Things to Do in Amsterdam

Seven floors of free public space with a rooftop terrace offering a solid view of the city skyline and harbour. Free wifi, clean toilets, and a café.

🕐 Mon-Sat 10:00-22:00, Sun 12:00-20:00

💡 Take the lift to the 7th floor roof terrace for the best free view of Amsterdam's eastern docklands. Open to everyone, no library card needed.

Amsterdam's main public library, with a stunning modern building, free Wi-Fi, and a seventh-floor café with panoramic canal views. Free to enter and explore.

🕐 Mon–Sat 10:00–22:00, Sun 12:00–22:00

💡 Take the lift to the top floor café—coffee is cheap (€1.50) and the terrace overlooks the IJ river, a great free alternative to expensive rooftop bars.

A secluded 14th-century courtyard hidden behind a door on Spuiplein. It's one of the oldest hofjes in the city, with preserved houses and a wooden secret chapel. Respect residents' privacy.

🕐 Daily 9am-5pm

💡 Go early (before 10am) to avoid crowds. The English Reformed Church inside opens at 11am for a quick look.

A hidden 14th-century courtyard of almshouses, one of Amsterdam's oldest residential areas. Still inhabited, with a secret English Reformed church.

🕐 09:00–17:00 daily (closed to visitors during church services)

💡 Silence is requested—no loud talking or photos of residents. Entry via the gate on Spui, not the church side.

A quiet, enclosed courtyard of 14th-century almshouses hidden in the city centre. The gabled houses surround a manicured garden, and there's a small English church and a hidden Catholic chapel inside.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00

💡 Enter through the arch on Spui—be respectful, as people still live here. No loud groups or bicycles allowed. Visit the chapel's wooden ship models hanging from the ceiling.

A quiet 14th-century courtyard hidden behind a door in the Spui. Historic almshouses and a wooden house from 1475.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00

💡 Silence is required. No photography inside the courtyard. Go early morning to avoid tour groups – they start arriving around 10am.

A hidden courtyard of 14th-century almshouses in the city centre, still occupied by single women. Quiet, cobbled, and feels a world away from the crowds.

🕐 09:00-17:00 daily

💡 Respect the residents — no photos inside the courtyard, and keep your voice down. The English Reformed Church inside has free entry on Saturdays.

A quiet, enclosed courtyard ringed by old almshouses dating from the 14th century. It's still lived in by single women under a religious foundation. Small hidden chapel inside.

🕐 Courtyard daily 09:00-17:00; chapel open variable hours

💡 Keep your voice down and don't take photos of residents. The hidden Catholic church (Houten Huys) at number 34 is one of Amsterdam's oldest surviving wooden buildings.

A hidden courtyard of medieval almshouses, founded in the 14th century for the Beguine religious sisterhood. The houses are still lived in, and the English Reformed Church sits in the centre.

🕐 Daily 09:00–17:00

💡 Stay quiet—residents live here. Look for the wooden house at number 34, one of the oldest in Amsterdam. The entrance is a plain door on Spui, easy to walk past.

A quiet medieval courtyard with 14th-century almshouses and a hidden Catholic church in the centre of the city.

🕐 09:00–17:00 daily

💡 Respect the residents—keep your voice down and don't photograph the houses. Entry via the Sint Luciënsteeg door.

A hidden 14th-century courtyard of almshouses, originally for Catholic lay sisters. Quiet, cobbled, with a wooden house (one of the oldest in Amsterdam) and a secret English Reformed church.

🕐 09:00–17:00 daily

💡 Knock on the door of the English Church (open 10am-4pm Mon-Sat) to see the stained glass. Stay silent — residents still live here.

Hidden medieval courtyard with almshouses and a secret Catholic church. Quiet oasis off busy Spui.

🕐 Daily 09:00–17:00 (closed Sundays during services)

💡 Must enter via the Schedeldoekshaven gate—the main entrance sometimes closes early. Respect residents: no loud talking or photos inside houses.

A quiet 14th-century courtyard hidden behind a door on Spuiplein, with historic almshouses and a wooden house from 1528. Still lived in by women.

🕐 Daily 9am-5pm

💡 Silence is expected inside. Don't bring large groups or kids running around. The English Reformed Church hosts free organ recitals Wednesdays at 1pm.

A hidden courtyard surrounded by 17th- and 18th-century almshouses, originally for Catholic lay sisters. English Reformed church and a medieval wooden house (Houten Huys) inside. Quiet, no cars.

🕐 09:00-17:00

💡 Enter via the gate on Spui. No loud groups, no photos of residents' windows. The chapel has a free exhibition about the Begijnhof's history. Closes at 17:00 sharp.

A hidden courtyard dating from the 14th century, surrounded by almshouses and a secret Catholic church. Peaceful and off the main tourist drag.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00

💡 Respect the residents – no loud talking and no photos inside the houses. The English Reformed Church often holds free lunchtime concerts.

A hidden courtyard of 14th-century almshouses, with a working chapel and a secret Catholic church. Quiet, residential, and well-preserved.

🕐 Daily 9:00-17:00

💡 Enter through the arch on Spui, not the main gate – it's easy to miss. Keep your voice down as people live here.

A quiet courtyard hidden behind a door on the Spui, with 14th-century almshouses and a secret Catholic church. You can walk round the garden for free.

🕐 Daily 09:00–17:00

💡 Be quiet and respectful – it's a residential area. Look for the English Reformed Church inside.

A quiet, hidden courtyard dating from the 14th century, surrounded by historic houses and a church. It was once a Catholic women's religious community.

🕐 Daily 9:00-17:00

💡 Enter via the discreet door on Spuiplein. Keep your voice down — people still live here.

A quiet 14th-century enclosed courtyard with original almshouses and a hidden wooden house (one of the oldest in the city). Still home to residents.

🕐 09:00–17:00 daily

💡 Respect the quiet sign – no loud talking or photos inside the courtyard. Visit early morning to avoid crowds.

A hidden courtyard of 14th-century almshouses, originally for a Catholic sisterhood. Very quiet despite being right off busy Spui. One of the oldest inner courtyards in the city.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00

💡 Enter via the door on Gedempte Begijnensloot—sometimes the Spui gate is locked. Please stay quiet; people still live here. You can peek into the hidden church, but photography is banned inside.