As a hub for the rest of Europe, Amsterdam can connect you to most cities in under three hours. If you’re an art lover who wants to maximize your time while in Europe, Amsterdam is a convenient location from which to begin a journey through centuries of artistic expression.

1. Amsterdam: Start at the Rijksmuseum. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, this Dutch national museum is home to some of the most iconic images that represent the Netherlands. From intricate tulip paintings dating back 400 years to Dutch Master, Rembrandt’s Night Watch. The Rijksmuseum will fill you with enough excitement to pack an overnight bag and hop on a plane for your next destination: London.
2. London: Only a thirty minute flight from Amsterdam, London is home to a number of museums. Though, to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed with the options, choose one to visit and know you’ll have many years to see the rest. For this trip, spend some time at the Tate Modern. While it is the most visited modern art gallery in the world, you’ll have no trouble finding a quiet room to examine the brush strokes of Matisse and Rothko. The museum isn’t ordered chronologically; it is divided on various levels by style. Don’t miss Level 5, known as the States of Flux, this level houses Warhol, Picasso, Lichtenstein and more.
3. Paris: After a solid night’s sleep in London, find your way back to the airport and hop a plane for the City of Lights. Paris is less than an hour away by air and worth the trip. Spend your time while in the fuselage reading up on your next destination, the Louvre. With over 35,000 items filling over 652,000 square feet, you’ll need a game plan. What began as a 12th century fortress is now home to artistic treasures that show the evolution of art itself. With artifacts dating back over 7,000 years, you can wander through ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Smile back at the Mona Lisa and marvel at the sculptures of Michelangelo.
4. Back to Amsterdam: After settling into your hour-long flight back to Amsterdam, you can reminisce on your museum hopping adventure. Keep in mind that it’ll be impossible to see everything on your list. There will be cities you miss. There will be treasures not captured by your camera. Just know they’ll be awaiting your return. This is just one more reason to start planning your next European adventure. Who knows, perhaps the next vacation theme will be food?

Art lovers, do tell: what are you favorite museums in Europe?

Photo credits: I Amsterdam, ariaski; Tate Modern, ReservasdeCoches.com; Louvre, simo0082, Tate Modern, i_abel.

My sister, daughter and I are just days away from departing PDX for our non-stop trip to Amsterdam. We have been packing and planning for months, and it’s hard to believe the trip is almost here. We are all bursting with excitement.

We will be in Amsterdam for four nights, staying at a unique bed and breakfast just a few minutes from Central Station.

From there, we will bike to small towns surrounding the city – from Amersfoort to Utrecht to see the farmland and forests, and then to Haarlem to see the beach. My daughter and I are relying on my sister to be our tour guide, as she has been to Amsterdam several times and knows the area well.

After our stay in Amsterdam, we will take the Thalys speed train to Paris for two days of exploration. We are staying near Rue Cler Street, which is full of little shops and street vendors where we can buy flowers, pastries, fish, meat, clothes – you name it. My sister has planned a 4-hour bikeabout tour on the first morning we are there. After that we will explore shops, cafes and museums, hoping to soak up all we can in two days before heading back to Leiden in the Dutch province of South Holland for the final night of our trip.

Photo Credits: Amsterdam Central Station (B&W), jelleprins; Utrecht, Daniele Faieta; Haarlem, anafreitas

Portland International Airport (PDX)

1.     Use the free wifi! Portland is one of the few airports in the country that offers 100%, no subscription or hidden fees, completely free wifi. For those with smartphones or laptops, it can turn your time into a productive or pleasantly distracting one.

2.     Explore Portland’s unique personality at any of its local retailers, cafes, restaurants and breweries. You can grab some Stumptown coffee and a muffin at the renowned Beaverton Bakery, flip through books at Powell’s – a mini version of the largest independently owned bookstore that calls Portland its home – and pick up an authentic piece of the Pacific Northwest at the Made in Oregon store.

3.     Gear up for the great outdoors and enjoy the lack of sales tax at Portland active wear brands Nike and Columbia Sportswear stores.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

1.     Flower shops? In airports? Only in Amsterdam. If you’re coming or going from Amsterdam and want a souvenir that represents the city, the airport’s got you covered. Schiphol is the home of several flower shops that specialize in Amsterdam’s pride and glory: tulips.

2.     If you have time to spare, you won’t have any trouble getting lost in Plaza Schiphol. In the plaza, both frugal shoppers

and high rollers will find a plethora of shops to fit their tastes and wallets. Everything from H&M to Nike to Paollo Salatto designer suits, you’re bound to find something you like. To make shopping more convenient (and save big), Schiphol’s See Buy Fly Program gives passengers the opportunity to e-window shop items and reserve them at a discounted rate — up to 35% off any other store in the Netherlands.

3.     Get some fresh air at the Panorama Terrace, right before passport control. If you have a long layover, take a breather and step outside to catch a great view of all the airborne action.

Amsterdam Tulips:

Narita International Airport

1.     Step out of the hustle and bustle tucked away at the oxygen bar. Take a break and relax before you adventure on.

2.     Don’t waste money and calories on typical airport food. You’re in Japan! Check out one of the many traditional udon noodle and sushi restaurants scattered throughout the airport. Some boast top chefs and Asian fusion mouth-watering concoctions.

3.     Always wanted to learn how to fold a paper crane? Learn about the ancient art of origami at the Nippon Origami Museum in Terminal 1. Wander through 400 different exhibits as you try some of the 200 types of Japanese sweets they sell while you are exploring.

Photo credits: Music at PDX, Mulling it Over; Stumptown Coffee, tornatore; Tulips, Salim Virji; Origami Museum, ssedro

1. Amsterdam has more museums per square mile than any other city in the world. The last count was 51.

2. Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt van Rijn and M.C. Escher are just a few world famous artists who used to call Holland “home”. All of these artists’ work can be viewed at their respective museums in Amsterdam.

3. Holland has over 15,000 km of bicycle lanes, and since bikes outnumber cars in Amsterdam, make like the Dutch and opt for two wheels as your mode of transportation.

4. Holland changed their currency from the guilder to the euro in 2002. While the guilder is no longer accepted in Holland, it is still used in the Netherlands Antilles.

5. The Amstel River flows through Amsterdam, giving the Dutch city the moniker “Venice of the North”.

6. While many are familiar with Amsterdam’s multiple canals, few are as familiar with the nearly 1,300 bridges used to cross them. When planning a canal tour, take note of the bridges’ architectural details, like the iconic Magere Brug.

7. Koninginnedag, or Queen’s Day, is Holland’s biggest holiday celebrating the Queen’s birthday. The tradition began on August 31, 1885 with Queen Wilhemina, but it was the current queen, Queen Beatrix’s mother, Queen Juliana who declared the national holiday to be celebrated on her birthday, April 30.

8. Sometimes good things come in pairs, and for fashion lovers there are two opportunities a year to capture all the latest fashion designs at the Amsterdam International Fashion Week. AIFW was the first fashion week that is also open to the public.

9. Holland’s smallest city is only a few feet tall. Only a short train ride from Amsterdam, Madurodam is a miniature replica of Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam.

10. Cool off after a day of touring the city with one of Amsterdam’s famous local brews, like Heineken and Amstel.

This is the fourth and final part of our series of special Amsterdam itineraries, with the first three having focused on history, outdoors, and museums. Here we’ll enjoy a day that uses the iAmsterdam Card to save money and time while seeing quite a few styles of art and design.

Where to stay

While most of Amsterdam’s famous sights are fairly close together in the city center, a few of the most interesting ones are out on the edges. For design enthusiasts on a day like today we’ll recommend the Golden Tulip Amsterdam-Centre Hotel, which boasts contemporary Dutch furnishings and artwork in a comfortable 4-star setting.

The location is walking distance from Centraal Station, which is also the city’s hub and where we’ll be starting from today.

First stop: Museum Het Schip

Board Tram 22 (transportation is free to iAmsterdam Card holders) in front of the train station and in about 15 minutes you’ll have gone through some of Amsterdam’s more modern suburbs to arrive at the Museum Het Schip. This is dedicated to architecture and specifically what is known as the ‘Amsterdam School’ of architecture. It is set in three buildings, one of which is a former post office designed to look like a ship, giving the museum its name.

Here you’ll be able to really appreciate the famous northern European economy of space and quality of materials. There are displays inside that show how buildings were designed and families lived in such a unique environment.

Next stop: Galleries in the Jordaan neighborhood

Jump back aboard Tram 22 toward the city center, but halfway back you’ll alight at the edge of the Prinsengracht Canal, and a short walk south will have you arriving in Amsterdam’s trendiest residential neighborhood. The Jordaan is highly recommended even though it contains no typical tourist attractions. Take a stroll down Jordaan’s narrow streets to soak in the artistic vibe provided by the creative people who turned this area from a slum to chic a couple decades ago.

There are small galleries on most of the main streets, frequently offering works that are modestly priced in spite of the quality. The whole area is a visual delight as the traditional canal houses combine the classic Dutch architecture from the 1600′s with a edgy touch.

Lunch: A cafe in the Jordaan

Among the reasons to visit this neighborhood is the opportunity to feel like a trendy local resident with very few tourists around. There are small cafes all over, many featuring vegetarian cuisine or international fusions. This is where many of the city’s most creative chefs operate, and finding a great lunch is an easy task.

Next stop: Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk is Amsterdam’s largest and finest modern art museum, and after some recent transitions it finally moves into its new permanent home in the museum district in January 2011. You can take the Prinsengracht shuttle bus to Leidsestraat for a tram ride, but if the weather is nice, this will be a lovely 15-minute walk from the Jordaan area.

In operation since 1874, the new building will highlight the 90,000 modern and contemporary pieces even better than before, as the building itself is a work of art.

Next stop: Huis Marseille, Museum for photography

You can take another tram from the Stedelijk right into the heart of the city, alighting at the Keizersgracht Canal. This will be the first of 3 smaller gallery stops that are quite close together. The Huis Marseille, like the others, is set in a traditional canal house, so part of the attraction is seeing how open and spacious these residences are in spite of the compact look from the front.

This gallery has a permanent collection and revolving temporary exhibits of contemporary and historical photographs, each presented and lit beautifully.

Next stop: Foam Fotography Museum

Just a short walk down Keizersgracht and you’ll arrive at the Foam Fotography Museum. This is similar in many ways to the Huis Marseille, but the photography displayed inside tends to be edgier and artsier, usually by younger photographers. There are always three different exhibitions spread out over the different floors, but it’s still small enough to be appreciated in less than an hour.

Next stop: Museum of Bags & Purses Hendrikje

Finally, just around the corner from the Foam Photography Museum you’ll come to what’s billed as the largest museum of handbags and purses in the world. Again set in a traditional canal house, this unusual collection displays bags dating from the 16th Century all the way up through today. Certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but many will find it fascinating, and it’s a quick visit in addition to being free with the iAmsterdam Card.

Last stop: Dinner at Rembrandtplein

The final museum was just around the corner from Rembrandtplein (Rembrandt Square), which is the city’s trendiest area for cafes, bars, and nightclubs. Most of the main part of the square is lined with grand cafes, so choose one for dinner and relax while taking in the fashion parade.

Photos courtesy of Tom Townsend

This is the first in a four-part series that will each concentrate on a different aspect of a visit to Amsterdam. The iAmsterdam Card itself comes in 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour versions, so you’ll obviously want to pick the things that are highest on your list and fit them into the number of days you have.

Where to stay

Since Amsterdam’s city center is so compact, it’s not essential to book a hotel in a specific neighborhood like it might be in London or Paris. But still, on a day like this it helps to be as close to our first stop as possible, so we’ll recommend staying at the popular Hotel Nadia. It’s a lovely family-run 3-star hotel with good rates, breakfast included, and best of all, it’s right around the corner from the Anne Frank House.

First stop: Anne Frank House

This might seem like an unusual choice to start at the Anne Frank House since it’s actually the only major attraction in Amsterdam that is not part of the iAmsterdam Card, but there’s a good reason. This museum set in the actual apartment where Anne Frank lived (plus the whole building next door) is always the most popular sight in the city, and the queue to get in is legendary.

You can buy tickets online for a specific time, which also lets you skip the long line, but it’s best to get here a bit before the 9am opening time and tour the place before the swells of visitors arrive an hour or so later. The admission is €8.50 for adults, and it’s a must-visit, even for those not familiar with the famous diary.

Next stop: Amsterdam History Museum

By 10:30am you’ll be outside again so walk a few blocks through one of Amsterdam’s most scenic canal areas to the Amsterdam History Museum. Most people are aware that Amsterdam went through a boom during the 17th Century, which is when the entire city center was formed and built, but the history starts before that and it’s fascinating.

This museum is even more interesting than you might expect since it cleverly illustrates much of its information in life-sized displays and illustrated maps. As you walk through the sections the period moves forward until you reach the city’s recent past. Though it is fairly large, there isn’t much reading involved to be able to appreciate the displays, so you can soak it all in within 90 minutes or so.

Lunch break: Café and Brasserie Ovidius

A very short walk from the museum brings you to Brasserie Ovidius, which is located in a historic building itself, built in 1895 as the city’s main post office. Your iAmsterdam Card entitles you to 25% off most items at this traditional continental cafe, which offers many different sandwich and salad options for those who want to stay light on their feet.

Next stop: De Oude Kerk (The Old Church)

From the cafe you’ll then wander a few blocks into the heart of the Red Light District, which is the city’s oldest and arguably most beautiful neighborhood, to visit the city’s oldest monument, the Oude Kerk (Old Church).

In the heart of the district, this church continues to feature five centuries of history and its original architecture. Beneath the floor there are over 2,500 graves, with many of the city’s most famous past residents having their final resting place there. The Oude Kerk is relatively small, so you’ll be on your way again in an hour or so.

Next stop: Jewish Historical Museum

Amsterdam’s Jewish community is a centuries-old population that have been key members of society. This museum is built in a collection of four restored synagogues in the center of the city, and less than a 10-minute walk from the Old Church.

Everyone is welcomed to the Jewish Historical Museum, which shows the religion’s traditions and role leading back to the earliest days of the city. It’s not too large, but it is powerful and interesting, and definitely worth a stop as it’s free with the Card.

Next stop: Rembrandthuis Museum

Only one block away you’ll reach the Rembrandthuis Museum. Tucked between similar canal houses, the museum can be surprisingly easy to miss if you aren’t looking for it. This is where Rembrandt lived and taught in the 18th Century, and it’s been preserved and re-created to look exactly as it would have back then.

There are many pieces of Rembrandt’s art in various mediums, so you’ll have a chance to appreciate his master work, but this modest-sized museum also helps you understand what life was like during that period. It’s a very worthwhile visit, which can be done well in about an hour.

Dinner time: Restaurant Indrapura

Cross the main Amstel Canal to the Rembrandtplein entertainment district, where you’ll find Restaurant Indrapura, an excellent Indonesian place that also offers a 25% discount with the iAmsterdam Card. You’ll actually find little evidence of “Dutch cuisine” in the city, and the unofficial specialty is Indonesian, which is very well represented across town.

The specialty here is rijsttafel, which also happens to be Amsterdam’s must-try dish. Actually, rijsttafel is more like 15 or 20 small dishes that are kept warm on a burner sitting on your table, and are meant to be eaten alongside rice. This is a personal buffet of Indonesian treats, with often surprising combination of flavors, but nothing that anyone is likely to find unappealing. Even the smaller configurations and the vegetarian versions tend to be quite filling, so bring your appetite for this one, and you’ll never forget it.

Update June 16, 2011: Learn about using the iAmsterdam Card for a day of outdoor fun, museums and design.

Photo courtesy of Tom Townsend

To me, Amsterdam is a study in contrasts. We saw tons of construction and renovation on buildings such as the Rijksmuseum and the Royal Palace, yet almost every building, even newer ones, feel like they have an historic present.

Amsterdam prides itself on being a progressive and modern city, which it is, however, there are constant reminders of its past. From solemn landmarks such as the Anne Frank House to Genever (gin) distilleries that have been making gin and serving traditional Dutch food for more than 450 years, Amsterdam has an “old school” feel to it.

And while, bicycles are extremely prevalent as a transportation option, the canals are still used to get around, whether by canal bus or canal bike (paddleboats). Keri and I had a wonderful time on both, though the canal bike certainly gives you a workout.

One reason I wanted to visit the Netherlands with Keri was to find out more about her heritage. Keri comes from a family of proud Dutch-Americans and it was amazing to learn more about her family history. We were honored to be given a free walk throughout Amsterdam by local Ronald Winkels, owner of Amstour Holland.

Winkels researched Keri’s family name, Lenderink, and was able to tell us about the area where the Lenderinks originally lived. His knowledge and kindness was a perfect demonstration of the Dutch attitude that we encountered throughout our trip.

Having traveled to other European cities such as Lisbon, London, and Paris, I found Amsterdam much easier to navigate. Even on weary, jet-lagged feet, the city feels smaller than it is. Using the Central Station as a northern boundary and the city’s museum square, Museumplein, as a southern landmark, Amsterdam is filled with tourist attractions and great places to visit.

From its underrated food scene (Croquettes are a must try) to its array of fantastic museums (even while under construction, the Rijksmuseum is remarkable), Amsterdam is a world-class city to visit.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank I Fly Nonstop, the Portland International Air Service Committee, Delta Air Lines, and Avanti Destinations for giving Keri and I the trip of a lifetime.

Watch the video recap of Mike and Keri’s trip now:

Photo credits: All photos provided by Mike Donovan

After arriving in Amsterdam, there are definitely certain places Keri and I are going to visit. From Bloemenmarkt – the floating flower market on the Singel Canal – to Vondelpark, we are hoping to immerse ourselves into the Dutch culture.

As bikes and boats are common means of transportation in Amsterdam, we thought it would be fun to fuse the best of both worlds and tour the city by paddleboat. It will be nice to go at our own pace and experience a unique perspective of the local architecture and neighborhoods.

With the array of museums that Amsterdam offers, it will be difficult to see all of them, but we definitely think we will visit the Van Gogh Museum, which is home to works by not just Van Gogh but also Paul Gauguin, Edouard Manet, and Claude Monet.

The one other thing Keri and I are looking the most forward to is the food and drink. We have heard a lot about Dutch pancakes and cannot wait to try them. Apparently, they are similar to a French crepe, but are slightly thicker and are filled with an array of fresh ingredients. Combine that with the locally made and world-renowned beer, Heineken, and you have the perfect Honeymoon breakfast.

After Amsterdam, we will be making our way to Paris by high-speed train. Getting to Europe in one flight from PDX makes traveling to other European cities, like Paris, much easier. In Paris, we plan on exploring Versailles for a day and relax at authentic Parisian cafes.

We can’t wait for our trip, and we are excited to share our experience with you.

See Mike’s winning haiku here.

Photo credits: Amsterdam canal, Lyn Gateley; Bloemenmarkt, Jim Derda; Van Gogh Museum, Jan Tito; stroopwafels, Or Hiltch; Versailles gardens, Panoramas

Photo credits: Tokyo Museum of Contemporary Art; Pittock Mansion; Scheepvaart Museum