooks are still used to hoist furniture and large items through upper-story windows because the staircases inside are incredibly steep and narrow.

Some houses also lean slightly forward, which allows lifted items to clear the building façade.

As a photographer, I found myself constantly stopping to capture the colorful facades, bicycles, bridges, and reflections in the canals.

Stroopwafels: A Dutch Must-Try

You simply cannot visit Amsterdam without trying a stroopwafel.

We purchased oversized, freshly made stroopwafels near Dam Square, and they were every bit as delicious as they look. (Warning- they are really really sweet- best to split one with someone!)

Warm caramel filling pressed between thin waffle layers and topped with chocolate, strawberries, and crunchy toppings. They were almost too pretty to eat.

Almost.

Dinner in the Jordaan

That evening, after walking more than 20,000 steps and functioning on very little sleep, we had dinner at a tiny Italian restaurant in the Jordaan neighborhood. It was La Trattoria Di Donna Sofia.

The restaurant had only nine tables and a minuscule kitchen staffed by a chef and his sous chef.

When I explained my meat allergy, the chef smiled and said, “We can make you something.”

What arrived was a fresh pasta dish with pesto and other ingredients I still cannot fully identify, but it was one of the best meals I had on the entire trip.

I was so hungry and tired that I forgot to take a photograph, which tells you everything you need to know.

After dinner, we took a taxi back to the hotel and went straight to bed.

Day Two: Private Tulip Fields and a Working Windmill

The second day was one of the highlights of our trip.

We took a taxi to the north side of Amsterdam to Market 27, where we joined a small-group tulip and windmill tour. There were approximately 12 people in total, which made the experience feel personal and unhurried.

Instead of visiting the giant tourist attractions packed with thousands of people, we were taken to three private tulip fields.

At the first two fields, we were asked to stay out of the rows to avoid damaging the flowers. At the third field, we were invited to walk into the tulips and take photographs.

It was absolutely breathtaking.

Rows upon rows of pink, red, and yellow tulips stretched as far as we could see.

How Tulips Are Grown

Our guide explained how tulips are cultivated and how farmers rotate their crops with vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli to maintain healthy soil.

The fields are often rented from dairy farmers, which is one of many ways agriculture in the Netherlands is carefully integrated and highly efficient.

I loved learning the story behind the beauty.

Inside a Working Windmill

We also visited a privately owned windmill that is still fully operational.

The miller explained how the sails are positioned according to wind direction and why there are doors on both the east and west sides of the structure.

When the sails are attached, they can rotate at speeds of 60 to 70 miles per hour.

Then came the unforgettable part.

He invited us inside and allowed us to climb steep wooden ladders into the rafters to watch the gears turning overhead.

In the United States, this would almost certainly never be allowed.

We crawled on our hands and knees under moving wooden mechanisms, careful not to bump our heads.

It was fascinating, a little intimidating, and completely unforgettable.

The Day the Cows Jumped

One of the most unexpected and joyful moments of the day happened by pure chance.

As we drove through the countryside, we passed a gathering of people celebrating the first day cows were being released into the fields after winter.

When the gates opened, the cows did not simply walk out.

They jumped, ran, kicked, and played like excited children at a birthday party.

It was delightful and one of those spontaneous travel moments that stays with you forever.

Final Thoughts on Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city unlike any other I have visited.

I loved the beautiful canals, the narrow historic houses, the endless bicycles, and the opportunity to venture into the Dutch countryside to see tulip fields and working windmills. The Dutch people were friendly, welcoming, and incredibly efficient in nearly every aspect of daily life.

There were also parts of Amsterdam that I did not enjoy as much, particularly the constant smell of marijuana and the need to stay hyperaware of bicycles at all times.

Would I return?

Yes, but I would do it differently.

If I came back, I would bring my professional camera and dedicate several days solely to street photography. Amsterdam is a photographer’s dream, filled with fascinating architecture, reflections, bicycles, bridges, and candid moments around every corner.

It is the kind of city that rewards patience and observation.

This trip gave me a wonderful introduction to Amsterdam, but I feel like I only scratched the surface.

And if I ever return, it will be to slow down, wander the canals at my own pace, and truly immerse myself in photographing this remarkable city.