Netherlands: Stripped back Amsterdam essentials for every season

The Westerkerk church is in the very heart of Amsterdam, next to the Anne Frank house. Photo / Chris Radburn, Getty

Amsterdam's canals, tulips and clogs are famous the world over, but the Dutch capital also has boasts the highest concentration of museums, galleries and cultural experience per capita in the world. No matter what time of the year you visit, there is always plenty to do, whether you like traditional sightseeing or something a little quirkier. The Daily Mail has compiled a list of nine things to do when you're in town.

Hit the museums

Head to Museumplein to tick the big ones – Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum – off your list, but make time to check out the city's lesser-known museums, too. Tropenmuseum, Museum Van Loon, Cromhouthuis Museum, and Museum Willet-Holthuysen all give you a much better insight into Amsterdam's history, locals and culture. Hoping for something more obscure? Try the Museum of Torture, Cheese Museum or Micropia. The queues are shorter, and they're a lot of fun.
Tram: Rijksmuseum, Van Baerlestraat

Appreciate nature without going outside

Whatever the weather, you can enjoy tropical plants and flowers at Hortus Botanicus Established in 1638, it's one of the earliest botanical gardens still in existence and was initially called Hortus Medicus thanks to its collection of medicinal herbs grown to treat Amsterdam's residents as the Black Death rolled into town.
Tram: Mr. Visserplein

The Rijksmuseum is a must, though the the crowds can be much smaller at lesser known exhibitions. Photo / Dean Mouhtaropoulos

Get your shopping fix on Haarlemmerstraat

Fine Dutch cheesemongers and beer sellers jostle for attention against quirky clothing boutiques and crafts shops on this bustling street near Jordaan, which is also worth exploring if you're into art galleries, one-of-a-kind jewellery and folk music (you'll understand the last one once you've walked the streets for a few minutes). There's loads of restaurants, bars and cafés, too, so come rain or shine you'll be able to collect souvenirs, eat, drink, and people watch to your heart's content.
Tram: Haarlemmerplein

Get a birds' eye view of the city

Book a guided tour of Westerkerk and climb the tallest church tower in Amsterdam, with one the best panoramic views of the city. Inside, the huge organ and columns are perfectly illuminated by the sun, which pierces through 36 ornate windows, and you'll see a memorial plaque in honour of Rembrandt, who was buried here in 1669, but no one knows where.
Tram: Westermarkt

The Westerkerk church is in the very heart of Amsterdam, next to the Anne Frank house. Photo / Chris Radburn, Getty

Join a free walking tour

In typical Amsterdammer fashion, this group of guides is willing to take you on a two-and-a-half-hour tour of the city for the sheer joy of doing something nice – though tips are welcome. It's the perfect mix of information and entertainment, and you'll get to hear some interesting (and often hilarious) personal stories from your hosts. The route is a secret, but rest assured, you'll see all the main points of interest as well as some hidden gems. These free walking tours run all year, even if it's raining, so bring a waterproof coat and umbrella in the winter.

Drink beer in the tallest windmill in the Netherlands

At the weekend, you can visit a 16th-century windmill – the tallest in the Netherlands – called De Gooyer, and try a couple of the award-winning beers from its small organic microbrewery. Try Zatte, Ijwit, Columbus, Struis, and its oldest, Natte.
Tram: Hoogtekadijk

Amsterdam's historical De Gooyer Windmill. Photo / Getty

See the city lit up at night

Almost all Amsterdam's canal cruises take place on a boat with a roof, or at least a covered section, so it doesn't matter what the weather's doing on your evening cruise. In fact, an after-dark tour of the waterways is the best way to experience Amsterdam – you'll see some of its 1281 bridges and grand canal houses illuminated and watch as the city's people unwind after work. This evening canal cruise includes a free drink.

Be the star of your postcard home

Granted, postcards are a bit of a retro idea nowadays, but you're in Amsterdam, so of course, there's a twist. At the Postcard Experience, you can recreate your holiday in front of green screens depicting towering windmills, famous artworks and wheels of cheese, or make a video of something you didn't – or couldn't – even do, like ride a clog-shaped rollercoaster. Instead of popping it in the post, you can share it on Facebook or Instagram for all your loved ones to see straight away.
Bus: Kattenburgerstraat

Taste naturally ripened cheese

The Dutch take cheese seriously, and nowhere is this clearer than at Reypenaer (you'll probably recognise the name or at least the packaging), where cheese is given all the time it needs to develop in natural conditions. The process causes the cheese to effectively lose weight – which factories tend to avoid because they want to sell you bigger cheeses more quickly – so they have a richer, more refined taste. Sold? You can pop along to the Cheese Tasting Room for an hour-long tasting of six different cheeses paired with wine and port where you'll learn how to taste cheese.