Amsterdam & Rotterdam Popular Tourist Attractions

euromast (rotterdam)

Getting high in rotterdam without the help of chemicals means ascending the 185 metre Euromast Tower for a breathtaking panoramic view of the city and harbour.

At the top of the Euromast you will have the most magnificent view over Rotterdam and the world's largest harbour. Enjoy the sensation of a space adventure and go for a ride in the Space Tower. You enter a round elevator and get seated on a circular bench facing outwards and the tower spirals as it ascends and descends, so everyone has a complete view of the city and its surroundings. This exciting rocket launch takes you to a height of 207 metres! and for the more adventurous in the summer months you can abseil down the side of the tower!

cube houses Kijk-Kubus (rotterdam)

The city of Rotterdam is not afraid to try something new and different. An example is the 90 degree tilted yellow and grey "Cube Houses" located in the area called Blaak. the Dutch designer Piet Blom thought of his design as an abstract tree and of the total complex as a wood. A cube house reminds you of a tree house that is accessible through the trunk.

shopping in rotterdam & amsterdam

Rotterdam and Amsterdam both have several "shopping corridors" and each one has it's own charms and specialties and to emphasize that the shopper is king most are pedestrianized.

Shops and boutiques vary from international designer brands to local handicraft stores and you'll find on sale anything from shoes, clothing, bags, music, gift shops, cards, jewellery, perfume, and the occasional coffee shop, along with restaurants and fast food bars scattered amongst the mix of many shops and boutiques.

redlight district & sex museum (amsterdam)

A must when in Amsterdam The Red Light District is somewhat of a sexual amusement park and often not taken too seriously by the hordes of tourist who frequent it. With it's beer and party atmosphere and sex for sale with limitless people watching. Stores are full of hardcore videos, magazines and sex toys. Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the Red Light District, is that it's actually quite pretty. The famous red window lights are striking against the quaint, old canal houses and even the fairy lights that line the bridges at night are coloured red. Although it is generally considered to be a very safe area, care should still be taken when walking.

Another must see when in Amsterdam is The sex museum which houses an extensive collection of erotic art, photographs, video booths, sexual aides, objects, illustrated sex manuals and recordings from different cultures from all over the world. Along with other interesting, entertaining and explicit exhibits with some dating back before photography.

hash marijuana hemp museum (amsterdam)

Since the opening in 1985 of the Hash Marihuana Hemp Museum in Amsterdam, almost a million people have visited this permanent exhibition. The museum is dedicated to deepening the understanding of the controversial cannabis herb and its many uses. The Hash Marihuana Hemp Museum is unique in the world, and is much like a voyage of discovery. The scent of genuine cannabis plants welcomes the visitor when entering the museum. Inside, all aspects of hash and marihuana including related paraphernalia are fully explained. For instance, a photo collection shows how hashish is made in the traditional fashion in Afghanistan. There is a large collection of traditional pipes from all over the world. And a collection of photos, posters, and magazines on the cannabis culture, ranging from the 19th century to the era of jazz and on to the current pop culture.

diamond centre (amsterdam)

Amsterdam has a long heritage in diamonds, and has been a major diamond centre since Sephardic Jews introduced the diamond cutting industry in the later 16th century. Thousands of visitors come to see craftsmen in various diamond houses at work every year.