Since you can’t spend all your time holed up in Amsterdam’s many coffeeshops (well, you can, but we won’t judge) then consider a fun post-smoke activity to help you take in the culture of the Netherlands.
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Explore the Van Gogh Museum
Tickets: €19
A favorite of high Art History majors, the Van Gogh Museum is a great place to enjoy a post-coffeeshop afternoon, even if you aren’t an art fanatic.
Read through the lengthy signage about his life and discover Van Gogh’s fascinating works. It’s the perfect place if you’re an introverted consumer who prefers somewhere quiet and beautiful: Gogh’s dreamy artwork will speak for itself. But don’t expect to see Starry Night—the famous painting which is on display at the MoMA in New York City.
Take a River Boat Tour
Tickets: €18—€89
Amsterdam’s Canal Cruises are the best choice for when you need a little open-air relaxation, post-coffeeshop.
Outside of the coffeeshops, you never quite feel the laid-back vibe of Amsterdam more than when you’re floating on the city’s canals. There’s even a “Hop-on, Hop-off” boat for cruisers interested in sightseeing. If you’re visiting during the warmer months of the year, this is a must-do.
Bike to a Cheese and Clog Making Factory in the Countryside
Amsterdam is the “Bike Capital of the World” where you won’t have a hard time finding a rental shop near you. Rent two wheels and cruise along the Amstel River to the countryside where you’ll find the Rembrandt Hoeve Cheese and Clogs Farm.
Tour the factory, learn about cheese and clog making, and sample all the freshly made varieties of gouda. You can even buy a pair of authentic wooden clogs.
Visit a Brewery in a Windmill
To continue sampling delicious Dutch offerings post-coffeeshop, grab a seat below Amsterdam’s biggest windmill at Brouwerij ‘t IJ.
This bathhouse-turned-brewery makes a variety of homemade beer, including many certified organic varieties. Beer snacks are available—cheeses and sausages among them—which are hand-selected to pair well with the brews.
Eat Everything at Foodhallen
If you’re feeling particularly peckish, Foodhallen will be your nirvana.
You can get deliciously lost in this massive international food hall for days. Fancy a Thai curry for lunch? Bitterballen for a quick Dutch snack? For dinner, take your pick between hot dogs, sushi, pizza, tapas, tacos, you-name-it and this food haven has it.
Run Amok in Vondelpark
Vondelpark is like a default “We should probably get out of this coffeeshop and get some fresh air at some point…” solution.
Amsterdam’s version of Central Park, Vondel is the perfect place to straight chill. You’ll likely find yourself here, again and again, no matter the season. When the weather is nice, I find it best to carry a blanket/towel around with me, assuming I’ll need to plop myself on the grass at Vondelpark at some point during the day.
There are a bunch of little ponds and lakes with nifty water features, and the grassy areas are basically one big dog party, making this my ideal post-coffeeshop, post-up spot.
Indulge in Stroopwafels and Street Markets
If you don’t know about stroopwafels, your high ass will quickly learn of their chewy, caramel-y goodness. Packages of these sweet treats are like wallpaper at Dutch groceries.
But the best way to eat them? When they’re warm and ooey-gooey fresh off the waffle iron at the Original Stroopwafels truck in Albert Cuyp Market. If you smile nicely and bat your eyelids, they’ll even dip yours in warm chocolate sauce for you. (Kidding, you just have to ask like a normal person.)
As an added bonus, this open-air marketplace has over 300 stalls and is the perfect spot for a high meander.
Play Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf
Friendly competition with a glow-in-the-dark ambiance. If the weather isn’t nice enough for the bike rides, canal cruises, or parks, this mini-golf in the downstairs of an Amsterdam pub is your best option for a light Dutch activity.
Grab a beer and some food at Noah’s Arq gastropub before descending down to GlowGolf’s psychedelic, 3D wonderland.
Get Interactive at the Heineken Museum
Tickets: €18
The tour at the Heineken Museum is interesting enough to hold your attention, even after a particularly intense coffeeshop session.
The interactive tour (including something called Brew U, a virtual ride where you get, well, brewed) also has an entire section called the Game Floor. After all the fun, you’ll have the privilege of indulging in a crisp glass of the “freshest Heineken in the world.”
Visit Another Coffeeshop
Hey, you’re in Amsterdam. Never feel guilty about following up your coffeeshop time with some more coffeeshop time.
