Gardens & Parks

Vondelpark: It is one of the most beautiful and most crowded green spots of Amsterdam. Though it was the haunt of hippies in the 1970s, it has now become the recreational center for the people from all walks of life. The park made in English-style, possesses a wealth of ponds, lawns, thickets and winding footpaths where people sp[end their evenings. The amazing 25 acre walking and riding park named after Netherlands' Shakespeare Joost van den Vondel, is known worldwide as an open-air dormitory since people can be found sleeping here during their leisure time. During June and August it serve as host to many concerts, plays, comedy and children's programs. Its fragrant rose garden itself draws in plenty of tourists. The park is now the favorite haunt of joggers, frisbee throwers, children, couples in love, families and football players.

Hortus Botanicus (Plantage Middenlaan 2a, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Ph: 625-9021): This gorgeous botanical garden was established in 1638 as an herb garden for doctors and pharmacists. It later became the storehouse of tropical seeds, which were brought from West and East Indian Companies foreign fields. Coffee, cinnamon, pineapple and palm oil were distributed to the entire world from here. It now has a large variety of ornamental plants and contains around 8,000 species. A 300-year-old Cycas palm also includes the large collection. It has a café terrace where coffee is being sold. The butterfly house in the park is the favorite of children.

Other Attractions

The Heineken Experience (Stadhouderskade 78, 1072 AE Amsterdam. Ph: 523 96 66): Earlier known as Heineken Reception Center is the world's largest beer exporter. A visit to the place cools the people with its chilled beer. It is an entertainment center with a pleasant atmosphere for those who love to booze and enjoy the environment. It also provides a chance to meet Dr Elion, the discoverer of Heineken's successful yeast. It has become the favorite hang out of the locals.

Madame Tussad's (Dam 20, 1012 NP Amsterdam. Ph: 20 522 10 10): This is a world famous wax museum that displays the life of Golden Age celebrities and 3-D picture of painting by Vermeer. Located above the Peek & Cloppenburg department store, it also exhibits the paintings of international superstars like George W Bush are also placed here. There are also 130 wax figures on display.

Artis Zoo (Plantage Kerklaan 38-40 Ph: 523 34 00): Founded in 1838, this famous zoo houses around 8000 species of animals. Desert antilopes, llamas, giraffes and a variety of animals brought from various parts of the world can be found here. Its large aquarium houses real coral reef and tidal forest as well as a real Amsterdam Canal. This oldest zoo in Amsterdam has an artificial savannah where zebras, gazelles and other African species roam around. Millions of visitors reach here to see the Geological Museum, the Zoological Museum, the Plant Houses, the Aquarium and the Planetarium inside this large zoo.

Diamond Factories: Amsterdam, which developed into one of the most important diamond centers in the world housed a number of diamond polishers till World War II. With the help of diamond merchants from abroad, the diamond trade returned back to the city and established a number of diamond shops in the city like Gassan Diamonds, Amsterdam Diamond Center, Van Moppes Diamonds and Coster Diamonds. Several Famous Diamonds such as 'Cullinan', the largest diamond and the smallest one with only 0.00012 carat were cut and polished in the city.

NEMO: Located on Amsterdam's Eastern Dock NEMO (NewMetropolis), the Science and Technology Center was opened in 1997. The greenish building is surrounded by water. The building, which looks like a ship sinking into the water, was designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano. Its three floors cover permanent exhibitions, which help people to discover worlds of science, technology, the biomedical industry and information technology. People also get the opportunity to experiment various everyday physical phenomena like building hydroelectric power stations, constructing a bamboo house, traveling through brains etc. It is an interesting place for children as well as adults who can explore the world of science. This building has now become the architectural landmark of the city.