8 Experiences in Amsterdam To Book

Amsterdam is packed with thrilling and extraordinary things to do. There aren’t many places in the world where you can take part in a nude painting experience or a graffiti workshop. Maybe an ultimate pub crawl in the red-light district is your thing? Or some Dutch-pancake making?

Dutch-pancake-making class

One thing almost every Amsterdam visitor wants to try is some delicious Dutch pancakes – locally called pannenkoeken. Much thinner than American and Scottish versions, they’re irresistible, with sweet or savoury fillings and spreads. You can learn traditional Dutch recipes at a private pancake-making class in the home of a local in the heart of the city. Your host will take you to a local grocery store to soak up local life while you’re picking up ingredients that you will mix, cook and flip to produce the Dutch delight, and then you’ll sit and enjoy your pancake lunch together.

Cheese tasting

Dutch cheese is renowned the world over, but if you don’t know your gouda from your edam, a one-hour tasting session at a decades-old family cheese firm is for you. In Central Amsterdam at Reypenaer Cheese Tasting Room at Singel 182, guided by an expert, you’ll learn how to evaluate the flavour and aroma of various artisan cheeses. You’ll get to savour six different kinds of cheese paired with three types of wines. You’ll also receive a cheese gift to take home, and discover the company’s history, its 100-year-old warehouse in Woerden and why its ripening process is unique in the Netherlands.

Graffiti workshop

Amsterdam is known for its vibrant street art scene, and you can become a part of it – without the police on your back – by booking a private two-hour graffiti workshop for up to six people with a professional instructor. With the provided selection of aerosol paints, you can express yourself on various surfaces including concrete slabs, wood panels, canvas and even sails. The workshop is located just a couple of minutes away from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Nude painting workshop

Artworks by legendary artists like Van Gogh, Vermeer and Rembrandt are displayed all over Amsterdam, and here’s your chance to try your hand at figure illustration, too. Book a two-hour workshop in a private room above a restaurant with an experienced instructor, who will initially instruct and later guide you on sketching with chalk or charcoal, before your nude male or female model poses for an hour as you create your masterpiece. All materials are provided.

Glow-in-the-dark minigolf

If you want to ramp up the fun during a game of minigolf, try a 45-minute game of Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf at the centrally located Powerzone at De Ruijterkade 153. It’s fun for everyone – perfect for a children’s party, a company event or a bachelor’s party. Enter the world of pirates and villains as you discover how much fun it is to play golf in the dark.

Bowling experience

This experience takes bowling to a new level, featuring white bowling lanes with special LED lighting that guarantees fantastic colour effects. The experience is suitable for all ages, and the one-hour sessions, also at the Powerzone, feature black light and blue-purple effects that come to life for a dramatic impact.

The Ultimate Flight Experience

There’s so much to see in the Netherlands and so little time to see it, so a great way to get a good overview is to experience a unique simulated flight over all of the must-see attractions in the country. This simulated flight takes in the canals of Amsterdam, windmills, tulip fields, the port of Rotterdam and many other sights that encapsulate the region. The virtual tour covers the history of the Netherlands, and you’ll imagine yourself floating as special effects like wind, mist and scent add to the unforgettable experience. The meeting point is Overhoeksplein 51, directly across from Amsterdam’s Centraal Station on the north side of the city. A free 24-hour ferry takes you to the other side of the IJ harbour.

Party pub crawl in the red-light district

Amsterdam’s 1,100 bars are legendary – from the atmospheric, historic and cosy ‘brown cafés’ to the city’s cocktail bars and everything else in between. You can get a taste for Amsterdam’s bars on a five-hour pub crawl accompanied by a guide in De Wallen, the famous red-light district. Stopping at six bars, pubs and a club, you get a free shot at every venue. The starting point is Players, Warmoesstraat 170.