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