3 Best Sights in Amsterdam, Netherlands

This former gas factory from 1885 is now an arts and cultural center comprising 13 monumental buildings of various shapes and sizes, which house media companies, art exhibitions, food markets, and assorted festivals. There are also bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and a cinema.

Over 115 years old, the Albert Cuypmarkt (named for a Golden Age painter) is said to be one of the biggest street markets in Europe. There is a long waiting list for a permanent booth, which means that things can get dramatic around 9 every morning, when the lottery for that day's available temporary spaces takes place. From Monday to Saturday (the busiest day), come rain or shine, thousands of shoppers from throughout the city flock to its more than 260 stalls selling fruit and vegetables, fish, flowers, textiles, and clothing. It's a great place to get a taste of local culture as vendors bark out their bargains over the sound of street musicians. Be sure to try some Dutch snacks, like freshly made stroopwafels (thin waffle cookies with a layer of caramel sandwiched in between) or patat (french fries served with mayonnaise or satay sauce).

Amsterdam's most famous flea market was once an area bordered by the Leprozengracht (Leper's Canal) and Houtgracht (Wood Canal), which often took the brunt of an overflowing Amstel River; the area also housed only the poorest of the city's Jews. In 1893 it became the daily market for the surrounding neighborhood—a necessity because Jews were not allowed to own shops at the time. It became a meeting place whose chaos of wooden carts and general vibrancy disappeared along with the Jewish population during World War II. And yet it still provides a colorful glimpse into Amsterdam's particular brand of pragmatic sales techniques. The market is currently being renovated, but remains open to the public.