Are the canals as adorable as they look in photos?  Nope.  They’re even cuter.  Grab some fries at Mannekenpis and head out for a stroll to enjoy the quaint neighborhoods of Amsterdam.  Due to the canal ring structure, the city is extremely walkable.

No one does cheese like Amsterdam!  The city is filled with cheese and wine shops, and the accompanying jams are to die for!  Because, you deserve it.

The tales are true- Amsterdam’s red light districts offer a variety of legal debauchery for visitors to enjoy.  Options for those wanting to really let loose include drinking, smoking marijuana, and even prostitution.  Looking for the perfect gift idea?  How about penis salt & pepper shakers or boob stress balls?  Yes, those are real things (and make great stocking stuffers!  Finally something for that hard to shop for someone in your life.  You’re welcome.)

Though you can find flowers all over the city, my favorite place to buy them was the Floating Flower Market.  Be careful about buying bulbs to bring home from here though, as they’ll be confiscated in customs.  If you really want to bring some back you can purchase sealed/ approved bulbs at the airport before you fly home.

Amsterdam has a number of incredible museums, including the Van Gogh Museum (which had been on my bucket list, and was well worth the wait!)

Fun fact- bikes outnumber people in Amsterdam by a wide margin.  There is literally a sea of them outside the train station (I’ve never seen so many in my life!)  As a result, local authorities have had to start collecting abandon bicycles throughout the city in staggering numbers.  Seems like a good problem to have in comparison to the number of cars here in the United States.

Are you noticing a theme here? The dutch are big on their flowers (and it’s by far one of my favorite things about the country.)  So many tulips around the city in markets, planters, pots… it’s like a drema come true for fans of the friendly florals.

I realize this is canal picture #2 but come on… does it get any more picturesque than this?!?  The warm light from the windows, the contrast of the trees budding against the brown and black buildings, the tiny cars parked on the edge of the canals (given my parallel parking abilities, I can tell you where mine would end up…)  Amsterdam is simply amazing, and impossible not to fall in love with.

A somber excursion (but one that shouldn’t be skipped) is a visit to the Anne Frank Huis in Amsterdam.  Walk through her secret annex, learn how the war affected Holland (and all of Europe), and see the diary she kept while in hiding.  As a result, don’t forget your tissues- it’s an extremely moving experience.  You can learn more about additional holocaust sites and memorials here.

If tulips are your favorite flower (like me) then hold on to your hat, because there are FIELDS of them all over the Netherlands. It’s like walking through a postcard!  Almost.

Make sure to plan your trip around the two months when Keukenhof Gardens is open! With over 7 million bulbs planted annually, it’s one of the true treasures of the country.  So may flowers, so little time.

Still not convinced Keukenhof is worth planning your trip around?  Where else can you find a river of flowers?  Exactly.  Yet another reason it’s a must see destination.

And finally, Holland boasts some shop fronts that are cute as a button!  (Get it?!?  Because it’s a button store?!?  I know, I’m hilarious.)