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Coronavirus: Things to do in Amsterdam during the Covid-19 outbreak

Visitor taking a picture at Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam

The unthinkable has happened. You’ve arrived in Amsterdam for a romantic getaway and to immerse yourself in its magical culture and nightlife. But, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), all of the restaurants, many shops and museums are closed. What do you do? To help you through this time, I have created for you a list of amazing things to do in Amsterdam that can (mostly) be enjoyed in your hotel room, whilst still absorbing the culture and romance of this beautiful city. 

 

 

See the Light artworks from the Light festival in Amsterdam

Christmas time is a time where the city becomes dark around 5 pm and all the lights in the city will turn on and make it a magical and romantic city. I created a map with the best Christmas lights of Amsterdam which you can see during winter. One route (dark red)  is best seen on a bike another route (yellow) is best seen from the canals. Also, there is a beautiful festival with artists that created more the 20 light artworks (light red). I included a walking route and back ground information on each artwork. Enjoy this magical festival.

Amsterdam-lights-winter

Amsterdam-lights-winter

 

Explore a museum online

For many of us, a walk through a museum with our loved ones, enjoying time together, being inspired by art and history in a new city is a must. And even more so in Amsterdam, being home to so many famous artists throughout the ages. The city and its buildings, canals and museums are alive with this rich history.  Although Museums are currently closed again (hopefully they will open soon) you can also visit them from the comfort of your hotel room or home through a virtual tour. We have a couple of suggestions to fill your senses and inspire you.

 

Van Gogh Museum Virtual Tour

 

Visitors looking at Van Gogh picture at the museum in Amsterdam

One time life experience is to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Photographer: Jean Carlo Emer

 

Perhaps the most famous Dutch artist, Vincent Van Gogh has made an incredible contribution to the world with his paintings. Through this virtual tour you can experience the art, but also learn about his love life, his relationship with his brother, his life and inspiration.

Van Gogh Virtual Tour

 

Rijksmuseum Virtual Tour

 

three girls looking at the painting in Rijkmuseum in Amsterdam

Visit Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is totally worth it. Photographer: Christian Fregnan

 

Amsterdam’s iconic museum showing many Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer has partnered with Google to show you over 150,000 art pieces, from paintings to sculptures, all online. Together in the comfort of your hotel room, you can discover the museum, zoom in on details and get to know the art like never before.

Rijksmuseum Virtual Tour

Tip: If you want to visit a museum, make sure to reserve your ticket and timeslot beforehand. Due to corona they only accept reserved entrance tickets.

 

Museums can open safely and responsibly, as evidenced by the experiences of 2020 with the 1.5 meter protocol. In addition, seventeen museums will open in the week of April 19 for a pilot with fast tests. People with a Museum card can visit these museums if they reserve a ticket for this period and show a negative test. This quick test can be taken for free at participating test centers. More about which museums open here.

 

Read the best books about Amsterdam during Corona.

 

A written page from Anne Frank Diary in Amsterdam

The diary of Anne Frank can be found in Amsterdam. Photographer: Cris Toala Olivares

 

One amazing way to absorb yourself into a new city and culture is through reading about it. There are many books, both fact and fiction that capture the essence of Amsterdam or a moment in history that still touches us today. In the city, there are many English bookstores on the Spuistraat, but if you can’t get to them, you can have them delivered to your hotel room.

 

The first and most known is The Diary of Anne Frank. Learn about the life of Anne Frank, a Dutch Jewish girl hiding from the Nazis in wartime Amsterdam. There is also a love story connected and in its essence is a snapshot of the life and people of this unforgettable moment in our collective history.

 

Would you like to discover the true soul the city “Amsterdam,  a brief history of Amsterdam“, traced through history? “is an amazing guide, sharing stories of what made Amsterdam what she is today. Written by a famous Dutch writer, Geert Mak.

 

My favourite book about the city is Amsterdam a history of the World’s most liberal city.  known throughout the world for its liberal heart, Russel Shorto’s seminal work Amsterdam is here to reveal its origins.

 

Best movies shot in Amsterdam from your hotel room

What is more cosy and romantic than a movie night cuddled up with your loved one? Here are a few beautiful movies (with links to their trailers) that were filmed or based in Amsterdam that you can watch together and laugh, perhaps cry and be thrilled together.

 

The girl with the pearl earring painting by Johannes Vermeer

Girl with a Pearl Earring is an oil painting by Dutch Golden Age painter Johannes Vermeer.

 

A Girl with a Pearl Earring

A dreamy and romantic imagining of how Vermeer’s famous work came to be.

 

At Eternity’s Gate

A beautiful and artistic study of the mind of Vincent Van Gogh

 

Ocean’s Twelve 

Filmed largely in Amsterdam, showing the city’s architecture and nightlife, this witty heist movie will entertain you with a very funny scene in a coffee shop.

 

A Fault in Our Stars

A moving and romantic story of two teenagers battling serious illness, filmed partially in Amsterdam. In the movie, there is an iconic scene on an Amsterdam bench where the male lead Gus reveals he is sick again. Heartbreaking and beautiful.

 

Heineken beer museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Kidnapping Mr Heineken is a true story about the 1983 abduction of Alfred “Freddy” Heineken in Amsterdam.

 

Kidnapping Mr Heineken

A famous true story of a kidnapping of the owner of the famous beer brand, filmed in Amsterdam.

 

The Hitman’s Bodyguard

An action-comedy, filmed partly in Amsterdam.

 

For a Netflix series that could be quite scary for some is the Dutch series, Ares. Shot in various locations around the city, it is an opportunity to watch a series from the Dutch perspective and language.

Here is a list for you if you would like to watch more movies filmed in Amsterdam.

We just opened up and our romantic canal tours are available again.  Here is a short impression from this tour:

 

 

 

Explore the city and nature surrounding the city

 

Several Boats on the canals in Amsterdam

Marvellous canals of Amsterdam. Photographer: Eirik Skarstein

 

If you are in the city and the weather is lovely, why not take a walk around your neighbourhood? There are some beautiful streets in the city with amazing architecture. One area is the Amsterdam Canal Gordel, a stunning place for couples to walk together next to the canals. Now that many of the shops and all of the bars and coffee shops are closed and the streets are very quiet, a wonderful place to visit is the Old District of Amsterdam the Red Light District. 

Why not hire a bike from your hotel and travel through the parks and nature areas in the city. On the way, you can pick up some take away or bring your own food and drinks. There are so many lovely places to enjoy a picnic! 

 

People on bikes cycling in Westerpark, a park in Amsterdam

Cycling in Westerpark, the biggest park in Amsterdam. Photographer: Eirik Skarstein

 

Visit Westerpark on the bike:

 

 

Vondelpark

 

Twiske

 

Amsterdamse Bos

 

Prinseneiland

 

Nieuwendammerdijk

 

Vliegenbos

 

Two people holding hands on a bike at a sunset

Bike with your love one in Amsterdam and feel the magic of a sunset. Photographer: Everton Vila

 

If you’d like to travel a little further outside of the city, why not visit the beach? You can still use public transport (if you want to). Or you can hire a car, my recommendation is Nedcars to take a short journey for a romantic walk along the beach.

 

Zandvoort Aan Zee 

A great beach easily reached by train or car. About 30 min from Amsterdam. Check train times here.

 

people walking on the beach during winter in schoorl beach, the Netherlands

The sandy beach Strand Bergen aan Zee during the winter season

 

Bergen Aan Zee

A more quiet beach and with wonderful walking routes.

My personal favorite beach and dunes is Schoorl. If you enjoy long walks and a place away from the crowds this is the one to go to. It is about 45 min from Amsterdam. You can go by car or take the train and the bus.

 

And another place closeby with very quaint and typical Dutch-style windmills is Zaanse Schans. Remember that the museum, shops and windmills are closed, but you can still take a walk in this picturesque and captivating location just perfect for couples.  

 

Dutch Windmills and houses in a small town in Netherlands, Zaanse Schans

Zaanse Schans gives you the authenticity of Dutch Windmills Photographer: Moritz Kindler

 

And of course, please stay as safe as you can. I’m sharing here the regulations now for COVID-19 specifically in Amsterdam by the local authorities. 

 

Take an audio tour through the city

One amazing tip if you had planned a tour through the city, but can no longer enjoy this due to COVID, let me share with you the izi travellers app. Why not download it and take a tour of the city, either by foot or from the comfort of your hotel room.

 

Do a Private Romantic Boat Tour (not possible at the moment)

 

romantic mini boat tour amsterdam a couple smiling and being in love

Explore Amsterdam Canals during a romantic canal tour through the waters. Photographer: Ronald Kempff

There are few things you can do in Amsterdam, but what is possible if you are looking for something really romantic. Is doing a private canal tour. The canals are quiet, peaceful and magical especially now since almost no tourist are there. I believe that if you haven’t seen Amsterdam from the Canals you haven’t seen Amsterdam. I created a romantic canal tour especially for couples and love to take you around and let you feel the magic and romance of Amsterdam. I will share romantic stories, show you some highlights around love and romance and let experience it through all your senses.  Especially during Corona, I created a Romantic Private Canal tour that is still affordable for every budget. Go here for more info about what I offer even during corona. Or float underneath the many bridge with lights during the Romantic Night Canal Cruise in Amsterdam time.

 

Cheese and beer tasting in your hotel room

 

Different type of cheese with tastes in amsterdam

The Dutch produce 650 million kilos of cheese every year.

 

Dutch cheese and beer are world-famous, from Gouda to Heineken and beyond there are so many delicious ways to immerse yourself into dutch food culture without visiting a restaurant.

As the smaller shops may be closed why not visit a supermarket? In Dutch supermarkets (Albert Heijn you can find them all over the city) you can buy Dutch cheese. You could buy a few different kinds of cheeses and make your own cheese platter, we have different flavour strengths, young, medium and old. It is lekker (dutch word for yummy) and to enjoy the cheese with a local beer enhances the experience. Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a lovely local beer and can be found also in our supermarkets. 

if you want to make A truly local visit My favourite organic market: De Noordermarkt and buy your local cheese here.

Another heavenly Dutch delicacy is the stroopwafel (caramel waffle). A personal tip that I love to share is to take your waffle, place it over a steaming cup of tea, hot chocolate or coffee and allow that steam to melt the caramel. If you have a love for sweet, this is an exquisite and really romantic way to enjoy Dutch food.  

 

Take a moment to share with a loved one

 

A post card written by hand many years ago, 1918

Vintage postcard, Happy Christmas 1918. Photographer: Annie Spratt

 

It is a challenging time for so many people at the moment and for you, it could be an opportunity to spread a bit of love and connection from your trip to those loved ones at home. One magical and thoughtful way is with a postcard, you can buy postcards from your hotel or close by perhaps showing the beauty of the city and sending a message to your friends and family. You can also find postcards and stamps at our local post office here

 

Amsterdam a city of romance

 

Two people hugging and looking at each other in love on a beach

Love is the most powerful feeling in the Universe. Photographer: Christiana Rivers

 

As you can see, Amsterdam is, even in these uncertain times, a place to relax, discover the city and be together even within your hotel room. I hope these tips make your stay more enjoyable and the passion, art, beauty, romance and culture will invite you back to visit us again in different circumstances. 

And if you do return, as a passionate local guide, I organise both romantic group tours and bespoke tours to help couples fall in love with Amsterdam and each other – all over again! I also have helped plan many anniversaries, honeymoons and marriage proposals in this beloved city. I’d be delighted to help you arrange a romantic surprise, whatever your needs or budget. Come with me and uncover a side to Amsterdam you’ve never seen before! 

If there’s anything I can help you with please get in touch at [email protected] and me and my team do whatever we can in these challenging times.

For now, I wish you a special stay in Amsterdam and stay safe and healthy.

 

Rocco

Creator of Romantic Tour Amsterdam