Escaping Mass Tourism In Amsterdam: 4 Authentic Experiences

Amsterdam has been associated with prostitutes and marijuana for decades, but this city has much more to offer!

It’s undeniable, every year Amsterdam gets crowded with tourists who only care about partying. But if you’re now smiling thinking that, unlike them, you will not fall for tourist traps… Well, think twice. You may have already planned your holiday to see Amsterdam’s colorful tulips, visit its ancient windmills, and try its delicious cheese. Nothing wrong with it, but in all those activities you will be surrounded by tourists and, most likely, you won’t see a single Dutch person, except for your guide. If you’re truly interested in how the locals live their daily life, stay with us!

Here is a list of activities to do in Amsterdam to avoid mass tourism and blend in with the locals.

Wynand Fockink is the most beloved distillery in the whole of Amsterdam. Locals frequently come here to enjoy a quick glass of genever and have a chat with the friendly bartenders. They will explain everything there is to know about this delicious drink and make you try several flavors of their liquors.

The actual café where Wynand Fockink is located dates back to 1679. The bar has maintained its crooked shelves and wooden furniture and will make you think you just stepped back in time.

As you taste your liquor shot, you will immediately realize that this distillery has nothing to do with mass production. Do you know that fake strawberry flavor we have all learned to associate with the fruit? Forget about it, you won’t find it here. Have you ever tried a tiny strawberry directly picked from the grass on a mountain trip? Now you got it!

Wynand Fockink serves its genevers and liquors in weirdly shaped glasses that are filled up to the very top. To drink the whole liquid without spilling it, customers take the very first sip directly at the counter by bowing their head towards the glass. As your bartender will tell you with his dry Dutch humor, ‘just bend over and suck it’!

Wynand Fockink’s staff will narrate to you all the traditions and legends connected to this place and, if you’re lucky, you will even get an ‘Amsterdammer’. The ‘Amsterdammer’ tradition is a very ancient one and Wynand Fockink is one of the few bars in Amsterdam still keeping it alive. Back in the day, an ‘Amsterdammer’ happened every time a barman finished the bottle before filling up the tiny liquor glass to the very top. As the waiter turned his back to the customer to grab a new bottle, the glass would magically get empty. To this day, if your barman finishes the bottle before fully filling up your glass, you will have a few seconds to drink your liquor as he turns to get a new bottle.

If there’s one thing that all Dutch people have in common is their love for second-hand culture. You may have probably noticed this from the Dutch ability to turn everything into a vase. As you walk through Amsterdam’s canals, you will surely see several herbs and trees planted in old buckets and trash bins. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The Spui neighborhood is characterized by wonderful markets where locals sell all sorts of items. On Sundays, you will find the art market where artists sell their art while on Fridays you will find the book market, the perfect place to buy a second-hand book.

Make sure to also check out ‘Books 4 Life’ and the ‘Book Exchange’. Both these shops have tons of English volumes sold at affordable prices and here locals frequently come to sell or buy new books.

If you want to buy some vintage pieces of clothing then ‘Vintage for Kilo’ is the ideal place for you. Here you can buy clothes based on their weight. Every vintage lover will get lost in these piles of clothes. From old skirts from the 60’s to Converse shoes, high-waisted jeans, colorful waistcoats, and more!

Last but not least, Robin Food! This restaurant is run by volunteers and only uses ingredients that would otherwise be thrown away by the many local markets in Amsterdam. You can come to eat here every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The food is always vegan and a full three-course meal will cost you only €12.50. This is a great place to get to meet the local community and chat with the many volunteers running the place.

You may ask, what’s so special about the cinema? Well, nothing much if you’re going to a big multiplex cinema… but that's not our plan. Amsterdam is home to several small movie theaters located in ancient Dutch houses. Some of my favorites are ‘The Movies’ in Haarlemmerdijk 159 and ‘De Uitkijk’ in Prinsengracht 452.

Both these cinemas are located in the heart of Amsterdam and, as you walk in, you will get the feeling of being at a family reunion more than a movie theater. You will find small groups of friends chatting while sitting on a couch or sipping a beer waiting for the movie to begin. The cherry on the cake? You can even take your beer inside during the screening!

There’s something extremely cozy and intimate in watching a movie with a few other spectators and even though it may seem silly at first, we guarantee that you will feel more connected to the Dutch people after the experience.

The houses where these cinemas are located are so old that during stormy days you will be able to hear the sound of the rain pouring outside while watching your movie. A unique experience worth trying.

Amsterdam is home to several parks such as Westerpark and Vondelpark, however, these always get crowded with groups of people training, playing loud music, or partying. If you want to enjoy some peace and quiet, Het Twiske won’t disappoint you. I know, technically Het Twiske is not inside Amsterdam, but it’s still worth visiting.

You can reach this park with a 30-minute bike ride from the center of Amsterdam or by public transport. Het Twiske has several little lakes where people like to swim during the summer months. Here you will find nudist beaches, adventure parks for kids, and plenty of green areas to explore.

These were some activities worth trying when visiting Amsterdam to discover authentic Dutch culture. Whether you decide to visit Amsterdam’s windmills or spend a day at the tulip market, make sure to also save some time to get to know the culture of the people living in this wonderful city. From their passion for second-hand culture to their tales behind their spirits and love for intimate small cinemas, Dutch culture is always worth discovering!