Balmy weather and flowers transform Holland in springtime, with the lush flat countryside - crisscrossed by canals and rivers – like a huge emerald green garden splashed with vibrant colours.

Tulips symbolise spring perhaps more than any other bloom, making Amsterdam an essential destination for travellers keen to witness brilliantly-coloured flowers that create rainbows of delight under the bluest of skies.

With budding flowers bathed in crisp light immortalised by the Dutch masters, Amsterdam is more than the capital of the world’s most famous flower-producing nation, it is additionally one of the most beautiful, hip, laid back cities in Europe.

With global cuisine, friendly people and 17th century architecture, Amsterdam is full of charm that can be easily discovered either on foot or by bicycle, as borne out by the local statistic that the Dutch population of 16 million owns slightly more than 16 million bicycles.

Originally built on the shores of the saltwater Zuiderzee, following centuries of land-reclamation Amsterdam now borders the freshwater of IJsselmeer.

Shaped like a horseshoe, the city centre boasts a plethora of fine 17th-century architecture, with it possible to see beautiful gabled houses by merely walking alongside any one of four surrounding canals.

Set on 160 man-made canals that stretch 75 kilometers, Amsterdam’s historical inner city – the largest in Europe - is uniquely defined by houses rather than palaces, estates and other aristocratic folderol, with most of its 7,000 registered monuments originally residences and warehouses of humble merchants.

Small shops and larger shopping centres line many pedestrian-only passages and a fascinating old post office stands behind the central Dam Square. Fashion followers can find a wealth of collections, with the bi-annual Amsterdam Fashion Week in January and July now recognised showcases for fresh alternatives to bigger, more traditional catwalks are staged elsewhere.

Diverse local cultural offerings range from the Van Gogh Museum to a weekly celebration of African food and football, while visitors seeking rest and relaxation can head for some little-known beaches or lush green parks.

With as many facets as a 40-carat diamond polished by one of the city’s many gem cutters, downtown Amsterdam is the window for a Dutch nation ingrained with the principles of tolerance; a veritable Babylon of old-world charm; a font for homegrown geniuses including Rembrandt and Van Gogh; a cornucopia bursting with fresh blooms; and a social arena of cozy cafés and outdoor markets.

Amsterdam is so much more than just a European capital.

Places of Interest

Canal boat tours
A great way to see the city, with different views on offer to when walking or site-seeing by tram.

Canal bikes
There are several spots where rentals are available, with maps provided to ensure no-one gets lost.

Rijksmuseum
With several hundred masters to view, a rotating exhibit is staged at the airport for those who miss the museum.

Van Gogh Museum
A modern exhibit hall with works on display that influenced his life.

Vondel Park
The ideal location to watch Amsterdam pass by on a sunny day.

Alkmaar Cheese Market
Very quirky, very Dutch, with the chance to sample the delights of local cheese.

De Valk Molenmuseum (The Falcon Windmill Museum)
The best place to learn about the history, life, skills and techniques of the 18th-century Dutch miller.

Keukenhof Gardens
An open-air flower museum, with seven million bulbs blooming under the canopy of mature beech trees.

Efteling, Kaatsheuvel, Noord-Brabant The Disney World of the Netherlands.

Zuiderzee Museum
An outdoor presentation that depicts Dutch life in the olden days.