Day 1: Amsterdam core
Start at Centraal Station and walk south down Damrak to Dam Square, then cut west into the Nine Streets (Negen Straatjes) for coffee at Pluk on Reestraat. Book the Anne Frank House online for a 10:30 slot — walk-ins are impossible and tickets run about $17. Afterward, cross to the Jordaan and lunch at Winkel 43 on Noordermarkt for their famous apple pie ($6).
In the afternoon, take tram 2 or 12 to the Museumplein. The Rijksmuseum ($25) needs three hours; the Van Gogh Museum ($22) needs two. Pick one. End the day with jenever tastings at Wynand Fockink, a 1679 tasting room off Dam Square.
Day 2: Escape north
Grab a 20-minute train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk-Zaanse Schans ($4.50 one way). The open-air windmill village is free to enter; individual mills charge $6 to climb. Get there by 9:00 to beat cruise groups. Wooden clog demos run hourly at Kooijman Souvenirs.
Back in the city by 14:00, spend the afternoon at NDSM-werf, a former shipyard turned street-art hub. The free GVB ferry from behind Centraal runs every 15 minutes. Dinner at Pllek — mains around $18 — with beach chairs facing the IJ waterway. Return ferry runs until well past midnight.
Getting the pass right
Skip single tickets. A 24-hour GVB pass covers trams, buses, metro and the night network for $9.40; 48 hours is $15. It does not cover NS trains to Zaanse Schans or Haarlem, so buy those separately at yellow machines using a contactless card (chipknip surcharges are gone as of 2023). OV-chipkaart is being phased out — tap your bank card directly.
Questions answered
Is 48 hours enough for Amsterdam?
Enough to see the canal ring, one major museum, and one day trip. You will not see the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh both properly — pick one.
Do I need to book museums in advance?
Anne Frank House yes, weeks ahead. Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh strongly recommended but often available same-week online.
Can I use my phone to pay for trams?
Yes. Since 2023, GVB accepts contactless bank cards and Apple/Google Pay on all trams, buses and metros. Tap on and tap off.
Is Zaanse Schans worth it or a tourist trap?
Worth it before 10:00 or after 16:00. Midday it is packed with tour buses. The windmills genuinely work — Het Jonge Schaap saws timber daily.
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