resources

I first moved to Amsterdam in 2001 as a student, and then relocated here permanently in 2006. Over all these years, I’ve gathered a wide range of Amsterdam travel, restaurant, food and drinks related information that I’ve found useful. So I’ve collected all these links and resources into one place for you.

Amsterdam travel information

Schiphol airport is a huge hub, which means that most national carriers and budget airlines fly direct to Amsterdam. For obvious reasons, Dutch national airline KLM offers the most flights in and out of the capital, while Transavia now offers flights in and out of Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam airports. You can compare prices among all airlines on sites like Skyscanner, Expedia and GoEuro. If you’re already in northern Europe, Amsterdam is easy to reach by train and bus. There are regular trains from Paris and Brussels on the Thalys, while FlixBus has bus routes to the Netherlands from neighbouring Belgium and Germany. GoEuro can help you find the best route and means of transport.

People often ask me about where to stay in Amsterdam, which is a question I struggle to answer as someone who lives here! However, various visitors have given me some tips from past experience… For canal-side luxury, you can’t beat the iconic Pulitzer Hotel. For a budget hotel that has great amenities, book into The Social Hub (with two locations). For something quirky and unique, Hotel Not Hotel is the place to rest your head. And for excellent hotel bars and restaurants, try the laidback Hoxton or the trendy Kimpton de Witt.

For more travel tips, read my article on planning your trip to Amsterdam.

Making a reservation at Amsterdam restaurants

Wherever you eat in Amsterdam, it’s a good idea to make a reservation. Many of the restaurants featured on this website have their own reservation systems that use platforms like Formitable to book your table and take a deposit, which is deducted from your bill at the end. You can also sometimes find good deals on TripAdvisor. Whatever you do, however, please avoid websites like Appointment Trader that charge you to make reservations. They are the ticket touts/scalpers of the restaurant world, and are making eating out even less accessible and affordable for diners.

For more restaurant tips, download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide.

Cookery schools and workshops in Amsterdam

I often get asked to recommend places to take cookery lessons. I’ve not attended many myself, so this list isn’t entirely tried and tested, but here’s what I’ve gathered over the years. Keizer Culinair offers a range of cooking classes, from basic skills to advanced techniques, focusing on corporate and private events. Esther’s Cookery is a vegetarian cooking studio, featuring dishes from all over the world. For more plant-based cooking demonstrations, get in touch with cookbook author Alexander Gershberg. The aptly named Amsterdam Cooking Workshops offers classes in Indonesian, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. While Italophiles will love Cucina del Sole, Amsterdam’s very own Italian cooking school. And for corporate team-building events, try the Kookfabriek or Amsterdam Flavours.

Food tours in Amsterdam

It might feel like a tourist cliché, but taking a tour really is a great way to get your bearings. I love the food tours by Eating Amsterdam and Devour Tours (full disclosure: they’re both clients of mine). And a boat tour of Amsterdam’s canals is a must while you’re in the city – I like the Lovers canal tour. But you can obviously find plenty of other options on TripAdvisor, Viator and Tours & Tickets.

Kitchenware and cooking equipment stores in Amsterdam

In terms of physical shops, I love Duikelman in de Pijp and Deksels on the Haarlemmerdijk. However, these days it’s of course easier to order kitchen equipment and crockery online and have it delivered (especially if, like most Amsterdammers, you don’t have a car). In which case, I turn to Dille & Kamille for both cookware and beautiful dishes on which to serve your creations, and to Woldring for stunning crockery, cutlery and glasses (they specialise in porcelain).

For more kitchen supplies plus specialist food stores, read my article on Amsterdam’s top specialist food shops and markets.

Drinks: resources for wine, beer and spirits

Drinks are always heavy to carry, so ordering them for home delivery is often the better bet. For online wine orders, try Colaris.nl, which carries a wide selection of wines at different price points as well as Vivino top-rated wines and some lovely gift packages. If your love of booze extends to cocktails, online liquor store Topdrinks.nl sells every spirit imaginable, including all your favourite brands. And finally, Jopenbier.nl is your go-to for Dutch craft beer.