It may be known for its red light district but there are many reasons that make it an enjoyable place to visit as a couple. Choosing your honeymoon destination means first deciding on the sort of activities you enjoy. You may want a complete hideaway from everyone, in the sun or at a snow covered winter lodge; outdoor activities whether they are swimming or skiing; visiting art centers and museums. The choice is yours.

So why choose Amsterdam for your honeymoon destination?

For art lovers Amsterdam offers more art treasures per square kilometer than any other country on earth. A number of great museums are home to some of the world’s richest and most comprehensive collection of art masterpieces, many dating back from the 15th century right up to the 20th century.

If looking for music and cultural events Amsterdam is known for its excellent performance halls that play host to music, dance and the widely acclaimed performing arts festivals. In fact each month you will find something to whet your appetite. Amsterdam has one of the best symphonic orchestras in the world – the Concertgebouw Orchestra. And in summer you can enjoy concerts in one of the city’s beautiful parks.

The number of canals in Amsterdam has led it to become known as “The Venice of the North”. A trip to Amsterdam would not complete without a boat cruise. A canal tour can be a fascinating and relaxing activity by day and an enchanting and romantic event at night. At night many of the houses and bridges are illuminated. The four main city center canals are Prinsengracht, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Singel.

For those who enjoy wining and dining the restaurants in the city of Amsterdam offer diners an extensive choice of cosmopolitan culinary options. Local dishes are also served in the restaurants, and include stampot, a down to earth meal consisting of mashed potatoes with carrots, onions, bacon and smoked sausage. Poffertjes are small hot pancakes covered in powdered sugar and are often sold by vendors at fairs or similar events.

Although many regular restaurants serve Dutch pancakes, the ideal place to enjoy authentic pannekoeken is definitely the pannekoekenhuis (pancake house). There is a larger selection, sugar syrup and powder sugar on every table and the mouth-watering smell of freshly made pancakes in the air. The Dutch eat pancakes for lunch or dinner.

You should note that in Amsterdam the restaurants close earlier than you might expect as the Dutch tend to eat early in the evening. The climate in Amsterdam, like the rest of Holland, is generally mild. It is characterized by rarely dropping below freezing in the winter or becoming too hot in the summer. The warmest period is usually from June to August.

It was in Amsterdam in March 1969 that in John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent their honeymoon. John Lennon described these days in the song “The Ballad of John and Yoko”. The five-star Hilton where they spent their six day “bed-in” peace protest may not be everyone’s choice of honeymoon destination but Amsterdam itself must be a definite contender.

Author: Lynette Bell. Lynette was born in Africa and now lives in New Zealand. She has traveled extensively and worked in a travel company for a few years. Always keen to find new travel destinations Lynette researches and shares travel information, mainly with honeymooners in mind. You can read some of these at honeymoonlocations.weebly.com and honeymoondestinations.doodlekit.com

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