Canals, gables and golden-age art
Amsterdam's ring of 17th-century canals, lined with narrow gabled houses and crossed by hundreds of bridges, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a joy to explore on foot, by boat or, like the locals, by bike. The Rijksmuseum holds Rembrandt's Night Watch and Vermeer's Milkmaid, and the Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of his work. The Anne Frank House is a moving visit that must be booked ahead. Beyond the centre, the Jordaan and De Pijp have brown cafés, markets and relaxed neighbourhood life.