18-06-2025
Discover Amsterdam's hidden gems away from the tourist crowds, from Nieuw-West to Bijlmer
Amsterdam is suffering from overtourism. Calculations suggest that 12 people visit per year for every local resident.
Nevertheless, there are intriguing areas away from the main sightseeing spots that hardly any tourists stray into, and which often represent something far closer to the everyday lives of Amsterdammers.
One easy tip to
avoid the crowds is to set your alarm for 5am – preferably on a Sunday. This way, you can have
Amsterdam 's canals all to yourself. The traffic is not yet roaring, the city is quiet and the gables of the houses are reflected in the canals' undisturbed water.
Those wanting to enjoy Amsterdam's brick facades in peace without getting up early can head to Rivierenbuurt. The neighbourhood, near the Amsterdam RAI exhibition centre, features buildings in the Amsterdam School architectural style from the 1920s and '30s.
Amsterdam's houses on the canals are popular with sightseers, but it is possible to see them in peace if you get up early.
