5 Affordable Local Things to do in Amsterdam

For many young travelers, the first thing that comes to mind about Amsterdam is often, well, to be blunt; the blunts. Maybe not for everyone, but I distinctly remember going there and hearing nothing but talk about how you can smoke weed legally in the cafe’s, have a space cake with your coffee, and purchase mushrooms of all different shapes and sizes.

But, since I wasn’t interested in any of that, which by the way, is all extremely touristy, I got a different view on Amsterdam. I went off on my own and chatted with locals to see what they usually do for fun in the “Venice of the Netherlands” since I had no idea what I was really doing. They explained that they called it that because of the many canals throughout the city that are reminiscent of the ones in Venice, Italy.

Then they gave me a few tips, ideas, and pointers, which I followed the best I could with the little time that I had in Amsterdam:

1. Rent a Bike and Explore

Once you arrive in Amsterdam, you’ll notice a massive amount of bicycles being ridden or parked, because that’s the most popular way for locals to get around. There are tons of bike rental places which will also tell you how to lock your bike up when you’re not using it, and where the best bike paths are.

Since Amsterdam is relatively flat and has a lot of wide bike paths, you won’t have much trouble, aside from the occasional traffic jam with other bicyclists! You can bike along the many canals, or take a stroll through one of the parks, and at the end of the day all you’ll simply need to do is return it to where you rented it from!

2. Relax on a Scenic Canal Cruise

If riding bikes isn’t your thing, or if you’re exhausted from riding around all day, sit back and relax on a scenic canal cruise of Amsterdam, which is highly popular amongst both tourists and locals. Most cruises offer snacks and drinks on board, and some even offer a tour commentary to highlight some of the places that you’ll pass.

3. Enjoy the Unique Local Cuisine

One thing I immediately noticed about Amsterdam when I got there, was the unique and eclectic mix of food and restaurants. For the most part, I saw either Thai noodle places, or Middle-Eastern kebabs. I wasn’t even entirely sure what authentic Amsterdam food was because of the massive mix of food there!

I’m not much of a foodie, but for those who are, there’s the option to take a food tour with a local to get a taste and explanation about the different types, and local types of food in Amsterdam. Just watch out for those Space Cakes.

4. Get Artistic

Another thing that I distinctly noticed in Amsterdam, was the beautiful architecture of the buildings, and the way they confusingly seemed to be bending. I realized I wasn’t going crazy when a local artist explained that her paintings of the buildings showcased the bending buildings, which she said was caused from the shifting of the ground, since the area is built on water.

After that explanation I decided to roam around and photograph the buildings that seemed to be leaning or bending, and also shop for local artwork like hers.

5. Have a Picnic in the Park

As I mentioned before, there are tons of great parks, and tons of great food in Amsterdam, so why not combine the two together for a lovely picnic in the park? I happened to wander to the infamous Vondelpark, which is a bit far from the main area, but still worth seeing, especially if you only have a few days in Amsterdam!

This post was in collaboration with and inspired by With a Local. All experiences and information is my own, and yes, I did try to eat a space cake.