Amsterdam | Going Dutch

Why go?

Amsterdam is home to some incredible art museums with works from Van Gogh to Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse. With the tulips in full bloom, there is no better time to visit Amsterdam than in spring.

What to do?

The Stedekijk Museum has an amazing collection of 20th-century artists. It holds pre-war works by Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse and Chagall, plus a selection of paintings and drawings by Malevich. Post-1945 artists include De Kooning, Judd, Lichtenstein, Nauman, Stella and Warhol. Its Museumplein venue is closed for renovation until the end of 2009, so it's organising temporary shows in town. Another highlight is the Van Gogh Museum, which holds 200 paintings and 500 drawings produced by the troubled genius, as well as Japanese paints and works by his one-time collaborator Gauguin. It is housed in a Rietveld building, which has recently been enlarged with a new wing by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa.

Contemplate the tragic history of the Jewish community with a visit to the home of the diarist Anne Frank. Prinsengracht 263 was the canal-side house where the young Jewish girl Anne Frank and her family hid for two years during the Second World War, having fled from persecution in Germany in 1933. A bookcase marks the entrance to the unfurnished rooms of the annex in which they lived, sustained by the efforts of friends. In the new wing, there's a good exhibition about the persecution of the Jews during the War, and displays charting racism, neo-Fascism and anti-Semitism.

Known as the "Venice of the North" Amsterdam has more than 100km of canals with about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. Hire a pedal boat or a canoe, or if you're feeling less active hop on one of the cruise boats for a different take on Amsterdam from the water.

Biking in Amsterdam is a quintessentially Dutch experience and by far the most popular, and most efficient, form of getting around. But Amsterdam's frenzied flow of traffic and confusing streets can intimidate visitors on two wheels. Before you hop on your cruiser, familiarise yourself with road safety rules.

Beer lovers will be delighted to discover that Amsterdam produces as many delicious beverages as their neighbouring Belgium. Try the organic beers brewed on site in the former boathouse at the foot of a windmill Brouwerij 't IJ. De Prael, located in a historical building downtown, also cooks up Dutch specialties for lunch and dinner. De 7 Deugden is Amsterdam's newest microbrewery. They offer a variety of activities for groups, from beer and cheese tasting to brewing your own custom beer.

Though Amsterdam is not all about marijuana and prostitution a trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a walk along the Red Light District, where nothing is left to the imagination and everything you've heard about the place is true. Cheesy sex shops sell blow up dolls, massive dildos and other outrageous sex toys while women lure you in from red-tinged window. Along its streets, prostitutes, junkies, clerics, carpenters and cops freely intermingle, exhibiting a strange kind of social cosiness.

Where to stay?

Tucked behind a historical façade right along the canals of the city's charming centre, luxury hotel The Dylan Amsterdam, www.dylanamsterdam.com, provides an exclusive gateway to uncovering the hidden treasures of Amsterdam's past and present. Comprised of the Keizersgracht canal houses with a manicured courtyard nestled at its heart, the Dylan Hotel Amsterdam is recognized for its contemporary meets classic design, dedicated service and as a beloved location of those who appreciate quality.

Five-storey canal house of the NL Hotel, www.nl-hotle.com, has caused a stir in a hotel circles with its Zen elegance and clever use of space. Award-winning Dutch designer Edward van Vliet has an eye for detail, while orange (the national colour of Holland) and tulip motifs are recurring themes. There's also a hint of the East. Throughout are beautiful wooden lacquered floors, striped cream and dark brown - reminiscent of barges.

In the quiet residential area at the 'Vondelpark' the Borgmann Villa Hotel Amsterdam, a historic villa characterized by large windows and a tasteful interior with light colours. Some of the rooms offer a view of the 'Vondelpark' and some have their own balcony. The breakfast room overlooks the green 'Vondelpark' and a small canal. There is a small outside terrace in the garden at the rear of the hotel. The friendly staff will give you a warm welcome.

The adjacent 'Vondelpark' is popular with locals as well as tourists for activities such as skating, jogging or cycling or for a romantic picnic in the grass, and leads on to restaurants, cafes, clubs and museums.

Where to eat?

If you're up for more than just meal, spend an evening at the Supperclub, www.supperclub.com. Their philosophy is that nothing is obligatory but everything is possible, dine in bed on new seasonings, new combinations and new tastes and wash it all down with equally innovative drinks like oyster-spiked shooters. After dinner lie down, relax and enjoy the entertainment that is different every night and ranges from theatre perfromances, musicians and singer or DJs.

The small and cosy Restaurant De Struisvogel, www.restaurantdestruisvogel.nl, in the basement of an old building is ideal for intimate gatherings. The menu is French leaning with dishes such as wild duck, ostrich fillet and veal stew though this changes regularly to accommodate organic and free-range ingredients available depending on the season.

Plunge into a world of sensitivity by dining in the dark at Ctaste, www.ctaste.nl. At Ctaste you sit in a pitch-black dining room where you will be guided and served by blind or visually impaired individuals that have been specially trained to serve meals in the dark, casually and comfortably offering guidance and reassurance for sighted guests.

How to get there?

Air Malta offer daily flights to Amsterdam. Flights departing from Malta on 23 March and returning on 28 March were priced at €240.10 including taxes.

Ryanair offer flights to Einhoven, approximately 100km away from Amsterdam. Flights departing from Malta on 27 March and returning on 3 April were priced at €131.72 including taxes.