January 27, 2025
Just arrived in Amsterdam? Here’s exactly what to do first
You know that moment — when you arrive in a new city, and nothing is familiar yet, but everything feels possible?
That’s where we are now.
You’ve just stepped off the train. Or maybe out of the airport, blinking into daylight that feels softer somehow.
There’s a breeze, a bike bell somewhere in the distance, and the scent of something sweet in the air — probably waffles, definitely a little magic.
Your bag’s a little heavy. Your brain’s still somewhere between your last airport coffee and the seat-back tray that wouldn’t close. You’re here. But not here yet. Let me help you with that.
My friend recently texted me since I've been living in Amsterdam for years now:
“Just landed. What should I do first?”
This is what I send her back.
That’s where we are now.
You’ve just stepped off the train. Or maybe out of the airport, blinking into daylight that feels softer somehow.
There’s a breeze, a bike bell somewhere in the distance, and the scent of something sweet in the air — probably waffles, definitely a little magic.
Your bag’s a little heavy. Your brain’s still somewhere between your last airport coffee and the seat-back tray that wouldn’t close. You’re here. But not here yet. Let me help you with that.
My friend recently texted me since I've been living in Amsterdam for years now:
“Just landed. What should I do first?”
This is what I send her back.
First, don’t rush. Let yourself land.
Before anything else, find somewhere quiet. Not your hotel room — you’ll get there. First, a café. A warm one. With good coffee and big windows.
Here’s where I’d send you:
- Scandinavian Embassy in De Pijp — a clean, calm place that always smells like cardamom
- Hummingbird near the center — a small café with soft light and the best oat flat white I’ve had in months
- Toki in the Jordaan — my ritual spot when I want to slow everything down
Don’t open your phone.
Don’t check the time.
Just order something that feels comforting.
Sit by the window. Watch the street move around you.
Let Amsterdam come to you.
That’s something I always tell myself on day one.
Then, let’s walk. No destination. No pressure.
Amsterdam isn’t a city that needs a plan.
It’s not about hitting all the “must-sees.”
It’s about turning left when you meant to turn right.
It’s about finding little shops and smelling bread in a street you didn’t mean to walk down.
So here’s what we do: we wander.
You’ll feel the rhythm of the city right away — slower than you'd expect. More gentle. There’s no rush here. You can’t really get lost. And even if you do, it's beautiful.
You’ll stumble on a bookstore. A corner café. Maybe a canal that looks like a painting. And that’s all you need to do right now.
These are the neighborhoods I always end up in:
- 1. De Jordaan
- 2. De Pijp
- 3. Oud-West
- 4. Amsterdam Centrum (City Centre)
- 5. Oost (Amsterdam East)
- 6. Amsterdam-Noord
- 7. Zuid (Amsterdam South)
- 8. Westerpark
If you want to “see” something — choose just one thing.
I get it. You want to feel like you did something cultural. Totally fair. But promise me this: just pick one. Not five museums in one day. Just one moment of beauty, one place that makes you feel something.
Walk slow. Sit longer than you think you should. Buy the postcard.
Then go eat something comforting and don’t feel guilty for not “doing more.”
You’re doing plenty.
Here’s where I’d send you, depending on your mood:
- Rijksmuseum
- Van Gogh Museum
- Moco Museum
- STRAAT musuem
This is your first day in my beautiful city.
The start of something slow, beautiful, and all yours.
If you ever feel lost — or just want a local tip — I’m one message away.
I’m happy you’re here.
Welcome to Amsterdam.
Love, Vanessa
P.S. Want more than just a few tips?
I made a guide for you.
It’s full of the places I keep going back to — and the ones I only share with close friends. Cafés I stay too long in. Hotels that feel like home.
Bridges that glow at golden hour, like they’re holding a secret.
It also comes with a playlist — because Amsterdam sounds like something.
Soft jazz through open windows.
Bike bells and early conversations.
The kind of silence you only hear when you walk with no destination.
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→ Download my Amsterdam Guide + Playlist
→ Follow my travel stories on Instagram: @mytravelgids
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The start of something slow, beautiful, and all yours.
If you ever feel lost — or just want a local tip — I’m one message away.
I’m happy you’re here.
Welcome to Amsterdam.
Love, Vanessa
P.S. Want more than just a few tips?
I made a guide for you.
It’s full of the places I keep going back to — and the ones I only share with close friends. Cafés I stay too long in. Hotels that feel like home.
Bridges that glow at golden hour, like they’re holding a secret.
It also comes with a playlist — because Amsterdam sounds like something.
Soft jazz through open windows.
Bike bells and early conversations.
The kind of silence you only hear when you walk with no destination.
------------------------------------------------------------
→ Download my Amsterdam Guide + Playlist
→ Follow my travel stories on Instagram: @mytravelgids
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