| Anyone who has been to Amsterdam will | | | | to tour the sites. This is why many |
| quickly tell you there are three major | | | | cruise lines, including Holland America, |
| attractions: museums, canals and tulips. | | | | offer canal excursions. With towering |
| All three offer their own unique range | | | | church steeples, majestic buildings and |
| of beauty that continues to draw flocks | | | | apartments built with strict |
| of tourists from around the world. | | | | space-saving engineering, Amsterdam is |
| Before booking your next trip to | | | | truly home to the brownstones found so |
| Amsterdam, take a closer look at the | | | | commonly in New York City. Called Canal |
| wonders this ancient city has to offer. | | | | Houses, you'll see these remarkable |
| Museums in Amsterdam | | | | structures dotted all over Amsterdam. |
| While most people with even a vague | | | | One site you'll certainly want to view |
| familiarity with Amsterdam will | | | | is the Centraal Station. Easily |
| recognize the names Rijksmuseum, Van | | | | mistaken for a palace by tourists, the |
| Gogh Museum and Stedelijk Museum, this | | | | twin clock towers (one is actually a |
| regal city has many others from which to | | | | chronometer) are just part of its |
| choose. | | | | magnificence. Made of red stone, the |
| Located at the center of Dam Square, the | | | | Centraal Station is adorned with |
| Amsterdam Historical Museum was once the | | | | architectural adornments including |
| city's orphanage. Focusing on what | | | | carvings and spires. It is truly |
| those native to Amsterdam call its | | | | amazing! |
| Golden Age (in the 17th century), this | | | | |
| museum highlights more prosperous times | | | | Tulips in Full Bloom |
| when Amsterdam was the richest city in | | | | |
| the world. | | | | According to some accounts, tulips made |
| There is even a museum for kids. The | | | | their way from their native Russia to |
| NEMO museum focuses on science and | | | | Holland in 1562. The original color of |
| technology and offers children four | | | | the tulip is red. However, through |
| floors of experiments and exhibitions to | | | | pre-engineering and a few accidents, the |
| explore. This giant, green, boat-shaped | | | | Dutch crossbred an entire rainbow of |
| building is easy to spot. | | | | colors including yellow, orange, purple, |
| Canals | | | | pink and white plus variegated and other |
| | | | varieties. |
| No trip to Amsterdam is complete without | | | | After many years of bulb development, |
| a tour of the canals. Bearing a | | | | tulips finally became a prosperous trade |
| striking similarity to Venice, Amsterdam | | | | for Holland. In fact, tulips became so |
| has a landscape swirled with waterways. | | | | quickly acclimated to the atmosphere and |
| The four main city center canals are | | | | thrived so gloriously that Holland |
| Prinsengracht, Herengracht, | | | | (especially Amsterdam) is now known as |
| Keizersgracht and Singel; however, | | | | the tulip capital of the world. |
| smaller versions are found throughout | | | | From lavish gardens filled with tulips |
| Amsterdam. | | | | and other blooms to the Artis Zoo to |
| Because the canals take you right up to | | | | splendid buildings, Amsterdam offers |
| much of the city's stunning | | | | both education and entertainment for the |
| architecture, they are the perfect way | | | | entire family. |