If you've been to Amsterdam the past few years what was your experience like - did you enjoy it or not? Or did you find it completely overrun with toursits and kind of a Disneyland?

I pose this question because recent discussions some locals and denizens of Amsterdam travel have said in the last several years the city has been completely ruined by tourism and really is not worth going to except for a few museums - I once traveled to Amsterdam for about 40 straight years, often for weeks and simply loved the city - but last time I was there was 2012 and though it was heavily touristed then there seems to have been a huge increase in tourists there now - these denizens of Amsterdam say the city is completely ruined by it and it is simply not worth visiting.

Though I respect these folks greatly I find that sometimes locals and veteran tourists have a different take than normal first-or-second time travelers - so, if you've been to Amsterdam lately was it worth visiting? Did you enjoy it and why? Or, was it really like the Venice of the North - literally overrun with tourists?

Thanks!

It is difficult to visit the various works in the Rijksmuseum without going to Amsterdam. And no, any satellite venue is not the same IMO. I am not sure how the city "has been ruined by tourism" and I'm sorry you didn't give some concrete examples of the ruination. Every time I have been to the city (I first went in 1970) there seemed to be a lot of visitors in some places. Notice I said "visitors" since I am not sure exactly where all of them were from.

>>some locals and denizens of Amsterdam travel have said in the last several years the city has been completely ruined by tourism and really is not worth going to<<

Exaggerating as usual. People have posted that Amsterdam is much more crowded now than years ago when you last visited. It is still an interesting city -- but I can attest (have been there twice in the last four years) that it is very crowded in the center, the museums are extremely crowded, timed tickets are required for lots of things -- and it isn't the 'quaint' bicycles/canals/pot/red light district city you describe any more.

First time visitor...I was there last weekend and loved it. I feel like the city is worth a visit (and a return visit) - so much to offer....museums, shops, canals, cafes and lots of streets to wander! Yes I heard a lot of english accents (american, british, scottish, irish). I guess one visits a place for things...history, museums, shopping, restaurants and vibe/people. I got all of that in the busy city - so yes, i did enjoy it!

We recently paid another visit to Amsterdam and found it to still be an interesting and wonderful city to visit.

Well I've never been to Amstedam and judging by the hotel prices I don't think I'll be visiting anytime soon. Have you seen the prices lately? You'd struggle to find anything below $300.

It's even more expensive than places like Venice and Paris. Why? Even in a city as touristy as Venice I can easily find a hotel room or an apartment for $100-$150/night.

In Amsterdam, $250 gets you a basic room out of the center.

I think I was last in Amsterdam in 2014, just a short visit. It was summertime. Certain areas were crowded, but I still found the city charming and beautiful. As Dukey says, "It is difficult to visit the various works in the Rijksmuseum without going to Amsterdam."

Sure, as Yogi Berra said about a restaurant (according to legend), nobody goes there any more because it's too crowded. Amsterdam has been in decline for the last few years -- so they have been saying for the last many decades. Popularity and prosperity support expensive renewals of the great art museums, and the flowering of specialized museums. I thought the Resistance museum takes a fascinating approach to the WW2 experiences of the Dutch population. One big new attraction is the NEMO science museum in the inner harbour, even for just a stroll up the slanted roof.
Amsterdam is what you make of it and I am going back in the fall, again.

nemosciencemuseum.nl

https://www.verzetsmuseum.org/museum/en/museum

Southam, I also really liked the Dutch Resistance Museum.

Coincidentally, I was checking out airfares to AMS last night.

I visited Amsterdam in 2014 and had a terrific time. I would be happy to return.

I think you are mixing things up a bit Pal. Amsterdam is still a fine city for visitors. It is no longer a fine city for those who live there, due, mainly, to numbers of visitors. Just as Barcelona, or Reykjavik, or Venice, are no longer a pleasant places to live.
Other tourist sights, like your much vaunted Zaanse Schans, and sadly Giethoorn, are suffering badly from the numbers, An acquaintance recently sold their family home in Giethoorn because they could no longer cope with the numbers of visitors, or finding total strangers in their home, assuming it the place is a big open air museum.

Timed tickets for museums are also to keep queues short and reduce terrorism opportunities. They will be more frequent in the future too.

Loacker I suggest you try booking.com or similar. I just looked for a hotel room for next Monday and found several in your price range, and that is at peak tourist time and short notice. Amsterdam hotels have always been expensive, as are hotels generally in the Netherlands.

Denizens means residents, Pal; at least get the terminology correct.

I am one who has been noting that, over the many years I have been visiting Amsterdam, it has become less and less pleasant and more and more expensive. And as hetismij notes, it's not just Amsterdam. I'm glad I enjoyed it all in past decades -

If you still enjoy it or want to revisit it, fine. I don't.

Hetismj I did a quick search on Booking.com
I found only one hotel for $135. The remaining options within this range are either hostels or rooms with shared bathrooms. (Or properties rated below 8/10)

Are you searching within Amsterdam City Center?

I was in Amsterdam last week visiting my son. Of course the centre was very busy but off the main drag it was fine. The train to the airport was very crowded and I was pleased I got on at Central and not further down the line, people weren't allowed on.

I also found food to be very expensive, even more so than last year. And it was pretty ordinary...I stayed with my son so can't comment on accommodations.

Last autumn I have been visited Amsterdam, now it's one of my favourite cities in the world! Absolutely amazing architecture, museums, parks. I have fallen in love in this city. Recommend!

I sometimes have to find hotels for assistants: Amsterdam is the most convenient for them and for me: it's getting harder and harder to find something for a reasonable rate nowadays.