When visiting Amsterdam you can't miss out on visiting the Van Gogh museum. Opened in 1973 and is the home of one of the worlds greatest ever artists, Van Gough was born way back in 1853 in a Dutch town called Zundert. He had a good a education but left school abruptly in 1868 and a year later he managed to get an apprentice at the Goupil & Cie, An international art dealers which had headquarters in Paris. He moved to England in 1873 where his love for Art took a nose dive and he starts to lose interest and turns to the church and not so long after that he becomes a clergyman after being let go by his employers, through the years he gets more interest from helping others than anything else and does some work in Amsterdam helping the poor before moving to Belgium where he starts to give away his possessions so he can help the poor old mine workers who that time lived in appalling conditions, Aged 27 he decides he can still help the church wile learning to paint and in the Van Gough museum you can see that great collection of one of the greatest artists who has ever graced this earth. You can see and learn a whole lot more if you visit the van gough museum in Amsterdam.

As we have previously mentioned, Amsterdam offers an extremely rich travel experience. In fact, there is so much to do that it can be a little overwhelming for visitors. Luckily for you we have compiled this list on what are the not-to-be-missed atractions when visiting Amsterdam.

- Walking tour of Amsterdam

Walking around Amsterdam offers hours of sightseeing fun. Its a great option if you are on a budget as you can pick up a map at one of the Amsterdam Tourist Offices and go ahead and explore. Try strolling around Jordaan (trendy), the Central Canal Ring; Oude Zijde (historic area); or the Eastern Canal Ring and stately mansions. These areas are all very picturesque.

- Visit Van Gogh Museum

There are many superb museums in Amsterdam. However, the Van Gogh Museum is one of the best. The largest collection of Van Gogh’s work, the museum itself has undergone a refurbishment and this has improved the visitor experience immensley. There is also an option for an English language self guided tour.

- Sample the Dutch masters at the Rijksmuseum

The Netherlands largest national museum, the Rijksmuseum offers the finest collection of 17th-century Dutch works of art in just one wing of its massive Neo-Gothic structure (architecturally worth seeing itself). “The Masterpieces” exhibition is a must see, featuring works by Dutch masters Rembrandt, Vermeer and Frans Hals.

- Amsterdam Canal Cruise

Travelling along the canals is the only way to get a truly experience the uniqueness of Amsterdam. Infact, if you only have a short period of time in the city, we would recommend a canal cruise above all else. You can jump into an open-top canal boat or do-it-yourself on a canal bike. You can cruise doen the canals and soak in the atmosphere, viewing 17th-century mansions, tree-lined neighborhoods and stunning architecture, both ancient and modern. A night or sunset cruise is probabaly the best time to take a cruise.

- Visit The Anne Frank House

In a profound and moving experience, where Anne Frank penned her world-reknowned diaries during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam in World War 2. Visiting this museum is a profound experience. Avoid the queues by visiting early or late in the day, or by purchasing tickets in advance. The museum is situated in Westermark, central Amsterdam.

- Sample the cafe culture

Of course, no trip to Amsterdam would be complete without taking in the unique and laid back atmosphere of the many cafes that pepper the city.

These are just a few of our favourite attractions in Amsterdam. If you have any recommendations for Amsterdam essentials please let us know.

You can get a ferry to Amsterdam daily from the UK, our favourite way to travel.