Parks
Vondelpark
The only large park that is close to the Old Centre, and definitely the most popular one among visitors. Especially in the summer it's lively and crowded, many locals sit on the grass and enjoy a cold beer. It's a lovely place to just hang out, sit in the sun and meet the locals.
Sarphatipark
Situated in De Pijp, this is a place where people sunbathe and have picnics in the summer.
Museum Square
Not exactly a park, but a large grassed open space. Around its edges are the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Concertgebouw, and the temporarily closed Stedelijk Museum. At a sunny summer day, many locals chill at the grass lawn on top of the Albert Heijn supermarket.
Amsterdamse Bos
The largest park that is relatively close to the city centre is officially located in Amstelveen.
Museums
Stedelijk Museum
The Amsterdam municipal museum of modern art. Tues-Sun: 10AM-4PM, Thurs: 10AM-10PM, Mon: closed. This museum is currently closed for renovation. ⬠10.
Diamond Museum
This brand new exhibition about the history of diamond trade in Amsterdam.
Rijksmuseum
The largest and most prestigious museum for art and history in the Netherlands: works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and other Dutch masters. The museum is being completely renovated, but the major masterpieces are still on show. This makes it easy to catch the highlights, but it also means that it gets packed, and the line just to get in can be lengthy. Admission €14.00 for adults, under 18 free, no discounts for students. In the garden is a small temporary exhibition on the renovation plans.
Van Gogh Museum
This museum is dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, a late 19th century Dutch painter. The museum is extremely popular so expect to wait in line to get in. In the museum are many, but not all, of Van Gogh's works. The museum contains some famous painting like Sunflowers and Potato Eaters, but lack other such as Starry Night. Also, there are selected works of Monet exhibited there. Consider the audio tour at only € 4,00, in the language of your choice, will give you a much better understanding of Van Gogh's life and his paintings. Entry is €14 for adults, neither student nor group rates. Open late on Fridays.
The Museum Quarter boasts some of the best museums of the world, notably the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. A trip to Amsterdam is not complete if you haven't been to at least one of these museums.
Filmmuseum
A non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of contemporary and historical films. Multiple screenings daily. The Filmmuseum is in the Vondelpark, between park entrances Roemer Visscherstraat and Vondelstraat. Despite the name the "Filmmuseum" this is not a museum, rather just an alternative cinema funded by the government.
Windmills
Riekermolen (1636)
on the bank of the Amstel river at Kalfjeslaan.
In the South, only the Molen van Sloten (http://www.molenvansloten...) is open for visitors. The Molen van Sloten at Akersluis 10, about 10 minutes walk from the terminus of tram line 2, open daily from 10:00AM to 4PM.
Other windmills:
De Jonge Dikkert
Officially in Amstelveen corner of Molenweg and Amsterdamseweg is now a restaurant.