Amsterdam, located in the west province of North Holland is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands.
Amsterdam's main attractions, include its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Hermitage Amsterdam, Anne Frank House, its red-light district, and its many cannabis coffee shops. Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, and has more than 3.66 million visitors annually.
Amsterdam has a cool oceanic climate. During winter temperatures are mild and seldom drop below 0°C, whilst in summer they are moderately warm but rarely hot. Amsterdam's average annual rainfall is less than 760 mm and most of this is in the form of protracted drizzle or light rain, making cloudy, damp days common during the cooler months of October to March.
Amsterdam fans out south from the Amsterdam Central railway station. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is less than 20 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central Station. It is the biggest airport in the Netherlands, the fifth largest in Europe, and the twelfth largest in the world in terms of passengers. In the city centre, driving a car is discouraged. Parking fees are expensive, and many streets are closed to cars or are one-way. Public transport in Amsterdam mainly consists of bus and tram lines. Three free ferries carry pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ to Amsterdam-Noord, and two fare-charging ferries run east and west along the harbour. There are also water taxis, a water bus, a boat sharing operation, electric rental boats (Boaty) and canal cruises, that transport people along Amsterdam's waterways.
The Amsterdam canal system is the result of conscious city planning. In the early 17th century a comprehensive plan was developed based on four concentric half-circles of canals known as the Grachtengordel, with their ends emerging at the IJ bay. However, over the years several canals have been filled in becoming streets or squares such as the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and the Spui.
Shops in Amsterdam range from large department stores to small specialty shops. Amsterdam's high-end shops are found in the vicinity of the Vondelpark in the streets Pieter Cornelisz Hooftstraat and Cornelis Schuytstraat. Another shopping area is the Negen Straatjes: nine narrow streets within the Grachtengordel. The Negen Straatjes differ from other shopping districts with the presence of a large diversity of privately owned shops. The city also features many open-air markets such as the Albert Cuypmarkt, Westermarkt, Ten Katemarkt, and Dappermarkt.
A variety of restaurants can be found in Amsterdam ranging from the luxurious and expensive to the more affordable. Amsterdam also has many cafes ranging from large and modern to the more cosy and old fashioned, with dimmed lights and candles. Most cafes have terraces and a common sight on the Leidseplein during summer is a square full of terraces packed with people drinking beer or wine. Many discothèques are also are situated near the Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein which are the two main nightlife areas. Amsterdam has many museums and the most important ones can be found in the Museumplein (Museum Square), close to the renowned Rijksmuseum.
Amsterdam offers a wide variety music venues. The Heineken Music Hall is a concert hall located near the Amsterdam ArenA and is primarily used for large audience concerts often featuring famous international artists. Two other notable venues, Paradiso and the Melkweg are located near the Leidseplein and offer a broad range of music from indie rock to hip hop, R&B, and other popular genres. Jazz also has a strong following in Amsterdam, with the Bimhuis being the premier venue.
Finally, no tour of Amsterdam would be complete without mention of its Red Light District. Situated in the oldest area of the town, de Wallen (the quays), it consists of a network of roads and alleys containing several hundred small, one-room apartments rented by female sex workers who offer their services from behind a window or glass door, typically illuminated with red lights (hence its name). The area also has various sex shops, sex theatres and peep shows; a sex museum, a cannabis museum, and a number of coffee shops offering various cannabis products.